Bead Craft – Convenient Methods To Get Magnificent Ideas

Regardless of which of the multitude of beading ideas I am pursuing, I consider patterning as the single most crucial aspect of the hobby. A good pattern can cover a multitude of other bead craft design sins, and skilled crafters will spend lots of time fiddling with their patterns to get them just right.

In this article, I am going to take a brief look at two sources of inspiration for your beadwork that you may not have thought of. Think this a test in cross discipline thinking, and it’s my hope that when you read these words, your mind will immediately begin turning on the subject, and a whole boatload of OTHER thoughts will fall into your lap. Even if that doesn’t happen though, that is still a ward against the bead craft equivalent of “writer’s block.” So here goes:

Poetry

Any poem that’s not free verse has a rhyme and meter to it. Haiku’s structure is 5-7-5. Iambic pentameter has its individual rhythm, and so on. There’re a huge number of rhythms to choose from, and sourece of inspiration is as close as your nearest volume of poetry.

Take the haiku example. You could build a pattern around the haiku rhythm, 5-7-5. An arrangement of 5 beads. A different arrangement of seven, and then back to five. Repeat this around your necklace (or bracelet, or whatever) and you’ll have created a “haiku bead craft necklace.”

Or if your favorite poem is consists of funky rhythm like

a-b-b-a

b-c-c-b

c-d-d-c

(go over) You can arrange a bead craft pattern around that (each letter represents a different element) to striking effect. And, your bead craft project could have a remarkable story around it!

Sheet Music

An additional exceptional source for inspiration to enrich your bead craft projects is sheet music. Assign one bead element to each note and place based on whatever song you select.

As you please, either ignore sharps and flats or add fully new beadwork elements for them. Start with anything simple. Design a “Mary had a little lamb” necklace, playing with the components until you are happy with the results. Again, an off beat way of looking at the issue of patterning that can enhance the execution of your beadwork in unexpected methods!

*Note: You will possibly simply prefer to focus on one line of the sheet music in your bead craft project, lest you create anything much too big to use! Note too that pattern and medium can, and often will, influence one another! What may work well with semi-precious stones might not be as viable with a wood/metal mix, so there’s definitely a bit of experimentation involved! The key thing, no matter where your inspiration comes from, or what form it finally takes, is to stick with it! Persistence and experimentation will almost always win the day!

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