| Inspiration Challenege Gallery | |
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Inspiration for design of new beadwork and beaded objects can be hard to come by at time. We have to look outside ourselves and our usual surroundings to come up with great jewelry and beading designs. Take a look here at what some very inspired beaders do to get perspective, inspiration and excitement to add to their beading.
Our first entry is from out in the sticks, or, fields, to be more precise. Entrant Anne Fetters says:
"This idea got a real chuckle out of me tonight. My husband and I were on a trip to Indiana to the Dentist and to a couple of bead stores. While we were eating breakfast he was teasing me about beading on anything that will stand still. He looked outside the restaurant window where some teasel was growing and made the comment that I would probably even bead that if given half a chance. Well my eyes lit up and out came my trusty pocket knife, (kept in my purse for just such a thought) and out I went to cut teasel. When we got home I played with it a bit and came up with what I think is a nice ornament. I thought you might enjoy sharing it with others."
Next, we have an inventive fisher woman, who loves to wear what she casts. Her mom was so impressed, she sent these pictures to me and wrote this about them:
"These necklaces were made by my daughter, Julie, - a sometimes fisher person
This next entry was inspired by something that may not necessarily inspire many of us. I'll let Melanie tell the story:
And this final entry is really amazing!! Let's hear what Celia has to say about getting inspired:
Last November, I was approached by the organizer of 1999’s Art in Action project for our local downtown association. The
project was a snow globe Advent calendar. They weren’t to be true "snow
globes" due to their size, but each artist was given a
globe approx. 6" across, a wooden base, and a deadline of the first week in January, 2000.
I agreed to participate, but was stumped at first for an idea. Rummaging through my eclectic collection of items I’ve gathered
and been given by others, I saw a crystal hand bell my mother had sent me. An "orphan" from a thrift store, it was in perfect shape, just missing its clapper. I’d had it for several months, but had had no notion of what to do with it. It was just the right size to fit into the globe. As I held it up to the light, the shape of the bell looked like a skirt, and I saw the potential for a figure. Advent calendar - holidays - crystal bell - Angel!
I made the wings with white craft wire, and created the angel using only clear luster-finished seed beads and fire-polished crystals. The seed beads covered the wire wrapped around the middle, and created a shapely bodice. The netted skirt helped anchor the angel to the base. Instead of a halo, I gave her a shining crown of crystals.
And, as I set the final stitches on January 1, 2000, I decided she should be named my "New Century Belle".
Please join me in saying thank you to all of the participants in the Inspiration Challenge. Each entry has displayed an amazing ability to find inspiration in things and places around you, places many of us might overlook. Each of these entries is beautiful, graceful and something I would be proud to wear or to own. Thank you again!
The inspiration came to her when she was looking in her tackle box
and saw -- fishing swivels !!! I think she was VERY inventive and
hope you enjoy her creations."
"I call this piece "Spaghetti Junction"... however, there is no pasta involved. Here in Atlanta traffic jams are a daily occurence especially at a particular area of town where major highways meet -which they have nicknamed "Spaghetti Junction". This tangle of concrete and cars has 12 bridges which are represented by the
surface embellishment swirls and 14 ramps represented by the fringe. Who knows why a traffic snarling landmark would be inspiring but I am certainly pleased with the results"
"I’ve had many inspirations, and ideas by chance, but this is one of my favorites:
Copyright 2000 Celia Martin. All rights reserved
