Design Decisions (or There Are Too Many Choices I Don't Know What to Do!)

It happens to everyone.  Writer's Block.  Designer's Block.  Beader's Block.  And it's not necessarily the lack of inspiration, but the over abundance of inspiration. (Pinterest lovers, you know what I'm talking about.)  

We're familiar with the glazed eyes and panicky look of people who come into the shop for the first time, and here's one way we help them focus.  It may help you too.

So many techniques -- what to do next?

Nothing magical, just a variation of the old "swiss cheese" method of breaking things down.  We start with some basic questions:

• Are you making this for yourself or someone else?
  
• Decide what you want to make -- necklace, earrings, bracelet?
  
• If it's a necklace, what length do you want?  18 inch?  36 inch?  In between?
  
• Do you want something with big, chunky, earthy beads, or more delicate and sparkly?
  

Semi-precious, crystal, seed beads, African beads -- they're all beautiful

These questions don't have to be answered in this order.  Someone might first decide if they want big, chunky beads or more delicate, sparkly ones before deciding on length.  And nothing wrong with changing ones mind anywhere in the process.  You started with a bracelet, but realized you want a necklace?  It's all part of the process.

Did I say necklace? Bracelet? Earrings?

We take other things into consideration as well.  Is this being made by a child?  For themselves or as a gift?  If a young person is making a necklace for mom, we break the process down further by suggesting they look for a nice bead to use in the center, six to eight beads to accent the sides, and a strand of size 6/0 beads to space it all out.

You're making a gift for a friend?  What kind of jewelry do they usually wear?  What's their size -- petite or totally not petite?

What's your focus? Stringing, seed beads, earrings, kumihimo, cords & leather, a little bit of everything?

Some people have a preferred medium to work in, such as seed beading or basic stringing.  Adjust these questions accordingly to help you get past the block.  Need to relax and let your mind rest?  If you're a seed beader, start a spiral rope that doesn't require a lot of concentration.  Prefer stringing?  Focus on a simple bracelet.  The process may inspire a multi-strand bracelet or coordinating necklace.

Find the questions that help you focus and go with it.  Sometimes we need to stop thinking to find the answers!

Asymmetrical necklace with resin, ceramic and glass beads