ABC's of Creativity - D is Design Decisions

One definition of to design is to plan and fashion artistically or skillfully (from dictionary.com). The decisions that you make as part of the design process are as varied as the sources that drive them. 

Many brides look for matching jewelry for the bridesmaids. Sometimes you maybe lucky enough to find a kit for the perfect style in the perfect color. Rebecca, a bride from southwest Ontario, was that lucky with this 1-drape Gothic necklace. The color was a perfect match to the aqua dresses the bridesmaids were wearing.

Beadwoven by Rebecca Rynsoever

Of course sometimes a friend will ask to have something made in a color you may not normally work with. Here my friend Susan want a pink necklace for a young family member's first communion. Using the same design as Rebecca did for her bridesmaids I used pink Swarovski crystals and seed beads.

Beadwoven by Jo-Ann Woolverton

Then there are times when someone asks what if you used something different. My friend Anna thought that the 1-drape Gothic necklace would look great done with Swarovski crystal pearls. She was right, it a elegant necklace that would be perfect for a bride.

Beadwoven by Jo-Ann Woolverton

 
So that is one style of necklace with three different looks created by the decision to use different materials.

The Twig Chip Cascade necklace like so many designs can be changed by make a unique design decision for your personal necklace.

Here is the original, the multi-colored chips look great with basic black and a red accent. Beadwoven by Patricia A. Huff

Change the chips to orange cat's eye chips and a more monochrom color palette looks great. Beadwoven by Jo-Ann Woolverton

Green Millifori chips with a hint of orange needs an accent of orange in the netted band. Beadwoven by Jo-Ann Woolverton

The blue millifore chips look best with white cubes and accents of dark blue. Beadwoven by Jo-Ann Woolverton

Here our bride Rebecca has used pink crystals on the twigs to go with the vibrant flowers in her bouquet. To add texture to the netted band she change the chicklets to an alternating pattern of bugles and clear crystals.

Beadwoven by Rebecca Rynsoever

Last year Maria was contacted by a bride in Winnipeg asking about have a necklace designed to wear on her wedding day. She wanted something that would look great with her gown but still represent her Ukranian heritage. Taking the Twig Chip Cascade necklace Maria changed the chips to pearls and used silver lined beads as an accent.

Beadwoven by Jo-Ann Woolverton

Here is a look a the trials made during the original design process of painted strips edition of Textured Net and Chicklet bracelet.

On the left black picots, in the middle strip beads used for picot with a black accent above the picot and on the right same as the middle with the addition of a black accent at the neck edge.

Here on the left we have added a silver lined clear accent above the picot and on the right we changed it to a lime green accent.

On the left picot on the bottom, in the middle fire polished crystals on the bottom and on the right a larger fire polished crystal

Final version with a black lantern shaped bead on the bottom

On the left painted strip beads on upper and lower edge as well as either side of chicket, in the middle lime green on upper and lower edge and on the right black on the upper and lower edge

Here are the finished final designs from the painted strips collection.

Here are a series of necklaces that are variations of the Suspensed Swags. Each is unique because the beader asked 'what if' as they worked the design.

What if --- you wanted to have a unique closure.

Suspensed Swags with Swarovski embellished chain and handcrafted closure hook, beadwoven by Kathy Foernzler

What if ---- you added a drop bead to the finish the connecting pillars.

Cascading Swags with drops and handmade closure, beadwoven by Nance Carter

What if ---- the swags were longer and overlapping.

Reversible suspended swags, beadwoven by Jo-Ann Woolverton

What if ---- you added drops to the middle of some of the swags.

Suspended swags with bronze drops, beadwoven by Tatiana Martschenko

Let what ifs, requests and playing with colors continue to help you on the creative path to making amazing and unique beadwork.