ABC's of Creativity - U is Unfinished Projects

We all have them, a kit or project that you started but have not finished.  How do you store them? What can you do to get it finished?

Maria's bead embroidery project from class with Sherry Serafani

Storing unfinished project can be easy if it is a prepackaged kit as it more than likely came in a zip bag. The challenge maybe keeping them organized.

Chicklet bracelet with only closures needing to be attached

If it is a project from a magazine or book the challenge is keeping everything together. Photocopying the instructions for the specific project (which is acceptable within copyright rules) can be helpful.  Create your own kit for the project. Then store materials and instructions in a zip bag.

Make a list of items needed to finish project (clasp, more beads etc.) This will allow you to prioritize projects based on the availability of supplies.

Here is Marilyn Gardiner's post about how she deals with and stores her "projects in progress". Lots of great tips and ideas.

A sure fire way to get a project completed is to have a deadline. Does it need to be done as a gift, for a blog post or for upcoming show?  These can help give you the drive to get a project done.

Maria's mocassin vamp for Walking with Our Sisters Exhibit

What do you do if finishing is a problem because you don't know how to do it? This is when having a local group of beaders, either formal (Bead Society) or informal (beady friends) can help. Your local bead store can be helpful as well, see if they offer an open beading time. Get together with other beaders, share your knowledge and be encouraged to get projects finished.

Open Beading @ Beadfx

Hope that these tips with help you FIFI (Find it, Finish it). Share (either below or on our Facebook page) with us some of your ideas to get unfinished project done and those that you done!

Happy Beading!

ABC's of Creativity - F is Freeform

Freeform is defined as - not organized or planned in a conventional way; without restrictions or preconceptions and spontaneous (Dictionary.com).

It can be a way to release yourself of the restrictions of following a pattern. But it can also be a challenge for those who like to have things very organized.

Window onto the Sonoran Desert beadwoven by Maria Rypan

This piece was created use the TBS Bag of Beads 2006. The window is an ugly buckle covered with peyote stitch started on the plane from Tucson - Atlanta - Detroit. The desert floor was freeform netting incorporating objects for the Bag of Beads and entirely beadwoven on the train from Windsor to Toronto the day of the Reveal meeting.

TBS Bag of Beads 2013 beadwoven by Christine Kappas-Dufrene

This piece was created using the TBS Bag of beads 2013. The closure is created using the spikes and braiding the fringe. The body of the bracelet is a freeform combination of the many different beads included in the challenge.

Mermaid Necklace beadwoven by Andria Knowles-Muller

This piece was created using the TBS Bag of Beads 2013. She combined bead embroidery, fringing and wire work.

Kit for a Freeform embroidery pendant by Sherry Serafani

Face attached and encircled with bronze beads

In progress using seed beads, fire polished beads and bugles

This piece started with Maria following Sherry Serafani's instructions in class. With additional beads from the TBS Bag of Beads Challenge, it morphed into a goddess with a wreath. All that's left is the background.

Sherry Serafani with her amazing creations

Beaded by Sherry Serafani

Beaded by Sherry Serafani

Beaded by Sherry Serafani

Dragonfly Moon by Susan Hood

Susan Hood makes these amazing lampwork dragonflies. She uses freeform beading to make a ring to encircle the dragonfly for this beautiful neckpiece.

From the 2010 Toronto Bead Society calendar, beadwoven by Carol Shevlin

From the 2011 Toronto Bead Society calendar, beadwoven by Rita Micallef

 Hope this inspires you to forego a pattern and let the beads and your imagination guide your creation!