Following a design

Most of the jewellery I make, I've also designed.

Anything I've made but haven't designed, will have come from a magazine.

So. I was thinking about it. I like to come up with new ideas, and I like to take one idea and twist into loads of other little ideas to create something "bigger" and "better". It's fun to create, to play, to inspire and be inspired.

My decision to try and follow someone else's design came from inside, where I thought - for a moment - I want to make but I don't really want to create. Does that make sense? Sometimes it just flows freely, but I feel like when I have to sit and really think about the logistics of it, it stops being creative and I start feeling frustrated.

But can I follow another design? Step-by-step instructions? If I concentrate, yes. But on the whole... no, not really. I find it hard and often change it up, add my own flavour, make it a little different.

I am easily inspired though. I think that's a good thing!

An example of my work whilst following instruction.

It's most definitely not shabby!
The reason I chose to do this design is simple - I fell in love with it when I saw it! The beads used in the design were a little different... I'm not one for seeing a design and instantly shopping around for the exact 'ingredients', no, I'm more than happy to look through what I've got already and see what I can substitute.

Such a simple (it didn't take me very long, all of 15 minutes), unique design, something I'd considered for earrings (making a loop with wire), but hadn't considered on a necklace.