Color Play

by Sherri Stokey

Have you noticed how many gorgeous pictures go scrolling by daily in your social media feeds?  Those photographs can be great color inspiration for design.  I loved the jewel tones in this one and pulled out beads and cord in aqua, lavender, orchid and slate blue, then started a design using the aqua cord and a mixture of beads.  (If you're trying this and are having difficulty pulling colors from the photos, there are some great sites online to help you with that like Kuhler and Color Palette FX.) 

Then I switched out the cord for orchid, but used all of the same beads.  It looks very different, don't you think?  

 Not only is the overall look different, but the individual beads even appear to be different colors.  That, of course, led to trying one more version with slate blue cord.

All of these pieces were inspired by that one photo and there are still many variations to be explored.  I could introduce a bit of the green into the mix or concentrate more on the pink tones.  I also see a ribbed texture and some webbing that would be fun textures to try to mimic.

Where have you been finding your inspiration lately?

Variations on a Theme

By Sherri Stokey

Some of my best ideas just sort of morph into being.  I know that sounds odd, but let me give you an example.  A customer asked me to feature some Mexican Red Snowflake Jasper beads in a micro macrame bracelet.  If you know me at all, you know that red is my Kryptonite.  It's just so hard for me to work into a design that feels right *insert whining here*.  But the customer is always right and the show must go on and all that stuff, so I found an image I felt might inspire me and pulled some beads and cord to match.

*Shudder*  Just look at all those warm colors!  I made a bracelet using these from this pile, and it was fine.

Fine, but it wasn't speaking to me.  I tried, people.  I tried to get the red to speak to me, but it was definitely giving me the silent treatment.  So I went back to the drawing board and pulled out some beads that were talking to me to act as interpreters.

It's turquoise to the rescue (okay, okay - sort of sagey green if you want to get technical about it).  I threw it into the mix and made another bracelet, and this time it sang to me!

I probably never would have had the idea to create this piece from scratch.  The idea came gradually, step by step.  Evolved.

This is a technique I use often.  I think it's because I'm curious.  I make a bracelet like this:

Then I wonder what it would look like if I switched out the marigold for another color and before I know it, I have a coral, a chartreuse and a lilac version:

I also like to use the very same pattern and the same beads, but switch up the cord colors:

Remember this next time you think something isn't turning out quite the way you want.  Maybe you just need to let the idea steep a bit.  Maybe if you let the ideas develop, you'll get right where you want to be!

Feeling Uninspired?

by Sherri Stokey

 

Have you ever had one of those days (or weeks, even) when it feels like your creativity has left the building?  You've ground to a halt; come to an agonizing standstill.  Your muse is on vacation.  The idea fountain has run dry... I think we've all been there, but I'm here to help today with some ideas on how to find that spark again.  I find inspiration everywhere!  The wall decoration above is a good example.  I found it at a yard sale for $1 and besides the fact that I love it in all its kitchy glory, it gave me a little seed of an idea that turned into this micro macrame piece:

Fun, don't you think?  Flea markets and garage sales can be a treasure trove of pieces that may just transport you to another decade and change the way you look at things for a little while.  Anybody remember these Tupperware containers in avocado green and burnt orange (my mom is still using hers):

Try to change your mindset and look around you.  Common, everyday objects can provide you with ideas on colors and textures.  Even sand:

And water:

And street signs (this is from my hometown, Valentine, Nebraska, and yes, they really do stencil hearts on the sidewalks on Main Street):

If you have a talented person in your family (or friends), maybe you can piggyback on their creativity to jump start your own.  My mom makes beautiful quilts, but maybe you know a painter or a weaver or a clothing designer?  These are a couple examples where I drew inspiration from Mom's work:

Are you getting excited yet?  Seeing some possibilities?  If none of those ideas appeal to you, you can always turn to color palettes pulled from photos.  

Try thinking of the photos a little differently, too.  Instead of just pulling a color palette, consider the shapes, textures and movement in the photo.  Is it something you can use?  Like these undulating lines:

Or this texture:

Or just pick up a feeling from the photograph and go from there.  In this next piece, I tried to capture the feel of the waves lapping up onto the sand; the foam; the colder, deeper water further out:

One more place you can turn in a crisis and then I'll leave you to ponder.  One of my all time favorite color palettes is pulled from the raku finishes on some of the art beads I've collected (these are from Star Spirit Studio).

I think I could use these colors for years without getting bored (raku focal pieces below are from Star Spirit Studio, Spinning Star Studio and Elements Pottery and macrame work is by yours truly)!

If you get to that point where you're uninspired, try taking a look around you again with fresh eyes.  Hopefully some of these ideas will help you.