I’m attracted to colorful, shiny things. Which is probably why I love jewelry. I collect it and I make my own too. For me, the creative process usually starts with something (or many somethings) that I find interesting and then I go from there. Sometimes though, it is nice to look at what others have done. You might find a really cool color combination or see something used in a brand new way. Bead magazines and books are a really great resource. The library offers Bead & Button and Bead Style magazines on Zinio as well as many jewelry making books. Here are some fun titles that I have enjoyed looking through.
Aimee Ray’s Sweet & Simple Jewelry by Aimee Ray – This book has fun projects for people of all skill levels.
Jewelry Upcycled! By Sherri Haap – She uses found objects and things like plastic bottles, pop cans and broken pottery to make some pretty neat pieces. I would say most projects are for intermediate and expert level crafters.
75 Chinese, Celtic & Ornamental Knots by Laura Williams – This book features step-by-step pictorial instructions on how to create some really neat knots.
The Sparkle Factory by Tarina Tarantino – Not your average jewelry design book. Her whimsical pieces feature bright colors and a lot of bling.
Marcia Decoster Presents: Interviews with 30 Beaders on Inspiration and Technique by Marcia Decoster – As you can probably tell by the title, this book features full color pictures of some amazing beadwork.
Vintage Jewelry Design: Classics to Collect and Wear by Caroline Cox – This book comes highly recommended by a friend.
Are any of you beaders out there? Where do you get your inspiration from?
