Making mandalas

If you looked through my jewelry collection, one thing you would quickly notice is that I am not big on making earrings.  I am usually drawn to make bigger pieces like bib style necklaces or cuffs even.

Lately however, I am in love with all the variations that can be had in designing earrings.  I love weaving different patterns and beads and figuring what I like best.  It's not for the impatient beader as I can't tell you how many times I rework an earring after putting on a row and not liking it.

One thing I discovered, however, was to trust my instincts.  As I am adding rows, sometimes I want to stop after a couple.  Sometimes it's because I love how the earring looks already.  Sometimes, it's because I hate how the earring looks.  But, I have learned to force myself to go on and make a game of it.  Can I add something that will make me love an earring I hate or can I make a pretty earring even prettier?

I am often quite pleased with the results.  Here's a sample.  To see which of these are for sale, Please visit my etsy shop at:  Shanty Chic Beads

When you really dislike a piece --- Fix it!!!

I wish I could show you the original piece but Irma took out my computer.  I think the hard drive is still good so maybe some day I will be able to transfer pictures and show you how this all began.  Unfortunately, I did not think to take a new picture before I began the makeover.  For now, all I have is the final result.  This started as a simple centerpiece with only two color, all light shades.  It was boring as hell.

I recently took a private lesson on color with a local artist who paints landscapes.  I knew about the color wheel but really did not understand how to apply it.  I was afraid of using too many colors and didn't understand how to add interest with color and with shades of color.  In just one lesson, I feel as though I learned a lot.  I wish there were more classes on this directly related to bead artists.  I have books but I am the type of person whose fingers have to learn how to do something before my brain  fully understands the book knowledge.

I consider myself still in the infant stage of this but my  teacher has really pushed me into thinking about dusting off the cobwebs on my wings, spreading them wide and flying into the unknown.  Hence the butterflies in this piece.  A transformation is beginning.