I love to create...

And designing patterns for mixed media jewelry is especially exciting!  The process is interesting because the design evolves and may change often as I work with it conceptually.  I usually mull over an idea for several days (or nights while variations on a design dance in my head and keep me from sleeping!).  Then comes the fun part…gathering the materials for the project!  After selecting the types of beads and components, choosing the colors and juxtaposing various shades, creating polymer clay elements or making jump rings for chain maille if they are integral to the design, and then laying everything out in a tray with beading mat in place...I’m finally ready to tackle the new project! With a Word document at the ready so I can write down each step, I’ll start by making a prototype but I put off taking the step-by-step photos until later.  I’ve found this saves time in the long run because the design will often change midstream as I undo stitches, alter the direction of the thread path, or come up with other design ideas and then all that time spent getting the “perfect shot” would be for naught.   After finishing the prototype, I make a second prototype or variation thereof in different colors and then I take the photos and refine the step-by-step directions.  On average a new design usually takes me two months from start to finish.  Obviously, I’ll never grow rich doing this, at least not in a monetary way, but creating beautiful objects feeds my soul…and you can’t put a price tag on that!