Little Treasures

Good Morning! When I opened my shop, I wanted a section titled "Simplify". The shop partner I had said no; I let it go. It ran around in my mind off and on these last couple of years. Lately I've been feeling restless, a little bored with my work and I started thinking about Simplify again. I needed to do something different and decided to try to design smaller earrings: shorter, lighter, smaller, I guess, minimal use of art beads, 2.5" maximum. . . . .  most of the time. I soon realized what a challenge I'd given myself. I have never worked this way. My design time is always free. No I have to make THIS today; or I have to use THOSE BEADS today. I just don't work that way, have never worked within restrictions; have you? Isn't that a great part of jewelry design, that there really are no rules!! How could I possibly make things specifically "smaller, lighter, shorter, minimal use of art beads," yet still have them be me. . . . still have the soul I hope I'm infusing into my work each day. Many things came and went, put together, taken apart. Eventually I came up with five designs I was happy with.

first five designs

I created a section for them titled "Little Treasures". Cute huh? I had a lot of help with the name from Mary DeTray. Thank you, Mary!

today's Little Treasures

So here are my earrings for today! 

I listed them this morning in "Little Treasures". They are 2" long, just about featherweight, actually, 0.106 ounces/3.01 grams, quite petite, no art beads, but they do have some lovely treasures. I wonder, though, if even the people who know my work will see a distinct difference between these and my "regular" work. Is it only something that I am feeling? I'm sure that most of you have absolutely no difficulty doing what was a pretty big deal to me. I had gotten myself wedged into working a particular way and needed to push myself out. Maybe ya'll will tell me what you think.

Ya know it's funny that this challenge was about simplifying my work; usually a challenge brings to mind MORE intensive, MORE intricate. . . . .

So outside of showing you these cool little earrings, since this has been ongoing the last few weeks, I thought I'd share with you how I forced myself to step outside of my comfort zone. I went in a direction I'm not used to, with guidelines to follow, and restrictions! Now that I've worked at this for a few weeks, it's no longer outside of my comfort zone; I know I can make smaller, lighter, shorter earrings using minimal art beads. Because I took the challenge, I have expanded beyond my usual repertoire. When I see some tiny but totally awesome beads, I can make something cool with them, rather than appointing them the role of accent beads, ya know? I'll be keeping an eye out for my next self-appointed challenge. Keep your mind wide open and take the challenge, no matter how small; it's always worthwhile. Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back on 12/29.

p.s. In the listing you can read a brief description of the ancient beads used here. They are so cool.
p.p.s. The "minimal use of art beads" in the above collage were made by: Kristi Bowman Gruel of
         Kristi Bowman Design; Jennifer Ghoulson Morris of Eclectic Prairie; the maker of the lampwork
         leaves is unknown.I received them as a gift. If anyone knows who made them, please let me know.
         Thank you!

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