Perlen Poesie asked me to design something for their 11th edition and I went........BLANK!
My
design process is not a planned event. I sort of have an idea which color
pallet/direction I want to play in and I tend to go to Cubic Right Angle Weave
because I love the stitch so much......and then I wait, bead a bit, gather
things I might use and stack them on my table....try this or that until I have
a pile of UFO's in front of me. I then play with them, squint my eyes
"see" what's happening until an idea or thought sets in.
By then I
will have smoked (yes, yes....I know) the packet that my cigs came
in and semi watched, or rather, listened to a TV program on Ancient Aliens, backwards, because I can see reflected glimpses in
the mirror next to me.....subtitles are a bit of a challenge but it keeps me
looking in the direction I should be focusing on.
So, when at last an idea becomes evident, another pile of UFO's join the first as I work
things out and then, finally, It Happens. A design evolves and becomes reality.
The thing is, I want "Pattern Value".
More than 1 design must emerge from this process and so it was with Boleyn Cuff. Whilst beading the cuff, I saw/thought about how to create a 3D Cube and a Medieval Cross. The beauty is, once the cuff pattern had been written, I had the basics for the other 2 designs and all they needed were the extra bits to become 2 extra patterns....Pattern Value!!!!
The same thing happened
when Steve Weiss of the Bead Smith approached myself and 27 other Designers
to create something to showcase their stunning new
Elegant Elements clasps
I am not known for delicate and dainty work so, Thistle Cuff surprised me when it emerged.......and of course, the initial attempt, which curved too much became the Fan Pull. These 2 patterns are next in line for being written up and again, as I write up Thistle Cuff, the pattern for the Fan Pull will be done almost at the same time and I just know...there is a ring in there as well but by then, I will need to get a Bull Dozer to remove the residue of my Design Process!!!!!