Step by Step Beads

Re: What's Your Style?

Michelle M. — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:04:29 GMT

This thread has been fascinating!

In the latest issue of Creative Jewelry, all the designers had to describe their style in their bios. It's pretty fascinating to look at how each one described his or her style and then to flip to the pages to the actual jewelry to see if it matched. The word "eclectic" appeared in a bunch, so my guess is that style is a difficult thing to articulate, no matter how experienced you may be. (Either that, or there are a lot of eclectic designers out there, which is totally possible!)

Re: What's Your Style?

NitzaA — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:37:40 GMT

Words for my jewelry style: simple, simetrical, conservative color, small and modern. (At least what I think...)

Re: What's Your Style?

Square Effects — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:52:23 GMT

Perry:

Square, your designs all look fresh and clean to me - like an ocean breeze. Does that help a little?

Thanks! It DOES help. I wouldn't have thought of those tww adjectives, but now that you say it I can see it.

It's really helpful from a marketing standpoint being able to describe one's own style and put it into words. The Step By Step Wire mag last issue and the current issue discuss this in detail, and about coming up with a 'signature phrase', something short & sweet to get the idea across to potential buyers.

Re: What's Your Style?

Perry — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:39:01 GMT

Square, your designs all look fresh and clean to me - like an ocean breeze. Does that help a little?

Re: What's Your Style?

Billy Z — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:45:54 GMT

I call what I do "arogantly shabby". I am an old beach bum and I tend to put that into almost everything that I make. Even when I do what I call "classy" pieces, there is always some fun there too. I like bright, almost obnoxious colors mixed in with the more sedate just to make people smile. Some even laugh right out loud. *grinz*

The lady that runs the nearest 'rock shop' is a Wiccan Priestess and I have made several pieces of ritualwear for her. She likes the fact that I can mix hemp and silk cording with real gemstones and pearls and have it look formal, yet no quite so, ya know.

My paternal grandmother was a Cherokee Midwife and Medicine Woman. She was on the government's Indian Midwife and Herbal Healers board until she passed in 1984. I get a lot of my ideas from things that she taught me about nature, healing, and the powers of stones, crystals, and ores.

That's my style as it were. When I get a new camera and start showing some stuff, y'all will see what I mean. ;o)

Re: What's Your Style?

Lou Ma — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:45:54 GMT

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I saw your work and it is all beautiful. Great job!!!! Lou

Re: What's Your Style?

Square Effects — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:38:12 GMT

I've been struggling with the "what's my style?" question for some time now. I know it's important to be able to verbalize it but I'm having a difficult time looking at my items and coming up with a common theme. I have many different media I work with but interestingly people still tell me "it looks like something you made".

I think it's much easier to have other people comment on your work and style than it is to self-describe.

Re: What's Your Style?

Sue B — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:14:05 GMT

Thank you Lou Ma. It was fun to make.

And no I still don't know how to make a live link and my computer geek is away at boot camp.[:'(]

Sue

Re: What's Your Style?

Leslie — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:02:47 GMT

Just gorgeous, Lynn!

I know a few artists who have a never-ending piece they work on periodically, by adding component after component. Your STYLE of colors are, as always, a real party!

Re: What's Your Style?

Lou Ma — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:51:53 GMT

Sue, You may not know how to make a "live link" but you certainly know how to make a necklace! As a Piscean I really love your fish. Lou

Re: What's Your Style?

Nemeton — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:37:10 GMT

Lou, I'm also self taught and have no formal art or beading qualifications whatsoever, and although I've been playing with seed beads for thirtysomething years I still feel I'm just starting out in terms of discovering what those tiny beads can do... and although I have several publications under my belt I've only been beading 'seriously' and submitting to magazines for just over two years. And looking back, I'm amazed how far my beads and I have progressed in those two years! So don't be discouraged by other people's work - be inspired instead. (And have a go at submitting a favourite design to a magazine - it's a very easy process and very rewarding to see your work in print, and it doesn't have to be anything technically complicated, just original and interesting!)

In terms of a representative piece, I guess it has to be something like my Jungle collar - random peyote stitch embellished to the max with flowers, leaves, and everything but the kitchen sink:

I dabble in lots of other styles but this is the place I keep coming back to for beady relaxation, it grows organically without my having to think about it too much!

Re: What's Your Style?

Leslie — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:42:32 GMT

I love your enthusiasm about this style post, Jeni! I wish you luck with your group-forming. The benefits of a bead group are a topic for another thread of posts, so look for that in the SBS Beads forum!

Meantime, it may be fun to share more pictures of what people think represents their style, or one of their styles, or a style they want to explore...!

Leslie

Re: What's Your Style?

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:26:33 GMT

Lou,

Don't get discouraged! I've been beading as long as you, and sometimes I feel I'm really good, other times not so much. I only sell things in fits and spurts, mainly because I'm a military spouse and we keep moving every few years, or my clients move, and we lose track of each other. I think as long as you enjoy what you're doing, and as long as YOU like what you make, that's the best first step.

I am also self taught. A friend taught me basic loomwork which is what got me started in the first place, but other than that, my teachers have been all the great contributors to books, magazines, etc. I too love having this forum format to be able to share ideas with fellow beaders. I'm trying to organize some other people to form at least a craft group, if not beading specifically, because while I can bead happily by myself, it sure is nice to have someone else to appreciate what you're doing and bounce ideas off of.

Jeni

Re: What's Your Style?

Tyger — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:51:17 GMT

I'm a beginning beader and have not developed my style yet. I do notice I'm drawn to neutral and black colored beads and I do like different looking beads and textures. Right now I just make what looks good to me in various colors.

JoAnn

Re: What's Your Style?

Lou Ma — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:24:18 GMT

Wow!!! reading about all of you searching for your own style has me completely overwhelmed and intiminated. Reading your posts I notiticed that most of you sell your work regularly. Others of you have products and masterpieics you have designed, sold and/or won awards for. Most of all you sound like artists and true professionals and after ten years of playing with beads I still feel like I have made very little progress. I did note that many of you have or seem to have art backgrounds and are artists in you own right. I can only learn beading by trial/error, reading on line, or out of books and magazines as I live where there are no bead shops and as far as I know no beaders. When I think of "MY Style" I know the following: I love Jasper, agate, lapis, Swarvorski crystals, glass beads, seed beads (all sizes), pendents, gold and silver and basically simple designs (because complicated ones scare me to death!!) But I never seem to figure aout what goes with them to make them '"shine". How do you know when your work is classic and not simply boring??? I get lots of compliments but no buyers. Course I don't have a lot of finished pieces lying around because my nieces love to do their jewelery shopping at my work table. So maybe my style is "young and free" hee-hee and I just never recognized it before. Love reading all the discussion from other beaders and really glad to know that I have at least found someone to talk to and share experiences with, Lou From Arkansas