If you want to do great beadwork follow what I call the 5 T’s. These are the cornerstones to doing better work and the difference between good and exceptional work.
The 5 T’s are technique, terrific design, tri colors, texture, and top quality supplies. When I apply the 5 T’s while doing my work I find I have a better all over project in the end. While I cover this subject in-depth in a workshop setting, I will address each one of the T’s in brief here.
1. Technique
The very first cornerstone is good technique, learn to do the stitch with good technique, study and practice the stitch you are going to use before attempting to do a project. Think about thread tension, proper knotting, where to add more thread, and bead placement. Sloppy work will be evident even to the untrained eye of a potential buyer.
2. Terrific Design
Take the time to sketch out a general plan for what you want to make. This is the time to correct any design flaws not after you have gotten yourself into a problem. Plan ahead but allow room for the piece to grow and change. Make it interesting with changes in direction for your beads and embellishments. Odd numbers (1,3,or 5,) of focal or embellishments help balance a good design.
3. Tri colors
I find that working with three colors of beads makes for a more interesting piece. If you don’t know what colors work together, use a color wheel to help you. Using three colors makes it easy to add interesting features in your work. It can be three colors of the same value or three complimentary colors. I find that only working with 2 colors can be boring and hard to make the piece very interesting.
4. Texture
This is the one thing I find missing in a lot of otherwise good beadwork I see. Adding texture to your work just builds another level of interest and makes your work stand out above the rest. Think in levels of design to avoid a flat look to your work.
5. Top quality supplies
By using only the best supplies in your work, allows it to last a life time. Using good evenly matched beads, focal beads that have been annealed, high quality threads, good crystals and findings will make your work look outstanding. Nothing is worse than spending hours on a piece only to find that the bead color is wearing off as you handle them or the uneven seed beads don’t look right no matter how good your technique is. Remember that you are only as good as the products you use.
You can see my some of my work at www.designsbyroxan.com
Please feel free to add you hints and ideas to this post. I love hearing from all of you.
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