On Experimentation

'Painters and poets alike have always had licence to dare anything. We know that and claim and allow to others in their turn the same indulgence. ' ......Horace

You've heard 'there is nothing new under Heaven.' And it is infuriating when somebody goes public with your design. It happened to me in September but I expected it, thank goodness.

I had made 3 necklaces where the clasp was replaced with 2 long long bead ropes. I got the idea from 2 places: 1. the beautiful tunics out of India with a bit of embroidery at the nape of the neck, and 2. from jewellery, again from India, that did more or less the same thing. I had my 3 necklaces in my booth at the September Bead Oasis show in Toronto. And on the first day a woman came through my booth wearing a necklace with trailing chains down the back. All I can say is that my necklaces were prettier and better made.

Well, you know just as soon as I finished that show I completely forgot about this wee innovation and carried on with peyote and right angle weave (RAW) and spiral and ..... you get the idea.

I came across these necklaces the other day and now I'm thinking about adding a couple more to the collection. And I think I'll stay in the same deep gold and gemstone colours: they look a bit like enamel from a distance. I don't have any more agate pendants but I do have lots of wonderful 'special' beads to take their place.

Now it's to be expected that other designers will come across this idea and may be inspired by a totally different something. But the difference between their idea and mine is the same as the difference between s/he and me. And I think that's what Horace meant. Take an idea and run with it: change the colours, change the techniques, change the pendant and ..

The difference between those of us who believe we have no talent and

artists and artisans is our belief in ourselves and the willingness to experiment. When it comes to trying one must have the attitude that it is just an experiment and no matter the outcome we have an answer. Sometimes it's what doesn't work but the answer is still positive: you'll know what NOT to do next time.

Get it? Whether you make jewellery for sale or as gifts for you and your family and friends you must approach the process as would a child. Learn through your experiments and don't beat yourself up if you don't like the first attempts. Dare to experiment. Have fun doing it. If it isn't fun then it's not worth doing it.

Well, that's just my opinion. ....Helen