I’ve just finished a necklace that really stretched me as an artist. Lori Greenberg and I decided to give the ISGB/Bead & Button project, Convergence, a whirl this year. It’s a great concept, teaming beadmakers with jewelry designers. From what I understand, they’ve had a great response and I can’t wait to see the results. ( I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we get in…)
I usually make the beads that I use in my jewelry so I know what I have and I have a pretty good idea about how I’m going to use them. This time, Lori and I talked several times about what we might do but when it came down to it, I told Lori to go ahead and make whatever she wanted and I would come up with some beads to coordinate. When she said she had made some beads that reminded her of the ocean, I thought… great! In my head they were the colors of the Caribbean and right up my alley.
When they arrived, I eagerly opened the package and pulled out beautiful beads… but they weren’t the colors of MY ocean. They were dark blue… There went the ideas swirling around in my mind! I was stumped, how was I going to make beads that would work with hers? I spent several days at the torch, trying to come up with something that would compliment her colors, and ended up with zilch!
That’s when I decided that I better stick with being the designer and leave the beads up to Lori. And that’s also when I started to stretch! Because we’re still waiting to hear from the jury and there are rules involved with Convergence I can’t go any further with my journey at the moment. But I promise to be back with ‘the rest of the story’ as soon as I can. It’s killing me that I can’t show, and tell, you more right now!
I am so excited about this piece! It is truly a labor of love.
…to be continued…
Nancy Sells Puffer is a lampwork bead/jewelry artist from Grand Rapids, MI. She blogs from time to time and has a website as well…
Erin Prais-Hintz says:
I am so excited to read your post! I had signed up to be a designer for this contest, and I even initiated contact with the very nice bead artist that I was paired with, but after our initial contact we sort of fell out of touch. I contacted the contest organizers in January and pulled out of the competition. I think it is really interesting that you are willing to give up control and let the beads take you where they will. That is the true spirit of “convergence”. I will be anxiously awaiting the results of this contest, and I only regret that I am not fully participating! I wish you the best of luck! Enjoy the day!
Erin
Tesori Trovati Jewelry Collection
http://www.tesoritrovati.com
February 11th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Nancy says:
Thanks so much Erin! Too bad it didn’t work out for you… Lori and I were talking about how different the experience would have been if we didn’t already know each other. I think there are pluses and minuses with both.
I took a look at your work – how very cool! I love using found objects as well, though they’re usually stones and shells.
Take care!
February 12th, 2009 at 4:28 am
Louise says:
These beads are so beautiful, my initial thought was Van Gogh’s Starry Night. I do hope you can continue Lori, regardless of adding beads or not these NEED to be turned into something!!
I have to keep scrolling back up they are so lovely!
February 12th, 2009 at 6:22 am