No matter which of the multitude of beading ideas I'm pursuing, I consider patterning as the single most vital aspect of the hobby. A good pattern can cover a multitude of other bead craft design sins, and skilled crafters will spend lots of time fiddling with their patterns to get them just right.
In this article, I will take a brief look at two sources of inspiration for your bead craft ideas that you may not have thought of. Consider this an experiment in cross discipline thinking, and it's my hope that when you read these words, your mind will immediately begin turning on the subject, and a whole boatload of OTHER thoughts will fall into your lap. Even if that does not happen though, that is still a ward against the bead craft equivalent of "writer's block." So here goes:
Poetry
Any poem that's not free verse has a rhyme and meter to it. Haiku's structure is 5-7-5. Iambic pentameter has its own rhythm, and so on. There're a multitude of rhythms to select from, and inspiration is as close as your nearest volume of poetry.
Take the haiku example. You can construct a pattern around the haiku rhythm, 5-7-5. An arrangement of 5 beads. A different arrangement of 7, and then back to five. Go over this around your necklace (or bracelet, or whatever) and you will have created a "haiku bead craft necklace."
Or if your favorite poem is consists of funky rhythm like
a-b-b-a
b-c-c-b
c-d-d-c
(go over)
You can organize a bead craft pattern around that (each letter represents a different element) to striking effect. And, your bead craft project will have a remarkable story around it!
Sheet Music
Another brilliant source for inspiration to enrich your bead craft projects is sheet music. Assign one bead component to each note and place according to whatever song you select.
As you please, either ignore sharps and flats or add wholly new bead craft ideas elements for them. Start with anything easy. Design a "Mary had a little lamb" necklace, playing with the elements until you are happy with the outcome. Again, an off beat method of looking at the topic of patterning that can enhance the execution of your bead craft ideas in unexpected ways!
*Note: You will perhaps only wish to concentrate on one line of the sheet music in your bead craft project, lest you make something much too big to be usable! Note too that pattern and medium can, and generally will, influence each other! What may work well with semi-precious stones might not be as viable with a wood/metal mix, so there is certainly a bit of experimentation involved! The key thing, regardless of where your inspiration comes from, or what form it ultimately takes, is to stick with it! Persistence and experimentation will almost always win the day!
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