{"id":7664,"date":"2010-01-06T03:39:29","date_gmt":"2010-01-06T11:39:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/?p=7664"},"modified":"2010-01-06T08:05:22","modified_gmt":"2010-01-06T16:05:22","slug":"making-polymer-clay-beads-learn-how","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/making-polymer-clay-beads-learn-how\/7664\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Polymer Clay Beads for No Reason Other Than to Learn How"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Polymer <\/span>“Make beads just for the making… this was an eye opener for me.” ~Rose-M<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Before Christmas, a member of the Polymer Clay Tutor Library<\/a> (Rose-M), made an interesting comment that many of you probably missed because of all the other things happening during the festive holiday season. It was an important “eye opening”<\/em> comment that’s worth repeating. So today I’m re-posting Rose’s story, along with my original response… plus a bit of added commentary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s What Rose Said…<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I love the idea of having leftover beads. Somewhere in my subconscious is the idea that everything I make has to have a purpose. Watching Cindy’s videos showed me that people make beads just for the making. I’m sure you all are thinking duh, but this was an eye opener for me.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So, for the past few days, I’ve been making lentil beads<\/a> – one of a kinds – just for the practice and fun. I plan to make some book beads<\/a> to use with the book hooks<\/a> I’m planing to make for a few friends. I made one yesterday for myself (I confess to being a page corner turner) and like the look of it. Maybe having a pretty book hook will get me using it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I’m looking forward to making more of the beads in the videos I purchased. I see a future with a big container of beads.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

~Rose-M<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And Here Is My Original Response…<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Rose, excellent point you brought up! I think that when you are learning to master a material such as polymer clay, the goal is to ‘work with’ the clay and learn the techniques even if the style is not your choice, or you have no end ‘purpose’ for that particular kind of bead.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Just by doing the techniques in every video, you will become a better clayer. You don’t have to do large amounts of them, just try every single technique. You can figure out what to do with the beads later.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In fact many polymer clay artists, sell their beads rather than make anything with them.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you wait until you need a certain style of bead for a project before you try the technique, you may never get around learning the wonderful nuances of the clay.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For example, if you wait until you need faux bone beads<\/a> for a tribal jewelry project<\/a>, before you learn how to make a faux bone cane, you may never get the chance to see how the translucent and opaque layers mingle with each other. Or how the antiquing medium, sits in the scratches and grooves of the wonderfully polished bone beads.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You may never make more faux bone beads, but the experience will lead you to more discoveries about the medium, that you may not have found otherwise.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So think of this bead making journey more as a “Build the Bead and the Purpose will Come<\/em>” kind of thing. It will be a much more freeing and creative experience for you that way!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

~Cindy-L (me)<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ever since I wrote that response for Rose, I’ve been wondering just how many others may be holding back too. Waiting for the day when you need a Jupiter Bead<\/a>, a Faux Raku Bead<\/a> or a Gerbera Flower Cane<\/a>?<\/span><\/p>\n

Did you realize that while you are waiting for the perfect day to make that certain bead, or practice a particular technique demonstrated in one of the weekly video tutorial lessons<\/a>, that you are also losing out on valuable learning opportunities?<\/span><\/p>\n

That the techniques you could have been learning, even if they weren’t your particular taste, could be the stepping stones you need to finding your own artistic voice<\/a>?<\/span><\/p>\n

When new knowledge (whatever it is)<\/em>, comes your way, embrace it. Learn everything you can from it and then move on. That is how you become the artist and craft person that many of you are craving to become.<\/span><\/p>\n

So come on everyone… mix those color recipes<\/a>, do those techniques, make those beads and live the creative life, you came here for in the first place!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n**************************************************************************************************<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n** Win Some Beads:<\/strong><\/span><\/span> Would you like to win a gift package of handmade beads made by me personally? If so, I sure would appreciate your feedback about a new giveaway contest I’m thinking about launching: Polymer Clay Beads, Handmade by Cindy Lietz<\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n**************************************************************************************************<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"Cindy\"Polymer<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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