Draping in Freeform Designs

I know I have touched on the importance of fit in freeform before. Freeform is not unlike working with fabric, it needs to sit in a way that best highlights the work. When I get to certain point in my design. Generally as I am starting to think about length and fit, I use draping techniques to ensure it sits correctly. The good thing about starting with a minimal base of peyote or no base at all is that you can go and zip up or add to sections that take away from the drape. I often hold my work up in front of a mirror but if you are lucky enough to have a bust or sewing form this is a great way too. If I am making a piece for myself I use a small bust with pins but this is not substantial enough for every body type.

As can be seen by this beautiful Zac Posen design, the way something sits can make or break a piece. Take my own current work in progress. You can see by simply pulling it together or pulling it out the drape changes.

The Importance of Being Original

I recalled an interview with Heidi Klum, discussing a necklace she loved and wondered if this was her own brand. During a google search, I came across this story: Heidi Klum Law Suit. Although most handmade jewellery artists are truly small fry, every business has the potential to take off, imagine if your design took off then you had to end it all. Design is a funny thing, not unlike academic writing, ideas are merely a conversion of a collection of inspirations and experiences. However, most designers have experienced the customer's request for a knock off. Some design concepts are so popular or generic that this doesn't matter. Although, most of us will take a style of popular jewellery and change it to suit our own signature. Isn't it more meaningful and special to own an original or one of a kind than something everyone else is wearing.

Long and Lean

Like clothes, different necklace lengths, shapes, and sizes suit different body types. However, there is one style that I think looks nice on small and large frames alike. Rope length which is 40 inches in the imperial system. This style lengthens a shorter body as it draws your eye up and down the body. It also draws the eye in and detracts from larger frames. The only body type that may struggle with this length is those ladies with a larger bust as they tend to catch on a breast. This can be solved though by cinching it in the middle. As a shorter woman I wear this style a lot and without fail get a lot of compliments. For the designer this style can be a fun way to use up beads and does not require a clasp.

Today I created two rope length necklaces both using saved up bead soups. All beads were too special not to use but there wasn't enough for a design featuring just a single style of bead. 

The first one is Pink Lemonade. A pretty array of pink toned beads, freshwater pearls, glass beads, shell beads and crystal. 

The second is Green Berry, a yummy pallete of purples, blues, blacks, and green. 

Both are available in my Etsy store. 

My first Etsy item has been listed

Just a quick note to share an exciting milestone. I finally bit the bullet and listed an item on Etsy. I was going to wait until I built stock but that probably result in me never having the confidence to just do it. I might not sell anything but I made the first step.

These covered cabochons are up for sale

They are so sweet and so much fun to make. 

The listing can be found here:
The Cedar Beader on Etsy