The holiday shopping season is upon us. Yes, the dreaded scramble to find perfect somethings for everyone on your list. I haven’t even begun shopping and making gifts. Worse yet, my creative side is on hiatus. This is the time when I go searching for inspiration whether it is in a magazine, book or someone else’s creation (yes, we ALL do that from time to time).
The first thing I do? Rummage through my jewelry making books that I have on hand. Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders by Irina Miech published by Kalmbach Books is one book in my collection. There it is, the perfect gift for my mom on page 24. Burst of Color has a lot of bling, perfect for my mom. Swarovski crystals, silver tubes, and some basic findings. Easy! My creative side is back in action! On page 65, Zigzag Rings. Who doesn’t like cute, funky rings!?
Finding your creative side during the hustle and bustle season isn’t as hard as you think. You just have to be willing to set aside a few minutes to do some research, flip through some books and magazines and create a list of projects. Plan ahead and do one project at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Purchase and gather the materials for one project, complete the project and move on to the next one.
Being comfortable and prepared is extremely important while making your holiday gifts. It will definitely show in your finished products. Do you have proper tools? How does your workspace look? Do you need a bead mat or project board? Do you have ample lighting? Will you need some gift boxes for your finished pieces? Take these questions into consideration and begin your holiday gift-making season prepared and excited!
Heather Black is the owner of Northampton Beadery LLC and is a handmade Jewelry designer. Heather enjoys staying involved in and supporting local arts and is a member of the Artisans of Western Mass where she can be seen at craft fairs throughout the year in either a sponsorship or seller role.
