Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard.
The following week we choose a random winner.
The following week we choose a random winner.
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This week we visit the studio of
Gaea Cannaday of Gaea Handmade
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This week’s winner is sandi m. Congratulations! You have won a pair of copper links and ear wires by Miss Fickle Media! Send Erin an email with your address and she will get your prize out to you soon!
It’s not as if I’ve had some long winter here in the forever sunny Southern California (Yep. I am complaining), and in fact we’ve had nothing but summer weather for the last two months (Seriously. I would like a bit of weather). Even with a lazy winter I am finding myself drawn to the colors of spring and blooms. Maybe it’s the horrid state of my dingy “studio” (I won’t depress you with the state it’s in) that is pushing me to find calm and brightness in the outside world. Maybe I should just choose one small spot and make a go of it? Create a space that is fun and soothing to work in? Eh. That would cut into my bead making time! Usually my husband sees the state of things, takes pity on me and lends a hand. (He has unnatural organizing and cleaning skills!)
At any rate, I am so lucky to live somewhere that inspires me. If I am feeling at a loss for ideas, heading out for a hike in the hills usually does the trick and clears my always cluttered mind!
For over 10 years I’ve been making ceramic pendants and beads and for almost 3 years, I’ve been putting these bundles of handmade ceramic pendants and beads together, finding inspiration outside of the studio…
In a town called Ojai. A place that I am happy to call home.
What inspires you to create? Do you have any tricks for finding inspiration when your creativity is at a low?
Leave a comment answering any of these questions and you will be entered for a chance to win a ceramic pendant and bead bundle from Gaea Handmade.
Thanks for joining me today!
Kristi
March 17, 2012 at 7:33 pmI use pinterest, and blogs, sometimes a book or random pictures.
Alice
March 17, 2012 at 7:38 pmWhat great photos of your home town Ojai. I live in Kansas where the weather changes daily. It can be very interesting, or frustrating, depending on the way you look at it.
I've been lusting over your beads for some time now. Those bundles are just the sweetest, and are an inspiration in themselves.
When I need to be inspired to create I browse the web, or flip through my huge stash of magazines.
Kym Hunter Designs
March 17, 2012 at 7:59 pmNature and my surroundings are certainly wonderful inspirations. Sometimes when I'm in a funk, I find that my favorite music (rock from 60's & 70's) will lift my spirits and helps me feel more creative. I'm also inspired by the various challenges and blog hops hosted by ABS and fellow bloggers. Art beads (like Gaea's) are also wonderfully inspiring. Sorry for the long post, but I was inspired 🙂
Malin de Koning
March 17, 2012 at 9:15 pmI could be inspired by basically anything to be honest. Being alive and all the things under the sky that exists. Most often of course things I find pretty, beautiful or exciting in some way. But if I feel uninspired or low on creativity I would possibly seek for something unexpected to inspire me. Something new and fresh for me. I love your beads and bundles Gaea!
Leah Curtis
March 17, 2012 at 9:57 pmI find beautiful beads like yours inspiring! I do find a lot of inspiration looking on the internet, whether it be at art beads, gemstones, or the beautiful work of other jewellery artists.
I've always been an outdoors girl, so I find nature quite inspiring. It's hard not to be inspired! But when I do have a lull, I think it's part of it. Taking time to relax and find inspiration naturally usually does the trick.
Patti P.
March 18, 2012 at 6:37 amI take inspiration from nature, the ocean & I love Pinterest. I also use postcards from beautiful places to give me ideas! Right now I have a pretty one from Prague wiypth ome gorgeous blues & golds!
Julia
March 18, 2012 at 6:58 amSuch beautiful beads! I love the cloud beads, especially <3
I'm a water-girl, myself, so when I'm low on inspiration I think of the ocean and other types of water. I look through photos that I've taken, and I have my collection of shells and sea glass on a shelf in my studio. I also have lots of "beach-y" items that I can look at to get inspired.
I'm on Pinterest, which is self-explanatory as to how it can inspire me, and I have my own REAL "inspiration board." I use Pinterest mostly for tutorials/DIY instructions, and my actual bulletin board for cuttings from magazines– usually fine jewelry styles that I'm borrowing design elements from!
I'm also a member of ColourLovers website~ there is always something new that can inspire over there! There are fresh palettes of all colors of the rainbow, and you can make your own using photographs. It's great for those days when I'm not feeling 100%, and I want to try a new color combination to cheer myself up– every time I'm over there, I find at least one new way of looking at color, and a different combination that I can use for my beading.
And when all else fails, I try a different medium for a short time. I'll crochet a few rows of a blanket, or I'll knit a pair of fingerless mitts, or I'll paint, or scrapbook, or pretty much anything BUT make jewelry. I usually manage to find myself rejuvenated, and sometimes inspired, by my creations in other mediums <3
*~* Julia *~* http://beautifullywhimsical.blogspot.com *~*
Tania Tebbit
March 18, 2012 at 11:01 amOne thing I don't find inspiration from is looking at the pile of beads sitting in front of me crying out to be formed into some amazing piece of adornment. I need to find my head, funnily enough I can't do that without cleaning the house first (YUCK!). I find inspiration from photography usually, colour combos, and nature, I live in an amazing part of south east Queensland which the landscape turns for undulating valleys to rainforest mountains, the cool air and waves in the landscape bring out my spiritual and creative sides.
sandi m
March 18, 2012 at 2:02 pmI'll pull out my books or back issues of bead magazines; sometimes just make little bead soups and let them simmer.
Love Gaea's beads.
mlsjewel
March 18, 2012 at 2:29 pmWhen I am in a 'funk' I just leave everything and go do something else. Sometimes I surf the web, take a nap etc. Then when I go back to the beads, I let them speak to me. I work in a mess, everything just laying all around, I find that most of the time there is a pattern just laying on the table waiting for me to see it!!! Actually I think its 'angels'. Works for me!!
Erin S
March 18, 2012 at 5:27 pmI get inspired by looking through my favorite shops on etsy–both seeing what other jewelry artists are doing, and looking through my favorite supply shops for interesting components.
CraftyHope
March 18, 2012 at 5:29 pmI'm often inspired by seeing what others' make. Whether through blogs or magazines something as simple as a shade of color they used or a twist of wire will inspire a whole other idea for me (I promise I don't copy designs) As well, I often dream designs. I'll simply wake up with a design idea in my head. Both of these sort of inspirations immediately go into my sketchbook to attempt on another day. So, when I'm stuck and the beads just aren't speaking to me, I flip through my book and work on the ideas I've saved there!
Of course, pure sunlight can bring out the most inspiration in me. I full a surge of energy when the sun is shining bright and will just sit and work for hours as long as it stays bright. It's like fuel for my soul.
Nancy R.
March 18, 2012 at 6:19 pmDesperation is a great motivator for me. There's nothing like the approach of a deadline to get me started–finally.
lucia hsu
March 18, 2012 at 6:36 pmalthough i'm inspired by all the same things mentioned above, i take a different slant sometimes and i think it's because i've come to beading at an older age ..i'm 63 and sometimes think that i have so many things i want to try and time's running out so i'd better get going! i love that my grandchildren think of me as their "artsy" grandparent and i'm inspired to share that with them…in either case, i love your beads ! cheers, lucia
Kirsi
March 18, 2012 at 6:57 pmMusic, friends in painting with fire inspiries me a great deal
kindly
Kirsi
Kristen
March 18, 2012 at 7:04 pmI can usually find inspiration from looking at magazines or books. I also live in a beautiful place (Vermont) and I can be inspired by just looking out my windows! My husband is a wonderful flower gardener and I study color combinations of flowers and foliage to get ideas for my enameling. Love your beads!
Pam/Klassy Joolz
March 18, 2012 at 9:25 pmI sometimes dream about a design and then make it. I get inspiration from the beads laying around my work area. I have a customer that always challenges me with themed jewelry. Blogs, ABS and my bags of ideas (beads) that I will eventually get to (I hope), also, inspire me.
Thanks for a nice giveaway Gaea!
Smiles, Pam
[email protected]
Designed by Vera
March 18, 2012 at 10:03 pmWhen I am in a crunch, I go outside and look to nature, or read through some jewelry mags, or try "cleaning" up my bead stock and usually something will hit me and I am back in the saddle.
Beaditi
March 19, 2012 at 4:42 amI simply love the "gaea" goodies – lovely pastels and earth tones for flowers,lady bugs,love letters and mermaids!
I take inspiration from experiencing the four seasons I get to see in the washington dc area….colors and textures from foliage and flora fauna, clothing and accessories on my train commute, seasonal vegetables and fruits from wholefoods across my home, and my favorite indian fashion designer from his facebook profile!
Ultimately I feel every set of beads is "destined" to be used at the right time for the right design…and I wait for that 🙂
Beaditi on Etsy
Sandi Volpe
March 19, 2012 at 7:09 pmGaea beautiful beads and inspiration. I am inspired by the seasons as soon as spring hits and the flowers start to bloom it is on to spring and summer colors, with the fall/ winter darker colors. Of course blog hopping and magazines is great for eye candy and inspiration too!!
Gina Chalfant
March 25, 2012 at 5:49 pmNature is my #1 inspiration but I also find literature and poetry to be helpful. I love to look at paintings for inspiration incorporating colors and themes from them. I love your work, it is an inspiration to us all.
Fria
June 11, 2012 at 11:58 pmVery unique designs!! I really love the Paisley Disk, Mermaid, and Owls Beads. How much for those Items? and how much for the shipping cost?
"Fria" for rideaux pour cuisine en lin