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.
This week’s winner is Carlene – you’ve won one of Heather’s Little Hoot Bead! Please email us your mailing address.
Today’s Studio Guide is ABS guest editor Melissa J. Lee. Let’s see what’s going on in her studio right now.
I’ve been thinking a lot about little pearls of wisdom recently, very little pearls of one to three words. Creating a few word charms was on my list of things to do for the past six months, and I’m finally sitting down to make them. I love incorporating a bit of text into my jewelry design, mostly lines of poetry, or secret messages in binary code or in (that exotic language) Pig Latin. However, I wanted to try something even simpler and shorter – individual words and short phrases (in English), none of which are inspirational in the traditional sense, but which might be taken as celebrating certain aspects of a wearer’s personality. The task of actually deciding what to say turned out to be more difficult and much more personal than I expected. Really, in the end, my choice of words probably says a great deal more about me, or what I aspire to be like, than anything else.
Here’s part of a quote that will be familiar to any New Hampshire resident. If you put aside the license plate for a moment, though, I actually find these words to be kind of inspiring, as an exhortation to live the creative life. It may sound corny, but for me, right now, independence means having creative freedom.
I think as we grow older, we forget how to play (or simply don’t have the time for it). I made these charms (intended for a bracelet and earring set) as a reminder that a little mischief can be a good thing, whether you’re an adult or a child.
This link is part of a set of two and is still a work in progress – guess what the other link says? Unfortunately, I accidentally broke the “loves me” link while prepping it for the kiln. Yikes! Good thing I’m not superstitious (well, not much). As with the word charms above, I’ve been thinking about the importance of “childish things”. The old children’s game seemed like a good subject for a pair of lighthearted earrings, which is the use I envision for this set, once it’s finished.
So my question for you is this: if you, too, incorporate words into your actual jewelry design, what words are you likely to use – words of love, words of hope, words of inspiration – and what do you think these words say about you? If you don’t actually use words in your jewelry, what individual words inspire your jewelry design? What words move your creative spirit?
Please leave your comments here. The winner from next week’s random drawing will receive one of my word charms. Thanks!
LampworkDiva
June 21, 2008 at 4:42 pmLove the word links, Melissa! Particularly the “kawaii” – there are some Anime fans in my house who wd love that one!
I like enigmatic words – words that can mean so many things that each wearer can re-interpret the meaning to suit her or him.
Cindy
LLYYNN
June 21, 2008 at 5:41 pmohh, ohh, hope I win (although I rarely win anything, no lottery or bingo wins for me ever) because these are so inspiring!
I like to use words sometimes from favorite quotations. I collect quotes from people that are funny, inspirational or mystical, in a little notebook. Poets like Emily Dickenson or authors like Mark Twain and Henry David Thoreau are great sources for pithy quotes.
If the quote gives the jewelry piece more meaning by providing a context for my idea, that’s satisfying.
Love these little links, the winner is going to be a lucky one!
Lynn
Jean
June 21, 2008 at 8:19 pmMelissa everything you do I LOVE!
abeadlady
June 22, 2008 at 12:47 amLove the charms! I like all kinds of words like “Serenity”, “Peace”, “Angelic”,”devilish”,”Wonder”. I do alot of bead embroidery and would like to be able to add words to that.
Arline
heatherwynn
June 22, 2008 at 1:52 amI am a certified logophiliac…
(sounds a bit naughty, right?)
I am forever inspired by words of hope, compassion, and anything sugary and romantic.
your little links are too cute =)
Carlene
June 22, 2008 at 3:01 amI love the playfulness of your charms! I don’t usually use words in my pieces, but sometimes add a tag that either says “dream” or “spirit”. I like to think that each of my pieces have a reflection of my spirit in it.
Gaela
June 22, 2008 at 12:11 pmAfter a trip to NYC to see my son, I was inspired. We had gone to Central Park to the Imagine Mosaic. I came home and made tons of “Imagine” bracelets. Sold them all. I love using words, short sayings in some of my pieces, usually the more playful ones. And I love your beads/links, the shape is so nice and new, I’ve never won on here, so maybe it’s my turn. I also use alot of GreenGirl Beads, as they are great and lots have wonderful sayings. NH- “Live Free or Die” here~here
Toystory
June 22, 2008 at 2:02 pmFunny, honest, cheap, grow, save, help, pray. Those are my words.
ababe28
June 22, 2008 at 10:05 pmI think I’m partial to the inspirational words….
Hope, Cherish, Be, etc!
ababe28(at)hotmail (dot)com
maryharding
June 23, 2008 at 12:01 amI really like your word charms Melissa. I have been making a piece recently that has the word Mom and another that says Beader. The other night we watched the Leonard Cohen tribute and all I could think of was Hallelujah. That one is a bit long but the song is so beautiful I may find a way of using it. You always inspire me Melissa. I love reading your blog.
Tracy
June 23, 2008 at 2:12 amThe words I’ve used have been names, mostly. I like the idea of words of hope and happiness but haven’t actually used them. Yet…
diane hawkey
June 23, 2008 at 4:30 pmI like to use words make people feel a little bit better after they read them- peace & love & all that jazz!
Soochal
June 23, 2008 at 6:04 pmI find I tend to use inspirational words fairly often – hope, dream, faith. I also (over?)use the word courage. Aside from the actual definition of the word, Courage is a family name. It’s a special word to me! =D
Lorelei
June 24, 2008 at 8:46 pmI rarely use words in my designs. I need some of these word links!
I like the idea of uncommon words… like long dictionary words that people don’t readily know the meaning of. There once was an Etsy seller that sold metal stamped copper tags with words like these. Anyone know if they’re still around? I loved them!
Melissa J. Lee
June 27, 2008 at 5:13 amWow, what great words and inspiration! I had a great time this month as a guest editor – thanks to the editors and all of the ABS readers for making me feel so welcome!
Rachel @ REvangeline Designs
June 27, 2008 at 12:45 pmMy all time favorite is “Time and Tide Wait for No Woman.” It inspires, me to focus on moving forward. I use “Time” and “Tide”, “Love” and “Breathe” lot in my head when I create.
I love your word charms!!
Lori Anderson Designs
June 29, 2008 at 2:06 amRight now the “word” bead I’m waiting to use in some earrings for myself say “&%#@!” — because some days are just like that, ya know?
chinamomxtwo
June 29, 2008 at 8:18 pmhow fun are these-love them!-would love to have one! (or more!LOL)
thx for the chance to win!
Naomi
July 1, 2008 at 3:23 pmI love “kawaii.” It needs to be an English word; “cute” is overused!