Seeing Red

Are you scared of red?  I tend to shy away from this color myself.  I would be hard pressed to find red beads in my stash, other than the few that I have created. 

I think it's because I'm never sure what to do with it. 

There are so many pitfalls with red:

Red + Green = Holiday
Red + Purple = Red Hat Ladies
Red + Black = Vampire
Red + Pink = Valentine

I think the trick to red and I could be wrong, but my thought is it to pair it neutrals - like charcoal gray, smokey quartz, earthy browns (like wood) and creams.  And then throw in several bright colors like these:

(Images from Pinterest - sorry, they weren't attributed.) 

Red + Teal + Yellow + Green

Red + Orange + Red + Purple

Red + Teal + Orange + Purple

I've been looking through images of bohemian styles and Indian cultures and how they pair red with other colors.  Layer on textures and fibers to give red a rich backdrop.  I also like the idea of mixing patterns like floral with geometric designs.  Several necklaces or bracelets paired together offer a bolder statement that are so in for this summer.  Chain and silk in varying lengths are an easy way to add layers with several larger pendants.

Hopefully this will give you some inspiration for playing around with bolder colors.  I know I'm looking forward to creating jewelry inspired by summer's trendier styles.

 Poppies and other red beads can found in my Etsy shop.

Swept Away

Inspired by the print on the dress in the painting 'Boreas' by John William Waterhouse. I was drawn to the design on the dress in this artwork and found myself sketching it several times while I let this inspiration sink into my heart. I wanted to create a pendant that captured the wind-blown and carefree spirit of the painting.

Some painting just make me sigh.  They pick at things deep in my brain and whisper things to my heart.  Once upon a time I would conjure up words like aesthetic experiences and the sublime - art touches my soul in such a spiritual way.  It's never just a pretty picture on a wall or more likely, on my computer screen.  I take in those pieces of artwork, I see the artist's touch, search for their message, find beauty that makes me want more than what the everyday and ordinary present us.  

I get swept away.  

I hope in some way, my love of artwork translates into my beads and jewelry.  That in some way that euphoria that catches me up in a painting finds its way into inspiring you when you create with my beads.

And just like an artist, I love creating in collections and exploring a series and theme to round out my body of work. I felt like purple would be a great variation of this pendant and I have a traditional red poppy that is waiting a little more paint.  I was also considering doing a peach color.  I don't know why but navy blue, dusty purple and peach/melon always appeal to me. Throw in rustic wood beads or smoky quartz faceted beads, some chain and sari ribbon and I'm feeling like my inner boho chic is ready to go.

If these speak to you, you can find them in my Etsy shop.