When are you the most inspired? At your creative peak?
If you're like me, it's the weeks before your next big show.
Six months ago, I felt I was struggling to come up with fresh ideas for my jewelry. This past week, I'm on fire with them.
I've ordered new stock almost every day--silver findings, trade beads, freshwater pearls, vintage beads, semi-precious stones, leather and suede cording.
At the last gem and jewelry show, I picked up all kinds of fun stuff--rough chunks of fluorite and blue quartz, small faceted chips of amazonite, freshwater pearls in aqua, denim blue and brass green.
I love my new electric bead reamer, and my little butane torch that allows me to do simple soldering. These two inexpensive and easy-to-master tools allow me to do things I couldn't do before. The possibilities are endless.
And all of a sudden, a color I've hated for ages--RED--is all I can think about. Red suddenly seems potent and powerful. Red, red, red. And of course, because I didn't care for it, I don't have much of a red bead collection. Order more!
Chaotic piles teeter on my work table--small dishes filled with pearls and crystals, strands of trade beads, packets of delicate Thai silver beads, handmade soldered-ball headpins. A tin dish holds a handful of new faux soapstone bear and bird artifacts. Ivory horses have leaped from their boxes and lay every whichway on my table.
I've heard all the advice about forcing yourself to put the tools down and get your booth ready instead. I know what I SHOULD be doing....
But if there's one thing I've learned about shows, it's that something ALWAYS goes wrong, no matter how much you prepare. It's that old adage: A job takes exactly as much time as you allot for it. I know if I allot an entire week to get my booth ready, it will take indeed take a whole week.
And so for now, I'm enjoying thoroughly enjoying this little burst of energy, this little SHOW-SPIRATION.
The panic will set in later.
