Joy!

The Joy of Creating!

How do you explain to someone the sheer joy you feel after taking a bunch of beads, some sterling wire and some findings and seeing that you have created something magical?

How do you convey the pride you feel seeing one of your creations bring a giant smile to someone's face? To the look of "Wow" you see in their eyes. That's joy!

Oh, I'm sure a painter feels it when they see their finished piece hanging on a wall - but for me it's the feel of the beads - the smoothness, the coolness of the stones, the textures of the rough pieces. Sometimes I can just run my hands through a bowl of beads of different sizes, textures and shapes and feel certain beads telling my fingers "pick me, pick me" and the finished piece takes shape in my head before I've picked another bead. That's joy.

I think what has always drawn me to beading is the number of components that go into making a piece. Pick the beads by texture, color, shape, weight. Pick the complementary colors, the shapes of the spacers that highlight without distracting, the sterling silver wire and beads that complement, and the clasp that adds beauty without overpowering everything else. Finding a balance that's almost mathematical.

The joy of creating! It is Magic.

Terry