Finishing Up

I've been trying very hard to complete my Beading For A Cure 2010 project before I leave for Bead & Button Show at the end of the month. With the exception of tearing one part apart and redesigning it, it is starting to come together. My DH is rather astounded by my designing style. He can't understand how I can just pick up a needle and the beads, start work, and make what I want without sketching or designing it before then. What he doesn't understand is that I am working from a mental image that is complete, but that changes occur to meet the physical realities that can sometimes insert themselves between a dream and reality. I'm working on one of the final portions now, and it should allow me to finish this no later than the middle of next week. And, as much as I wanted to put enameling with it, I decided to pass on that and just work this one with beads. Part of that was time, but the other part was that the design of the piece altered as the elements came together in real space and I think that the enamel would actually detract from the finished look. There are still a few challenges in the future to make the project complete, but so far I'm pretty happy.

So...when you think of a project, how do you approach it? Although I love to have my sketchbooks, I will rarely do much to sketch out an idea. My ideas are already in my head and it is my job to make them appear in real-space. Sometimes there are years between the design and the realization of it because I have to acquire the skills necessary to make the project. So, do you work a project out little bit by little bit? Do you start by working out a small detail and then branch out from there? Are you economy driven - i.e., you have to make X number of pieces by Y date for a sale or a show? What works well for you and what doesn't? When you know how you design, you can fine tune the method(s) that work best for you and become a more effective and productive artist.