The Creative Process can be a Chore

I've been spending a lot of time this week designing what I'm hoping will be a pair of very elaborate, draping, sparkly earrings for The Book, but the earrings still aren't finished. You'd think, "Hey--a pair of earrings? Easy." But I've easily made 5 attempts at them already, and still haven't had success.

The creative process is a tricky one, isn't it? And ever so time-consuming with beads. Here's a quick overview of my battle:

Here are the components I started with:(from left) a very thin 6mm foil-backed crystal triangular stone (#4722); an 11.5mm foil-backed crystal chaton (#1028/SS50); and a very thin 8x4.8mm foil-backed topaz drop stone (#4300).


I felt compelled to bezel those tiny crystal fancy stones with size 15 seed beads, so I tried doing so with some pretty rhodium beads from Virginia and Carol. I figured out the complicated bezeling for the shape, but realized I didn't like how the seed bead color washed out the crystal brilliance. Plus, the metallic plating on these beads are just a micro millimeter too thick, making it look slightly bulky.


So I went with a more neutral antique-gold lined seed bead and played with the pattern a bit to get a tighter fit. Here's one attempt at a more stream-lined backing. (Didn't work.)


Finally came up with a pattern that looked tighter, but unfortunately I feel the crystals in this version overpower the beadwork. I also realized the rounded seed beads are part of the problem in making the bezel look messier than it should.


Out came the size 15 Delicas in a gold-lined version. Right bead. Right color. The bezels definitely look more clean.


Bezeling the chatons came next. I really wanted to try something different, copying a technique I'd come up with for smaller chatons in a different project in The Book, but this attempt failed because the larger chatons are so thick.


Ended up with the tried-and-true right-angle-weave-to-peyote-stitch transition to make these. They are nice and tight and fully covered on the back so the sharp chaton point won't hit the neck while the earrings are worn...


So now on to bezelling those itty bitty drops. Here's my first attempt at a cup.


I'm realizing quite quickly that bezeling these suckers may be impossible. I'll give it another whirl or two, but may need to change course and use a drop with a hole in it instead...we'll see!

So that comprises about 10 hours of design work with no finished project to speak of. Lots of learning, though, and a couple of pretty nice components that employ some unusual materials.

Am I the only one who works like this? You know...stitching up the whole thing before realizing it needs a major change? Or do you see everything clearly right away? If the latter's the case, please tell me your secret!