My journey into the realms of Focal Beads has taken me by surprise. Having made the first couple of Flower Focals I knew I was hooked, but I have been surprised by how much these little beads took over my creativity for over a week.
I was like a thing possessed! Most of you who know me, know that I am a butterfly, always flitting around from one technique to another, from one style to another and usually when I have made one or two of something, then I am off looking for the next exciting thing I can make in polymer.
Not this time. First a series of 8 Flower Focals. Then I had images of fish in my head and knew that I would have no rest until I had captured them swimming all over my beads and in and out of reeds and weeds.
So several days later I had another series and another 8 Fish Focals.
Then I had images of Birds Flying....unfortunately, these proved more tricky. I did not want a "cute" looking bird and that's what I kept ending up with. Frustrated and surrounded by various canes of all shapes sizes and colours (you should have seen my work table - talk about no room to work!) I decided that the birds were obviously waiting for warmer weather before allowing me to capture them.
By now I would ususally be thinking of the next new project - some Mica Shift maybe? Or perhaps some valentines hearts? I really should be making stock for Saturday's Craft Fair at Cirencester, but no - my muse demanded yet more Focal Beads and suddenly I knew what I wanted to put on them. Trees. Trees in winter against glowering skies, trees just coming into blossom in the spring before the leaves have had a chance to show themselves, trees in all their summer glory - autumn leaves drifting...I think you get the picture.
So 9 hours later I have another 7 Focals with Trees. Phew!
I am so happy with these beads - a completely different style of work for me and it has been great doing them.
Now I can finally start on something completely different - unless of course I do a series of butterfly ones......Hmmmm.!
