How to get out of an Artists "Funk"

Hello friends!

Did you get bombarded with the crazy holiday rush? Are you STILL feeling tired and uninspired? I was too.. .. That is one of my least favorite things to have happen! There is nothing worse than getting into a FUNK with a capital "F"! I had wanted to make some more hearts for Valentine's Day, but nothing else was turning out.  So the big question is how to you get out of a funk? Well I usually start out with my favorite colors(lime green and aqua). I pick a design that is comfortable and easy to achieve. 

Here was my first batch of Vortex Flowers in a year! Wow I can't believe it's been that long since I have made them. 

Often times while I work my mind tends to wander. I get ideas as I am making other things. I had some curved pieces of wire sitting on my table for a heart design I wanted to create so I grabbed them and put them to work here.

Ok awesome, new ideas, right? So things turning out is good... 

Next I began looking for new color palettes as I tend to go for the same things. I hopped on over to Design Seeds for some color inspiration. I picked quite a few palettes which I saved on my Pinterest board for later. I kept browsing until I cam across this palette. I thought "Hmmm.. these are colors I don't normally use and I totally have some matches in glass!"

I thought I would just continue in Vortex Flower designs since I do need to stock up for the show this August(I think I forgot to tell you I am attending Bead Fest Philly this year in August with Staci!)  

I was quite pleased with results even thought this is totally NOT my color palette choice. I'm sure it's someones favorite. Infact I was pretty surprised you all liked them very much on Facebook. Who knew? :)

I ended up making this little Vortex flower in: black, ivory and raku and it just jumped together in this design with some "Falling Leaves" Wooly Wire! I just LOVE the way the wooly wire feels when your fingers run over it. Love those little flecks of sparkle too! Now we are ON to something. Beads turning out and a finished design! Woo Hoo! Genea-4, Funk-0!

Then I thought to myself how sweet it would be to make some Vortex Flowers in my "Bright Earth" Palette.

"Wing Dings" in my "Bright Earth" Palette.

Vortex Flowers in "Bright Earth" palette. Oooo yeah!! *fist pump* 

Here is the doodle for my design. Don't mind my TERRIBLE handwriting. You would think being an artist I would pretty handwriting, but NOPE. lol.

After making my necklace design above  the idea just STRUCK me for another design! I got to work the next day creating a collection of beads in the "Bright Earth" palette. 

Vortex Flowers, Bubble Button Wing Dings, Big Hole Flower Connectors, Swirl Leaf Glass Headpins,  and Swirl Pod Headpins! It was exciting to not only work in this palette, but to try out some new designs!

The new flower connector and wing dings attached with some "Bright Earth" Wooly Wire(not available quite yet, but soon.), and a wonderful flower connector and leaf from Karen.

The very FIRST part of the design on which I worked. I thought about the design a lot the day my beads were in the kiln and as I was falling asleep trying to work out how I would assemble it. I am SO pleased with the design and how it came out EXACTLY like it looked in my head! 

A close-up of the Vortex Flower pendant and Lorelei's Tin Snippets toggle!

The finished necklace worn. WOW, huh?! I can't wait to ROCK this at Bead Fest Philly this year! 

I hope this blog helped dig you out of your rut and get you back on track! See you soon.

Happy Creating!

xo Genea