Six Tips to Boost Beadwork Productivity

Beaders block is a real thing and can strike without warning. Here are some tips that I use to help me when in a slump.

1) Don't cruise social media for inspiration. There are a lot of reasons I don't cruise through social media (mainly Facebook and Instagram) for creative inspiration.  I find social media a total killer to creativity. Why? It is not a true and accurate reflection of the creative process. It is the end result of a bunch of processes. Often times those photos are doctored or the result of countless hours of work that you never see. Secondly, even if you are inspired, you can't do the exact same thing you see without risking intellectual property right infringement. Bottom line: It's not worth it.  

2) Look towards online and in-person museum collections, archives, historic photos for inspiration. We are historical-based people. What we do today is based on what our elders did prior. So, it makes total sense to visit collections directly or online. Pinterest can be a good spot for photos of historic works as its Google. Building off the shoulders of ancestors can be empowering and take away some of the loneliness that beader's block can bring. I will look at old family photos for inspiration and riff off designs my grandfather used to wear. There is something about it that makes me feel like he is sitting right there with me beading. But be sure that you make the work your own because if you don't know the maker or the meaning of the design, you might really ruffle feathers of family members by making straight copies of their family designs. 

3) Make a small project first, in between projects or during a project break. Taking on large-scale projects can be daunting. It is like looking at a huge mountain that you have to climb up by yourself with no equipment or rope. That alone is enough to cut off the creative energy. If you are in that slump before during or after, work on a small project that you can get done in a day. Having a finished project under your belt really helps motivation. Plus, it is always better to bead than not bead at all. You should really keep the muscle memory and rhythm of beading going. 

4) Don't take money up front. I don't take money up front for moccasins because as soon as I do, all my creative energy goes right out the window. I don't know what it is, but it has me thinking only about the next project and not about the one I already got paid for. I prefer to bead hungry. As soon as you take money, someone owns your creative time, and you run the risk of tangling with really tough customers that only zap you even further down a hole. Then not only are you uninspired, but you also have someone giving your name a beating on social media. If your interested customer doesn't pay up, don't worry, you will sell your product eventually. Remember don't ever ship your items without getting full payment. I have been burnt by people I thought were friends. 

5) Organize your beads. Clutter is a creative killer. Take the time to clean your area and organize your beads. Play around with color combinations and ideas. remember to take photos of the color combos too! Taking an inventory of what you have on-hand really helps your mind go into a project prepared. It is very difficult to plan a project if you have no idea what you have in the toolbox, and everything is scattered about. Most hate cleaning, like I do, but the best thing I ever did for myself was keep a clean, tidy space with all my beads categorized by color.  This also goes for supplies like glue, thread and scissors as well. Having the right tools for the job makes creating seamless. 

6) Don't bead sad. Remember, our emotions can pour into our project and whoever wears that work, will carry those emotions as well.  Put on your favorite music or show and get to work. But if you are in mourning, depressed or under the influence, please be mindful of the effect it might have on others. We want to bring light into people's lives, and we can only do that if our cup is full. 

I hope some of these work for you and I wish you all the best of luck in your creativity. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any creative questions. I am always happy to help. Check out my Facebook page because I give away beadwork patterns for free!  Also, don't forget to sign up for our newsletter as I will have some more updates and free content for bead workers.