Last week, the push was to go small on some pendants I was making - only to have others asking me to work bigger. It's a genetic flaw - I've always worked rather small - and It takes some serious attention and effort to go larger. I totally 'get' both sides, and will aim to fulfill everyone's wishes.
This morning, the first task of the day was to clean yesterday's kiln contents - which were mostly beads from my Jetstream sereis. It amounted to a handful - literally - after 8 hours - only a handful. BUT... these aren't any ordinary beads. They're one holed pendant *actually maybe you'd call them charms*... with a small sterling bail epoxied in place. I have many matching pair - perfect for earrings!
See, these beads are 10mm in diameter - and have three layers: silvered glass, fine silver wire, and an encasement layer. I love all the detail they have - and I love that they're so nice and small.
Small doesn't always equate 'less time & effort'... I remember years YEARS ago - Corina wrote about working small *yes, she is definitely someone who can pack a whole world inside a small bead!*. She said that it often takes MORE time to make a small bead because of the delicate nature of smallness, the precision work of small components, and that while the end result is YES... small - it just takes more effort. (Corina - obviously this isn't verbatum, apologies - but hopefully your general message does come through...?)
And to please the others - I've got some things in the kiln that should prove interesting... AKA, me working "not so small".
