The Zen of Building a Better Bead

From my new fall collection
My latest online class:  Building Better Beads with Dan Cormier

What a learning experience!  I'm pretty experienced with polymer clay and know there is always something new to learn.  In this class I built a bead in 4 weeks.  No, I've never taken that much time to build a bead!  A lot of time was spent on each step building the best bead I could instead of making lots of beads as fast as possible.  The zen experience of looking at each step and deciding if it was the best it could be before going to the next step really made me focus.  While I may never spend that much time on a bead again I will look at what I'm doing with more discerning eyes evaluating time, value and quality.  

Seeing the process of each step through the eyes and hands of a skilled professional who is willing to teach is invaluable.  Getting feedback on how to improve is so important.  The skills of sanding and buffing polymer, steps to bring a high gloss to a piece, definitely add time to the project. Is it worth the extra effort?  Oh yes, it's magic!  Then there is the part about using the right tool for the right job.  Comparing a lambswool buffer and a cotton buffer made the difference between a shiny finish and  a glass like finish.  Yes it's worth knowing.  Had I not taken this class, I may have opted for the shortcut.  

Now I have a new fall collection - unique and filled with quality.  Can't wait to show it.  Photography is next and then I'll share.  I've shown a couple of photos here as a teaser!

From my new fall collection!






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Location: Prescott, AZ, USA

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