Themes in Jewelry

When beading, think of themes. Doesn't mean a party, simply a connecting thread. Just like the way the claimed healing power of certain stones gives a little more to a piece of jewelry without increasing the cost of it, themes can do the same thing. Think summer or any season, places, ideas - they'll all work for themes to give your jewelry that extra little something which makes each piece more interesting.

Here's a bracelet I made thinking of the ocean. The pearls gave me the idea for the inspiration. It doesn't look like the ocean - no shells or sea creature charms, but the beads come from the ocean...pearls and coral. I chose a peach-dyed freshwater (not really ocean, but close enough) pearl to coordinate with the coral. 

Even the clasp is ocean-themed. A gold-plated dolphin clasp completes the ocean theme.

Sometimes, though, a theme can be obvious. This shell necklace might not have been obvious to start with, but the addition of starfish charms leaves no room for doubt. Here's some earrings that have an obvious theme, too:

So if you get stuck with trying to create a design, sometimes the beads can speak to you in more than one way...let them! Instead of always thinking color or proportion, think themes and see what comes to mind.