Design can come from several directions. It can be driven by a technique. It can be driven by a theme or a function. It can also be driven by a good stone. Sometimes when I find a stone that I really love I get stuck because I want the design around it to be perfect. That stone will probably sit on the shelf for a very long time. Here are a few tips that I have founs help get that stone off the shelf and into a design.

1. 1.Be open to switching out the stone. Tackle a design using that special stone with the intention that if it just doesn’t shine in that design, you will put in a different stone. This works especially well if you are working with a calibrated stone because you can just pop a different stone into your bezel. If it is not calibrated then you just have to make a new bezel. A little more work, but you will still have a finished piece.
   

2. 2.Make multiple preliminary sketches. So much of design work is creative problem solving, and putting pencil to paper often helps unveil a solution for that stone.
   

3. 3.Hold your work loosely. I had a professor in art school that would randomly go around and literally tear up students’ work. The lesson was to not get too possessive with your work. It was a good lesson. Understand that every piece you create is part of your creative journey and improves your skill. Sometimes a piece is worthy of being done multiple times. And sometimes a design takes on new life if recycled into a second design.
   

4. 4.Have multiple projects going at one time. This helps keep creativity flowing and will make that stone seem less intimidating. It also helps keep productivity high.
   

5. 5.Have fun. Remember that what you are doing is fun. Taking it too seriously can take all the joy out of the process and make you forget why you liked the stone in the first place!