In general, do you find that your ideas come first, and then you figure out the tools to realize them, or do your ideas come out of the capabilities of your tools?
Sometimes it is like making Stone Soup. I start out with one cool found object and then the idea (lets make "soup"), after that I find ingredients that will go well with the soup (tools, techniques, and materials).
Even if I don't have the tools to realize an idea I still build it in my head. Even if it never gets built the process of overcoming problems while designing will help out with other projects later.
To answer your questions, no one way is best as long as you like what you are doing.
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Sometimes it is like making Stone Soup. I start out with one cool found object and then the idea (lets make "soup"), after that I find ingredients that will go well with the soup (tools, techniques, and materials).
http://www.lostmachine.com/projects/heartlamp/lamp.html
http://www.lostmachine.com/projects/chessboard/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBCSCb4f5xE
Sometimes someone wants something and then I am more of a designer than an artist, but what they want needs to be "Artsy".
http://www.lostmachine.com/projects/chess/index.html
Sometimes I get inspired by someone else's work and I'm determined to make something with their idea.
http://www.lostmachine.com/projects/elephant/dali.jpg
http://www.lostmachine.com/projects/elephant/index.html
Sometimes I'm limited on what I have to work with. I built this one with some basic hand tools and a drill, soldering iron and a small grinder.
http://www.lostmachine.com/projects/dryboard/dryboard.html
Even if I don't have the tools to realize an idea I still build it in my head. Even if it never gets built the process of overcoming problems while designing will help out with other projects later.
To answer your questions, no one way is best as long as you like what you are doing.