Last time we chatted, I shared that I had been doing a lot
of thinking. And, boy, have I. There are 55 other women in this classroom and
we have been talking about a lot of things. Pricing, favorite designers, what
makes a line a line—all of this plus more has been discussed. What designer’s
really inspire us? What inspiration drives us to create?
Flowers drive me. I failed to mention two other influences
which have gotten me into this task of creation: Wendy Baker’s assemblage and
collage jewelry and The BSK My Fair Lady Collection of Jewelry created for the
film. I mentioned a few in the last blog, and you can go back and read it, if
you want to. It’s just below in an earlier blog.
I fell on Bendy Who’s (persona for Wendy Baker) site on Etsy
about six years ago. What she was doing
with metal flowers-OMG! The monochromatic flowers were fabulous. The color
combos were fresh and unique. And that was just for the component site. When she put things together for sale, she
prepared with a line in mind. The collage arrangements were over the top runway
gorgeous. If you haven’t been introduced
to her style, Google her name. It was a real inspiration. What I learned from studying the pieces that
she made was that she showed consistency yet diversity in her designs. Yet, you always knew they were hers. I also
learned you had to use quality materials for quality results.
The BSK My Fair Lady line was all about the
flowers—colorful, enameling holding the line together in rich colors on Russian
Gold Plate. Glorious! I had the entire
collection at one point. Beautiful.
How difficult could it be designing a line? Easy peasy, you
say? In what universe, I ask?
I thought this would be an easy thing to do. Had my ideas. Ready to go. Ordered my pieces.
And then we started talking in class.
And this was and still is a very good thing.
Somewhere in the middle of some night I was awakened by the
thought that I was used to doing one of a kinds. Even if they looked similar, they were not a
line. Essential questions like, would I
have enough materials available to do 10 or 12 of each piece if I needed to
emerged and demanded an answer. And, I
had to listen and start all over at the beginning because I was repurposing or
using limited vintage components. And much of that work did not come with
hundreds of pieces to purchase and use.
This is one unfinished piece I could justify getting enough of the vintage pieces from B'Sue and another vendor. In progress--please note that! My sole regret that as a non experienced person with a blade, I could not cut out the back of the cameo setting before mounting to show the light through the intaglio cameo I had placed onto the base.
I teach English. To
high school students. Most days. When they will listen. Which isn’t often. For the past thirty years. Please don’t judge
me by my writing here. I say that, to say this: when writing, one must know
one’s audience. Speaker. Audience. Occasion. Purpose. (How stuffy was that?)
So, back to basics for me. . .to whom did I want to sell ? Who was my audience?
I wanted to do my thing.
I wanted to make flowery semi-steam punk beautimous deliciousness which
would elicit awe and perhaps money. And I started putting together stampings.
And I thought I had it. Didn’t LOVE it,
but I thought this will do for the assignment. How many times had I done that
in college classes? This is what I thought I would use when I started. . . and I did. Sort of. . . .
Then the class talked about a lower tier impulse collection
for the line. Not lower quality , mind you—lower price. Something that would make a girl scream,
“That’s it! The price is right! I want
it now!” And so, I started there. And everything changed.
These pieces reflect my theme. I do not feel as if I settled for
anything. My audience is women aged
16-65. These pieces are clean, classic and timeless. Anyone could wear them. I do not see them as
trendy. I could see these being part of a yearly collection of favorites. .
.worn with all white as spring slides into Summer. I could see them being found years later and
being worn as contemporary as they are today.
I call them “The Hidden Portal.” They come in silver plate and gold plate
. I chose to place them on neck wires
instead of on chains as the neck wires work so well with B’Sue’s charm bracelet
wires so connect in terms of line and construction. Portals are important for
time travel in most steam punk art. The
gold plated and Silver Plated rings on the white floral resin pieces and the
connectors are all B’Sue’s. These pieces
are part of my lower tier—high quality—low price—giving you a taste of what you
can expect and then making you return for other pieces. They are still femme
but less Victorian fussy.
I have designed the charm bracelets so they have a few
charms on them. I did not want them
overladen with cha chas. Not a hater of cha cha's. . .I have made and sold many of those. I wanted them
clean and simple. I wanted them
unburdened so a person could see the beauty in buying several and wearing them
layered together. These are in progress as I need to add flowers to them.
Here is the list of supplies that were used for these
products. All are available on the B’Sue Boutique of B’Sue ETSY sites. I have links listed.
Pear Shaped Acrylic Flower
Supplies- Big Satin Matte Connector
Brass Circlet Steampunk Connectors
Brass Circlet Silver plate Connectors
Wire Charm Bracelet Antique Silver
Wire Charm Bracelet Gold
This is what constitutes the lower tier bread and butter
pieces of the line. It’s just a sneak peek at what’s to come! See you soon and don't forget to give me a holler so I know what's on your mind. Questions are welcomed!
So, now onto the rest of the Blog Hop:
Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B'sue
Boutiques
Marcia Tuzzolino
Jann Tague
Judy King
Apt to Wander Studio
Linzi Alford
Cynthia Wainscott
Carole Carlson
Lynn Stinten
Marica Zammit
Catherine Shattuck
Michaele Collie
Mary Craig
Lee Koopman
Erin Whitacre
Monica Casady
Leila West
Cindy Peterson
Leila Belcher
Gloria Allen
Pamela Anger
Tammy Adams
Lynda O'Mara
Elizabeth Hildreth
Dana Hickey
Janet Calardo
Maria Clark
Lori Beekman
Jennifer Kroeger
Amy Jorgensen
Robin Reed
Ingrid Anderson
Louise O'Shields
Susan Killam
YOU ARE HERE
Mary Katherine Deis
START HERE
Nike Bottalico
Susan Bowerman
Kristy Le
Jan Peters
Mitzie Crider
Gina Hockett
Linda Anderson
Alexandra Sefton
Melida Boman
Teresa Shurter
Melissa Latimer
Renee Hong
Nadine Edris
Lori Meyer
Jennifer Merrill Williams
Denise Lussier Poirier
Renee Allen
Autumn Adams
Elizabeth Owens
Kat BarronMiller
Sandra Ballard
Coral Law
