B'Sue's Build-A-Line Challenge Blog Hop 2 is Here!

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. 

                                                           This is the gold plate

                                               This is the silver plate

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

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/flow0387.htm

Supplies- Big Satin Matte Connector

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/smg04568.htm

Brass Circlet Steampunk Connectors

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/fig0630.htm

Brass Circlet Silver plate Connectors

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/silwar0865.htm

Wire Charm Bracelet Antique Silver

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/cuff01754.htm

Wire Charm Bracelet Gold

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/cuff01742.htm

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

Jewelry Making Outside the Box

Marcia Tuzzolino

Aurora Designs

Jann Tague

Clever Designs by Jann

Judy King

Apt to Wander Studio

Linzi Alford

Magpie in the Sky, Spoil Heap Tales

Cynthia Wainscott

Exotic Peru

Carole Carlson

Beadsophisticate

Lynn Stinten

Dragonzwench

Marica Zammit

Bead Lovelies

Catherine Shattuck

VRBrose

Michaele Collie

The Vintage Gem

Mary Craig

Jewelry Alchemy

Lee Koopman

Strega Jewelry

Erin Whitacre

Shattered Time Jewelry

Monica Casady

MJCasady Copper Works

Leila West

Leila Nicole Designs

Cindy Peterson

Howling Dog Jewelry

Leila Belcher

Leila Bee Designs

Gloria Allen

Wings and Beads

Pamela Anger

Novegatti Designs

Tammy Adams

Paisley Lizard

Lynda O'Mara

LOmara Creative

Elizabeth Hildreth

MadScientistsDesigns

Dana Hickey

Wind Dancer Studios

Janet Calardo

Jan Lea Designs

Maria Clark

Sweet Willow Designs

Lori Beekman

B. Accessorized

Jennifer Kroeger

Relic Charm

Amy Jorgensen

Hoarder's Corner

Robin Reed

Artistry: Handcrafted Bead Designs

Ingrid Anderson

Lilis Gems

Louise O'Shields

Desire Divine Jewels

Susan Killam

Killam Creative

YOU ARE HERE

Mary Katherine Deis

The Rose Sword: Artisan and Vintage Collectible Jewelry

START HERE 

 

Nike Bottalico

Nike Bottalico

Susan Bowerman

Woodside Wireworks

Kristy Le

Kristy Le Trendy Jewelry Designs

Jan Peters

Stylized Vintage

Mitzie Crider

Needful Luxuries Occasional Blog

Gina Hockett

Freestyle Elements

Linda Anderson

From the Bead Board

Alexandra Sefton

Imaginary Jewelry and Altered Art

Melida Boman

The Journey of Pens and Things

Teresa Shurter

TreeZ's Treasurs

Melissa Latimer

Smithed Up

Renee Hong

Fine and Dandy Jewelry and Art

Nadine Edris

Moondance Jewelry

Lori Meyer

Parisienne Girl

Jennifer Merrill Williams

Artists of All Stripes

Denise Lussier Poirier

Jewelry by Denise

Renee Allen

Small Stuff Design

Autumn Adams

Autumn Dawns

Elizabeth Owens

1996 Shabby Lane

Kat BarronMiller

Midnight Kat Productions Art Jewelry

Sandra Ballard

Mama San's Mojo

Coral Law

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