Welcome to my Blog

Welcome to my Blog…….my very first Blog entry…..my journey so far!

I never thought that I would be doing a blog however there is a very good reason that I am starting one now at this stage of my creative endeavors.I have always been creative and started making jewelry about 2000. It was sterling and Swarovski then slowly other types of beads. In 2002 I fell in love with polymer clay. I made so many beads and still have a lot that remains in my stash. 

Some of my stash of polymer beads. 

Interest faded with working full time, kids, aging mother, then grandchildren. It was when I retired in 2010 that I discovered Pinterest. It was creative inspiration overload. Eventually that led to B’sue Boutiques videos by Brenda Sue Lansdowne on making jewelry. I loved what she was doing and how she was doing it.  I wanted to try my hand at some different type of jewelry that was so artistic and cool.  I was hooked. I joined the B’sue Boutiques’ Creative Facebook Group which has the most amazing, sharing, and gifted  artists.

In May of 2014 B'sue Boutiques sponsored a weekend retreat with the famous polymer artist, Christi Friesen, teaching a 2 day class in polymer clay! A dream come true to meet both these inspirational artists. We all had a fabulous weekend and it renewed my love of polymer clay. I also got to meet many of the Facebook friends that I had made in these groups. I joined the B’sue’s Bohemian Vibe FB group that was started in collaboration with Christi and is a mix of B’sue’s metal stampings, components with polymer clay.

This was an awesome class where I got to meet so many wonderful artists.

Fast forward to December 2014 when I did my first craft show in more than 12 years. It was the Lauren Hill Wings of Hope Foundation Extravaganza! It was a great show and I proved that I could do it. It was also a success for the foundation that was created to honor Lauren Hill, her efforts to raise awareness for pediatric cancer, especially DIPG, an inoperable brain tumor which she has, and the families effected by this disease.  

The Lauren Hill Wings of Hope Foundation Extravaganza that I did in December 2014. The necklace in lower right picture is what I designed to represent their foundation logo. 

And finally to get back to why the blog?  In January 2015 I am going to participate in an intensive 3 month Build A Line Challenge, sponsored by B’sue Boutiques, where I will  create a cohesive line of jewelry to start my own signature style. One of the requirements is to have a blog to document the journey of getting your line of jewelry created.  So here is the first of many entries to start out a new beginning for 2015.

Hope you take a peek every now and again to see what I am up to.

Janet Calardo 

Jan Lea Designs