Thursday, February 19, 2015

Build a Line Challenge by Jan Lea Designs Part 2 Blog Hop



                                                             
                                       The beginning of my Build a Line Challenge                                               
Welcome back to part 2 of my blog about the creative journey I am taking. I have been facing more than the Build a Line Challenge in the past 5 weeks which has not made it easy to keep up with blogging and the creating the way I had hoped. But I am on a better track now and hope to entice you all to keep with me on this journey of creating my cohesive line of jewelry, Simply Floral!

Our mentor Brenda Sue Lansdowne has provided us not only guidance but so much insight and wisdom that I feel so lucky to be on this journey. Recently she went into great detail about whether you are a hobbyist, jewelry maker or jewelry designer. I read all of this information and decided that at this time in my life I am a jewelry hobbyist. I may someday go to another level but right now I am in my happy place being who I am. The description is as follows:

"A hobbyist is someone who enjoys making jewelry for their own use, to share with friends and relatives as gifts, and maybe sell a bit on the side. They are more interested with exploring their abilities, trying out all the new trends and taking lots of classes."
"Hobbyists are important in a community of artisans as they provide a great deal of inspiration. A hobbyist is not necessarily a beginner; they could be very advanced in their abilities.   A hobbyist may also be well known as an artist.  At the same time, they have no need to build a line or concentrate their efforts in any one arena unless it's the 'technique of choice' at the moment."

Thank you Brenda for making me feel like I am in a place where I belong and love it. Thank you for this challenge.

B'sue - Brenda Sue Lansdowne
B'sue
                                                                              
So for now I have to focus on completing more pieces for my line. This will help  me to start building my pyramid from the bottom up. I will create multi tiers of products and price points for Simply Floral. I am creating some polymer clay elements for my designs in the smaller stages.  Here are a few pictures I wanted to share  what has been going on in my studio. Of course I always need other interesting components to create my line and other designs. The components can be found at  http://www.bsueboutiques.com/
                                                           
Lots of B'sue Boutiques brass and silverware silverplate components 

Polymer clay leaves and flowers with  B'sue Boutiques' brass & silverware silverplate components
   
I have posted a few completed pieces for my weekly challenges of Work Table Wednesday (WTW) and Follow Up Friday (FUF). These are so fun and needless to say motivating to get some things accomplished.  And sometimes there are some little gifts that B’sue gives out for posting to the group pages and Pinterest pages.You can follow me on Pinterest at  https://www.pinterest.com/janetcalardo/


Here is a recent  FUF posting. I have now included some matching earrings and plan on a few other items in the line to be unveiled on the last Blog Hop in March. 

                                                                             
My recent Follow Up Friday completion of part of my line
                                                                         
And finally below is the Blog Hop list of the Build A Line Challenge participants that are the most kind, caring, giving artists that I have ever met headed by our mentor and friend Brenda Sue Lansdowne of B’sue Boutiques.  

Thanks for joining me on this journey!

Janet
Jan Lea Designs

Brenda Sue Lansdowne
Jewelry Making Outside the Box
http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/

Marcia Tuzzolino
Aurora Designs
http://auroradesignsjewelryblog.me./

Jann Tague
Clever Designs by Jann
https://janntague.wordpress.com/

Judy King
Apt To Wander Studio
https://apttowander.wordpress.com/

Linzi Alford
Magpie in the Sky, Spoil Heap Tales
http://magpieintheskyspoilheaptales.blogspot.co.uk/

Cynthia Wainscott
Exotic Peru
http://exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com

Carole Carlson
Beadsophisticate
https://beadsophisticate.wordpress.com

Lynn Stinten
Dragonzwench
http://www.dragonzwench.blogspot.com/

Marica Zammit
Bead Lovelies
http://www.beadlovelies.com

Catherine Shattuck
VRBrose
http://www.vrbrose.wordpress.com

Micheale Collie
The Vintage Gem
http://thevintagegem.blogspot.com 

Mary Craig
Jewelry Alchemy
http://jewelryalchemy.wordpress.com

Lee Koopman
Strega Jewelry
http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com

Erin Whitacre
Shattered Time Jewelry
http://shatteredtimejewelry.wordpress.com 

Monica Casady
MJCasady Copper Works
http://monica-casady.squarespace.com/blog/

Leila West
Leila Nicole Designs
http://leilanicoledesigns.blogspot.com/

Cindy Peterson

Leila Belcher
Leila Bee Designs
http://leilabeedesigns.wordpress.com


Gloria Allen
Wings and Beads
http://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com/

Pamela Anger
Novegatti Designs
http://novegattidesigns.blogspot.com/

Tammy Adams
Paisley Lizard
http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog

Lynda O'Mara
Once Upon a Line
http://www.lomaracreative.com/Blog.php

Elizabeth Hildreth
Mad Scientists Designs
http://madscientistsdesigns.blogspot.com

Dana Hickey
Wind Dancer Studios
http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com

Janet Calardo
Jan Lea Designs
http://janleadesigns.blogspot.com/ 

Maria Clark
Sweet Willow Design
http://www.sweetwillowdesigns.blogspot.com 


Lori Beekman
B.Accessorized
https://baccessorized.wordpress.com/

Jennifer Kroeger
Relic Charm
https://reliccharm.wordpress.com/

Amy Jorgensen
Hoarder's Corner
http://amemedesigns.wordpress.com 

Robin Reed
Handcrafted Bead Designs
http://artistryhcbd.indiemade.com/

Ingrid Anderson
Lilis Gems
http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/

Louise O'Shields
Desire Divine Jewels
http://desiredivinejewels.blogspot.com/

Susan Killam
Killam Creative
http://www.KillamCreative.blogspot.com

Mary Katherine Deis
The Rose Sword: Artisan and Vintage Collectible Jewelry
http://theroseswordmdeis.blogspot.com

Nike Bottalico
Objects and Oddities
http://nikebottalico.com/


Susan Bowerman

Kristy Le
Kristy Le Trendy Jewelry Designs
http://trendyjewelryle.blogspot.com/

Jan Peters
Stylized Vintage
http://stylizedvintage.blogspot.com

Mitzie Crider
Needful Luxuries Occasional Blog
http://needfulluxuries.blogspot.com/

Gina Hockett
Freestyle Elements
http://www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com

Linda Anderson
From the Bead Board
http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

Alexandra Sefton
Imaginary Jewelry and Altered Art
http://wilywolverine.blogspot.com/

Melida Boman
The Journey of Pens and Things
http://thejourneyofpensandthings.blogspot.com

Teresa Schurter
TreeZ'S. Treasurs
http://treezstreazurs.com

Melissa Latimer
Smithed Up
http://smithedup.blogspot.com/

Renee Hong
Fine and Dandy Jewelry and Art
http://fineanddandyjewelry.blogspot.com

Nadine Edris
Moondance Jewelry
http://moondancejewelrymaine.blogspot.com

Lori Meyer
Parisienne Girl

https://parisiennegirldesign.wordpress.com/

Jennifer Merrill Williams
Artists of All Stripes
http://artistsofallstripes.blogspot.com

Denise Lussier Poirier
Jewelry By Denise
http://jewelrybydenise.wordpress.com

Renee Allen
Small Stuff Design
http://www.smallstuffdesign.com

Autumn Adams
Autumn Dawns
http://autumndawns.com/

Elizabeth Owens
1996 Shabby Lane
http://1996shabbylane.blogspot.com

Kat BarronMiller
Midnight Kat Productions Art Jewelry
http://mkpbeadart.blogspot.com

Sandra Ballard
Mama San's Mojo
http://mamasansmojo.blogspot.com/

Coral Law
ab:coral design
http://abcoraldesign.blogspot.com 











Monday, February 16, 2015

Secret Garden Challenge.....come take a look.

                                   
                                                          
Secret Garden 2015 


Welcome back to my creative journey in not only blogging but jewelry making.  I have had a few curve balls thrown my way and have had to create on the go at my studio and I am at my mom’s condo 4 days a week. I carry supplies (a lot) of what I think I may have time for and may need back and forth.  

I found that making clay components for my Build a Line Challenge and Secret Gardens are the easiest to do so that is what I have been up to lately.

There was another  challenge in January that I wanted to complete with the group Bohemian Vibe, which was started by Brenda Sue Lansdowne & Christi Friesen in conjunction with a class that I attended in May 2014, sponsored by B’sue Boutiques (http://www.bsueboutiques.com). Christi is a popular worldwide polymer clay artist and author of many books & has great clay products at (http://christifriesen.com).

B'sue Christi Friesen Retreat may 2015
The January 2015 challenge was Secret Garden. Below is what my first interpretation of this challenge. This challenge was extended through February so I hope I can get another one completed.
                                             
January 2015 Secret Garden Challenge  
It was a lot of fun and I am using some of the same flowers for my Build a Line Challenge (BALC) which will have some simpler designs.
That’s all for now. The second blog hop for the BALC challenge will be this Friday February 20th. Hope you stop back and you will be able to find so many other wonderful blogs from many talented artists.

Janet
Jan Lea Designs