For some time now I've wanted to call out the talents of the B'sue Boutiques Design Team members.....but more than that, to say what a fabulous unit we have. These gals have given me more assistance in brainstorming and new ideas than I can ever repay!
Last summer we were struggling to get the new site up....and pulling out our hair trying to figure out how to overcome summer doldrums and help our fellow artists at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group become more motivated and engaged so that they'd meet their end of the year goals.
The first photo is of a gorgeous bridal design made by Marcia Tuzzolino of Aurora Designs. Marcia has been so faithful in every possible way, she's helped me brainstorm a number of projects and also serves as a very vigilant administrator for the online Facebook groups. She has also been very prolific in her work, always having something new for Work Table Wednesday as well as Finished Up Friday These are two motivating events we have at the Creative Group every week.
Members of our sister group, Bohemian Vibe are also invited to participate in those events.
Irene Hoffman of HeartsDezire is one of the newest members of the Design Team Group. She is also serving as an admin for the online Facebook groups, shared this brilliant combination polymer clay/B'sue Boutiques findings design today.
Irene also admins the board for Finished Up Friday as well as the board for the Bohemian Vibe polymer clay group we have in conjunction with Christi Friesen.
Judy Jones King is a Design Team member with a no-nonsense attitude toward getting the work DONE. She is the one who started Work Table Wednesday I remember it well, it was a rather slow day and all of a sudden Judy said, get your cameras and show us what's on your workbench, tell us about what you're doing!
AND THEY DID!
Here is a fabulous assemblage Judy did for one of our challenges:
Such talented artists!
After Judy did the Wednesday thing, Marcia and Judy together spearheaded and even SPONSORED the Finished up Friday event. Each month someone who has posted a finished up project to those boards (finished up by Friday-Saturday) is randomly drawn to receive a 25.00 gift certificate to B'sue Boutiques
What would I have done without Kate Mulligan of Mulligan Stew?
Kate has done a couple of videos for us (and by the way, Marcia and Irene did one last spring, too!) as well as suggested ideas for many projects for my videos.
Her etching video is one of the best free online classes on the subject you will find:
What is more, Kate came last summer to help us with our website conversion, and oh my, WHAT would we have done without her! Before she retired she did many conversions for a famous bank as part of upper-level management. I had NO IDEA she knew all this stuff! She simply mentioned she'd like to come down and help with the re-inventory and help us get through the weekend.
She came in, had a look at the website template and organized us to action. It was a relief to just say, "Kate, you're in charge!" What a gift that assistance was.
Here is a beautiful parure that Kate made:
Linzi Alford found me back in her Ebay days and many have been the packages I have sent to her in Cumbria, UK. Here's a gorgeous piece she made:
Linzi has also written a number of great tutorials for the B'sue Boutiques website, including some very informative ones on the use of Swellegant
You will find her tutorials here:
Free Tutorials at B'sue Boutiques
Linzi is also the author of a book:
She has also written many articles for crafts magazines in the UK. I am so proud of her.
Now, Linzi is spearheading a NEW event at B'sue Boutiques called Throwback Thursday, where she will choose one of my older videos to comment on and re-introduce to our Facebook groups. We'll all get into the act by showing photos of stuff we've tried with those techniques or even just something we made long ago with B'sue Boutiques products or even something we sold and wish we had kept. It will be an informative and inspiring romp and one we will all enjoy....so...
if you have not done so yet, you SHOULD join us at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook which is FREE and one of the most encouraging learning and sharing jewelry making groups on the internet. Not only do we share our work, but we share our hearts and our lives, we brainstorm new ideas and work hard to keep one another focused. Consider this your personal invite to join us!
But I'm not done yet!
The newest member of the Design Team is Jann Westlake Tague of Clever Designs. Jann loves beading, assemblage, cameo jewelry and polymer clay:
I love how she combined that bit of filigree with the clay focal...and a few colorful Spectra beads!
Jann also serves as an admin for the group, host for Not Your Mama's Jewelry Box and the Sunday Earrings Challenge.
Cynthia Wainscott of Exotic Peru found me as a young bride, newly arrived from Peru to Utah. It was on You Tube! Somehow she found the silly, wonky old videos comforting and enabling. Filled with a desire to create, create she did!
Here is a beautiful cuff she made layering pretty filigree from B'sue Boutiques with the addition of soft color:
Cynthia is also great with sculpting clay and made this focal for me as a gift:
I placed in the front of one of my inset cameos:
So this is a combination Cynthia-B'sue piece, LOL
Last but never least is my dear friend Beanzie of The Vintage Heart. Beanz and I go back many years to my early Ebay days. She collected many of her signature pieces for her amazing charm bracelets from my offerings. I have featured her spectacular, collectable bracelets on many of my newsletters. Beanzie always has my back and has always been there to offer incredible moral support as well as great new ideas. She takes a quiet back seat as she prefers it that way, but many are the hours she has spent with me offering her thoughts and assistance.
I've truly only skimmed the surface of what these brilliant designers have done as artists. Their work reaches new levels constantly and I am proud to say that I feel most of them have probably passed me up already as far as pieces made and new ideas tried.
And that's why they are here as members of the Team. There is a lot to be done in a day's time here in this office: orders, tracking, shipping, bills to pay, Quickbooks entries, tax prep, and a whole lot of writing besides engaging folks online. There comes a point where certain folks step up because they see a need; they realize work needs to be delegated and that you can keep a good thing going by yourself for only just so long.
Thanks to them we can all look forward to continued new ideas, teaching, encouragement for YOUR artistic growth.
That's what this community is all about. The components, stampings and findings are all the best you'll find and we love to play with them and share them. But in this world, PEOPLE are the real jewels.
I am so blessed to have so many I've met through this business who have become part of my heart. I couldn't begin to mention or thank them all if I tried, though over the months ahead I do hope to feature more of the incredible artists that frequent our groups and tell their stories on my blog.
Thank you ALL for being the jewels in my crown! Let's jump in and get the work done TOGETHER!
What a wonderful blog post! As a newcomer to the FB creative group and also creating jewelry it's so nice to learn about the talented artists of your design team.
Posted by: gail | December 02, 2014 at 06:03 PM
A wonderful and very helpful group for sure! Everyone is greatly appreciated.
Posted by: Ingrid Anderson | December 02, 2014 at 06:20 PM
What great sentiments, Brenda. You are truly a jewel! I love what you wrote, "But in this world, PEOPLE are the real jewels." This attitude is why the creative group is so successful. Thank you for all you and the design team do.
Posted by: Vonda Stephenson | December 02, 2014 at 07:33 PM
What a beautiful heart tribute too the most talented wonderful artist and friends that I'm blessed to know. I forever grateful to them and you Brenda Sue for being my mentors and making me a better and more well rounded artist. I love and cherish each and every one of you. I love you all bunches your family to me.XOXO!
Posted by: Kristy Le | December 02, 2014 at 07:47 PM
You have such a tender, beautiful heart, Brenda, and that is what draws such wonderful people to you more than anything else. Your talent, your training/mentoring, your videos, your products... are all added bonuses, of course, but you, Brenda, are such a blessing to each and every one of us!
Posted by: Sharoyn Livingston | December 02, 2014 at 10:31 PM
Brenda, I have tears in my eyes after reading this wonderful blog post. I am so honored and proud to be part of your design team. I can't begin to put into words how much being a member of this group has done for me, and how wonderful it was to meet you in person last May. You're a rare gem, Brenda, and I will continue to support you, the team, and the members, in whatever way I'm able. Thanks for all you do, but mostly for just being you!
Posted by: Marcia Tuzzolino | December 02, 2014 at 11:42 PM
Such a beautiful and heartfelt post Brenda Sue. You have a dynamic and prolific design team who never think twice about helping their fellow artisans in the group. I was blessed when someone referred my to your YouTube videos and have learned so many, many things. God's Blessings on all of you......you have truly made a difference for me as I continue on my journey of making the Jools. xoxoxo to all~~
Posted by: Ellen W Gonchar | December 03, 2014 at 12:05 AM
Todo es gracias a ti! I am so lucky to have you as a friend thank you for the trust you have in my work
Posted by: cynthia Wainscott | December 03, 2014 at 12:26 AM
Oh Brenda Sue! I can't find enough words to Thank You for all that you give, all that you do, and all the opportunities that you have opened doors for me to experience. I am so Honored to be a member of your Design Team. When you first asked me, I remember telling you that no way was I good enough to be teamed with such awesome Artists. I am so glad that you didn't listen to me! Between the Creative Group and the Design Group, I have learned so very, very much. I cherish the support, encouragement and kindness from everyone. Most of all, I cherish the support, encouragement and kindness that you have given to me and to all of us. When I watch one of your videos, it is truly like being there across the table with a cup of coffee, while enjoying how much you share as you teach. I have many times gone back to the first one and done a B'Sue You Tube marathon! I always learn something new that I missed the first, second or third time through. You ARE a rare, and priceless, Jewel. And I value you beyond words...and know that I am not the only one!
Posted by: kate | December 03, 2014 at 09:12 AM
They are a great bunch of ladies! And so are you, Brenda Sue!
Posted by: Deb Beechy | December 03, 2014 at 12:22 PM