Jewelry Making Outside The Box: Books in My Library

I Don't Think We Ever Talked About This

November 20, 2022

If you follow me on social media, you're well aware that I wrote a book about The 1928 Jewelry Company. It published in September, 2020---I can hardly believe it's been out that long. Many of those who follow me also have a copy of my book and the general consensus is that it's quite good.

But I didn't write about it in my blog. Hmmmm. So you might not know about it! Why didn't I?

The last time I wrote in my blog was just after I began to write Making It 1928. It took three arduous years of work from start to finish, and it was the hardest thing I've ever done. I loved the story, and the research I did to write it was fascinating. It also required about six trips to Burbank, California....where the company factory is located. I didn't mind, I loved the trip. BUT: On top of the work it takes to run my business, the book took nearly all the time I had left in a day. Often it overtook my bedtime in a number of unhealthy ways. So, the blog was let go for a few years, after writing in it regularly since 2005. Not good.

Finally the boxes with my first books arrived....what a rush! You can watch me open them right here, and get to see what's inside:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylvNvoXNbiM&t=381s

This is the back cover of the book:

There's a great deal to be said about the writing of a book, and I'll talk about that in blog posts going forward. But, one thing I can tell you right now: I'll never look at the printed word in the same way again.

If you ever decide you'd like to write a book, read about doing it, first. I'd recommend the book, On Writing Well by William K. Zinsser Find it here, at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-writing-well-william-k-zinsser/1100551159?ean=9780060891541

And...be sure you employ the services of a good editor. I had two and I needed them both! It's virtually impossible to correctly edit your own book--you need fresh eyes and another viewpoint from someone who is experienced in the process. Even if in time you become an experienced author---you STILL need an editor.

I wish I'd read it ON WRITING WELL first, before I began my book--but I found it late in the "adventure". I would have saved my editor a lot of grief if I'd had it on hand beforehand. I thought I knew about writing! HA! But.....writing a book is a completely different animal than anything you've previously written. Ever. Trust me on that.

You can get a copy of MAKING IT 1928 at B'sue Boutiques, if you'd like: https://www.bsueboutiques.com/Making-It-1928-Story-of-the-1928-Jewelry-Company-p/1928book.htm

There are also very inexpensive EPUB electronic copies available for your Kindle or iPad, if you'd rather.

https://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/1928bookepub.htm

Let me know what you think of it!

Posted at 06:34 PM in Books in My Library, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 15, 2014

OKAY.....SO WHO WON???

THANKS!!! to all who came to the blog to comment on Michelle's book and to try and win a copy of it.

We had over 85 responses and from the commentary received, I do believe Michelle has a best-seller on her hands!

AND THE WINNER IS

SHIRLEY WILSON

So glad she won, she's gonna love this volume. As for the rest, perhaps some of the other groups you belong to will have promotions and opportunities to win, as the book is being widely promoted.

To tell you the truth, my feeling is this: WHY WAIT? You're an automatic winner if you just go get yourself a copy. I believe Amazon is carrying it and I know you can get it at Barnes and Noble.

It may be possible to obtain a copy directly from the author as well. If you do that, perhaps she'll sign it for you. For me, my author-signed books are my treasures.

Michelle Mach's Etsy shop is http://michellemach.etsy.com/

Follow her on Twitter @beadsandbooks

At B'sue Boutiques not only do we strive to offer you the best in jewelry making components, things I KNOW are quality and will set your work apart. My journey is long. I've been using American-made and the best in European-made product for almost three decades.

Our special joy is to provide free instruction at our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/bsueboutiques/videos

Some who counsel about making video say your videos should get to the point, and be short.

I agree that getting to the point is always a great idea, but being short: sorry, that's not easily done and rarely well done, IMHO. You really can't fully teach a great technique in five minutes or less.

Short videos leave out most of the vital details and YOU, the hopeful learner, to go off, scratch your head and try to figure it out by yourself.....which you could have done without even watching the video, I suppose.

So come join us for our virtual classes at You Tube. Yesterday it was my pleasure to shout out Michelle's book on our mini-assemblage video, at about minute 34, toward the very end:

I like Michelle's approach to making things easy and compelling. SO....just go get the book.

And do come and visit us for our videos, share them with your friends, and check out B'sue Boutiques for your supply needs.

You might like to join us at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group for a no-drama collaboration of assemblage and mixed media artists of like mind who share their journey and care about yours, too.

We have many challenges including our monthly ones (this month we are making CAMEO JEWELRY) and WTW, which is WORK TABLE WEDNESDAY----a giftie is randomly given to a participant EVERY WEEK....and FINISHED UP FRIDAY, which shows the work we've gotten done that week. There is a gift given by your peers at the group for a randomly chosen participant every month.

I give away Muse packages, samples, things on your wish list if you pin them at our HEY! Look What I Got from B'sue Boutiques Pinterest board, and free shopping passes to happy winners who visit our website and place orders, every week.

I LOVE GIVEAWAYS.

The best thing anyone can give, however, is their time. When you consider how much time it takes your fave authors to produce the books they write, and the cost of the books seems so inconsequential. In the long run, they do it for the love of getting the info out there---you really don't make a ton to write a book.

As for our free videos and the free help at the B'sue groups at Facebook...well, I can't even tell you how much time that takes. It's all from the heart.

And when I see how people grow as artists, progress, and become all they can be and more, I love to shout them out, congratulate and promote them. And it makes me feel so proud to have been any little part of their success.

Congratulations, Michelle, on a job well done!

Posted at 11:47 AM in Books in My Library, Coupons and Contests, Easy Peasy Projects, Jewelry Making, Mixed Media Technique | Permalink | Comments (4)

November 12, 2014

Unexpected Findings.....Clever Jewelry Book and YOU Can WIN a Copy

Today is Work Table Wednesday at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group but apparently I haven't gotten much farther than this book...

It's Michelle Mach's first volume, and I'd have to say, it's about time! Michelle has written over 100 articles for print in most of your favorite beading magazines.

She has also written a number of tutorials for the B'sue Boutiques website.

You can find them here:

Free Tutorials at B'sue Boutiques Website

Michelle shines when it comes to easy-peasy designing. She can look at a simple bit and see things that many of us don't, at first glance. Her jewelry designs are simple but compelling and easy to wear.....take another look at the pieces on the cover of her book:

B'sue Boutiques is thrilled to be referenced as a source of supply in Michelle's book, and some of our stampings and findings were also used in the projects.

The book on the table is MY personal copy, signed over to me:

Signed copies of jewelry designers' books are very precious to me. If you are such an author and send me a copy of your book signed over to me, you will be sure to get a review on my blog!

But I must say, Michelle is a very special designer to me and I am just thrilled to receive this gift from her.

I also have an extra copy sent to me from the publisher. YOU WANT THIS BOOK......and!

YOU CAN WIN IT.

Here's how:

JUST LEAVE US A COMMENT on this blog to let me know you're reading along, because I want to know that you're a reader----why give you this wonderful book if you're not going to make use of it?

Leave the comment by Friday at noon (November 14th)

I will use the random number generator and letcha know on this blog, who won.

So...SPEAK UP! I might be persuaded to send you a few B'sue goodies along with the book. Let's get a big hurray for MICHELLE and LOTS of comments, please!

And if you feel so compelled, would you be kind enough to shout out this blog post on your social media pages? All I need here are comments, but the kindness of a comment on your FB page, a tweet, a pin on Pinterest would be very much appreciated.

Posted at 05:27 PM in Books in My Library, Coupons and Contests, Easy Peasy Projects, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Jewelry Making | Permalink | Comments (89)

March 01, 2014

The JOY of Resin

It's fun to take a day and just do a whole bunch of different stuff with resin. We did a video yesterday (hang in there, I'll get you the link) but first, I had myself a real resin party.

I put resin tops on these pieces from the Tea Stain Patina video made a few weeks ago......sheesh. When you do a top from Ice Resin it's like turning on a light....the piece just begins to live!

Here are my tissue decoupaged crescents with Iced Enamels accents from the last few weeks' videos:

Boy does the resin make a difference! I did a few more of the flowers we did in other videos....and got to playing around with possibilities. Like, what if I did an assemblage on that top blank:

I just love that tissue Here are a couple more styles:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Tissue-Paper-7-Gypsy-Tissue-Paper-Decoupage-Birdsong-Designs-20-x-30-Inch-Sheets-12861

and here is a new one with numbers on it, we got it yesterday:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Tissue-Paper-7-Gypsy-Tissue-Paper-Decoupage-Numbers-20-x-30-Inch-Sheets-12921

Here's what happened with that left over resin at the end of the video....I poured it into molds and made funky cabochons:

Some of them need trimming. I promise I will do a video on this soon.

I even mounted some of them:

That bottom one really glows. I need to put some color on that raw brass mount, though!

The top round ones fit really well in a 25mm mount. We have a couple with prongs as shown here. Here is where you will find them, among others, at B'sue Boutiques:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/bezels_mounts_frames.shtml

Find the molds here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Resin-Jewelry-Molds-Cabochon-Design-25mm-11623 The 25mm high domed cabochon mold is my fave as you can use it SO easily.

Here's something else I used it in:

That piece is for sale on my new Etsy jewelry shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/179773323/bsue-boutiques-heart-pendant-with?

I used ICED ENAMELS on it, as well. I did that in yesterday's video, too:

Even though I have to admit it's an error and the enamel should have covered the whole inner part of the heart, I sort of like the fact that it didn't....looks sort of distressed, which is the whole design style of Iced Enamels product, anyway.

Now what if I set a cabochon on top of that heart instead?

Hmmm. Might be cool, you can see the enamel coming up through the bottom. I'd ring it with a bit of rhinestone chain. Here are some more miscellaneous components I made:

Backless bezels in the middle! I love using the heavy flat back rings we carry on the site.

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Brass-Ox-Heavy-Patterned-Circlet-Make-Chain-Versatile-20mm-11338

There are many styles like this throughout the B'sue Boutiques website that will work this way.

Did you know that you can DRILL right through resin too?

YUP.

Now then what if I did this....

Or....maybe, this:

or maybe this instead?

HMMM!!

Well, I gotta run.....but before I do, here is the link to the video. Grab a sandwich, it's a bit long, about 35 minutes. In this video we wrap up all the stuff we'd been doing in the two videos previous. It covers a WHOLE lot of ground...

yet there is ton left to be said. We'll get to it!

Posted at 03:31 PM in American Made Brass, Designer Finishes, Books in My Library, Mixed Media Technique, Resinology, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 14, 2014

Where Do I Begin? How to Get Started Making Jewelry, From the B'sue Boutiques Design Team

This was Linzi Alford's first piece of of Linzi- made jewelry. Not bad at all...but just think!

She went from this, to this....

Her first book! You can pre-order it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Jewelry-all-seasons-designs-inspired/dp/1861089562

Linzi explains that when she first began, she'd seen a television program about a girl in the UK (Linzi is in the UK, too) who had a market stall in London. Linzi found her process compelling, especially how the woman would take apart and re-work any of her designs that hadn't sold in a certain amount of time.

She thought, I could do that!

Devouring jewelry-making books, she taught herself many of the basics long before the internet was popular and free videos at You Tube were available. Beads became an obsession.....and that is how *I*, B'sue, found Linzi...or she found me....at Ebay, back in my Ebay days.

Linzi advises: Start small, buy the basics you need and can afford, watch tutorials and read as many books as you can. Facebook groups are a big help! Share ideas, let your imagination go wild, keep a notebook or Pinterest board for inspiration. Have fun and ENJOY! Embrace imperfection, and from your first tentative attempts will eventually come great work. Dare to dream!

This is the first assemblage piece Marcia Tuzzolino ever attempted, after watching one of my You Tube videos!

This, of course, was not Marcia's first piece of jewelry....but it WAS her first piece of jewelry made in a new style, a style she had not tried before.

When *she* began, she spent a lot of time at the local bead store, exploring the varieties and colors and educating herself as to types of beads. She strung them first, then she made basic earrings. She read a lot and took a lot of classes, as this fueled her creative fire.

To begin with mixed media, she took a class from a friend who showed her how to use Gilder's Paste and alcohol inks to color metals. Success was quick, she sold the cuff she made right off her wrist!

Though many are just starting, others are jewelry artists stuck in a rut, needing to get jump-started. Marcia advises, when that happens, go back to the basics. Go to your collective library of photos and tutorials and have fun browsing through them. Remember your initial joy at selling your first piece, or making something you never thought you could make. Visit with other artists in groups like The B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook

You'll find a lot of support and new ideas in a group like ours!

Speaking to being in a rut, Michelle Mach, who has had her projects published in print many times, says that sooner or later every designer feels uninspired. She says that when she's feeling creative, she has fun making very simple earrings with a few beads and charms. Once she gets started, the creative floodgates open and she is able to move on to more challenging pieces.

Here is a simple pair of earrings that Michelle made on such a day:

Cindy Cima Edwards says that when she first tried to tackle jewelry design, she bought the basic tools, some beads, beading wire and a few other basic items. She read the magazines and books, especially the beginner books. It took time to get rolling with it, but eventually she thought she had something she'd submit for publication.

Here is that piece,named Anastasia. It was published in BEAD TRENDS in September 2010:

Francesca Watson mentioned an experience as a metalwork jewelry maker, a little farther along in her journey:

"The first time I tried to do a complicated bezel wrap by myself, I completely screwed it up. I had done really well in the class, which made me a little cocky. I had a hard time accepting that I needed more practice with the basic skills before I was going to be ready to tackle the next level, and that every expert was a beginner once. I thumbtacked that screwed up bezel to my inspiration board in my studio, even though it was sterling silver. It stayed there as as reminder to stay humble....and do the work."

Francesca has done the work....and the soft opening of her new gallery/teaching studio is coming right up!

Read about the workshops she offers, here:

http://www.roadhousearts.com/classes-and-workshops/

Kate Mulligan, of Mulligan Stew Jewelry, told me:

" A few years ago, I needed a hobby. I had retired, and found that I had too much time on my hands. I tried a number of things, but none kept my interest. Over the years, I'd gathered craft supplies from yard and thrift sales for that 'someday' when I would have time to learn. In that box I found a book for children entitled, HOW TO MAKE JEWELRY, along with a few beads and findings. I searched my husband's work shop for a few tools, and I started with page one. My first creation was a pair of earrings, and I still wear them. I found more than a hobby, I found a creative passion."

Here are those earrings:

The best thing you can do if you want to make jewelry is simply BEGIN. Start simple, and build a foundation of knowledge. Stick with a technique until it feels second-nature. Build a body of work, even if it is simple.

Continue to explore online groups, Pinterest and publications for inspiration and new ideas. If possible, try not to learn by copying. Some folks learn best that way, so if you must copy, copy once for the learning experience, but a copied piece is not for sale....it's for the learning.

From that piece take it to the next level and build on the technique, making it your own.

There is so much more to say on the subject and I'm sure our Design Team will be happy to share it, as time goes on!

YOU may feel free to comment here, about your own journey and how YOU started. It may prove to be encouraging to someone else.

Your art is your own, it's true! But it grows, when you share it. ;-)

Posted at 05:45 PM in Books in My Library, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Selling Your Work, Style and Color, Things I've Learned From Others' Blogs | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 15, 2013

The Gift of A Book: RESIN ALCHEMY....and You Could Get One, Too

I am a true lover of books.

So....if you are thinking of giving me something, there you go. Give me a book. Give me a book on jewelry making!

Someone very special gave me this book, just today:

I always feature the newest jewelry book I am reading or promoting, on this easel in the front of my public workshop/store. This latest book, RESIN ALCHEMY, is just going public, hot off the press, as they say.

It was written by an artist I very much respect and support, Susan Lenart Kazmer.

Susan is a gifted metalsmith and 'resinologist'. Her product, ICE RESIN, is in my humble opionion, the only jeweler's grade resin you ever need to purchase. I see many new resins appearing on the market; I've tried a few of them. I'm not new to working with resin, I've done it for a good twenty years.

When I took Susan's two-day class at ART AND SOUL (Glenny Moir's lovely retreats for learning and recharging artistic batteries), I quickly realized that B'sue Boutiques should carry, feature, preach and teach Ice Resin, its merits, and other incoming products from the Ice Resin team. Ice Resin is not a craft product; it is jeweler's grade. It does not yellow or get weird in time. When properly mixed, it cures hard as a rock. AND: it is non-toxic.

As far as I am concerned, though I carry DG and Gel du Soleil because of customer request.....there is no need for any other resin product on the market. And there is no better teacher than Susan. Do you have EXPLORE, CREATE, RESINATE by Jen Cushman? You have the first installment of the "Resin Bible". RESIN ALCHEMY is the next level, the deeper truths of the medium.

My gifted copy was extremely special because of this:

SIGNED COPIES of an artist's work---whether it is a piece of jewelry, or their book....are true treasures. I cherish ALL of my signed copies.

But: Susan sent me two signed books. One was made over to me, the other is for ME to give to someone else.

SO, we're having a thread at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group. I'm giving all members a chance to comment and tell me WHY they should get the extra copy.

Your reason should be about your ART, not life obstacles or overcoming sadness or illness. Many of us carry those loads. The reason must be something UNIQUE about why you need this book to get over your fear of resin, to improve your work, or teach you in some way.

If you don't belong to the group, come and join us here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bsueboutiquescreativegroup

As soon as I see your request, I will let you in and you can post your comments. If you haven't joined the group, what better time? Ours is a place of great sharing. All skill levels feel comfortable with us. Our group is sponsored by the B'sue Boutiques.

You may work in any media, however, and you do not have to be using our products to be a part of our group and share your photos. You are also allowed to link your selling sites for your handmade jewelry, art beads, handmade components, and vintage jewelry.

While it's fine to leave comments here at the blog, the only ones that qualify for this giveaway are those MADE ON THE FACEBOOK GROUP THREAD.

This book is amazing; along with the book I am going to throw in an Ice Resin Plunger to get the recipient started, and maybe a couple of other little goodies.

I hope we get many responses; I will pin the thread so it's easy to find and comment on and will choose the one that touches me most, unless there are just too-too many, and then we will go with the random number generator to select who receives it.

Many thanks to Susan Lenart Kazmer for all SHE does to nuture and engage mixed media artists.....for her books, workshops, and innovation.

Posted at 03:53 PM in Books in My Library, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Resinology, Using Social Media to Promote Your Art | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 30, 2013

Book Review: Making Metal Jewelry by Jen Cushman

When it comes to jewelry making, everyone has to start someplace. Whether you want to do resin, mixed media, metal, wire, polymer clay....there is a perfect book for you as a beginner. As a beginner, you DO need books!

If you want to work with metal, and you haven't done it yet..... or maybe, you have! but aren't good with it.....or are still unsure of yourself, afraid of metal working tools, et al....THIS is the book you buy.

I was checking some of the reviews on this book this morning. I noted that one reader said she'd only dabbled, and truly had no clue WHAT to do.....and that *this* book was an answer to a jewelry-maker's prayer.

Another said they had taken some major classes from professionals yet had not been encouraged by the classes. They had found no joy in them and felt defeated. This book opened a new door for them and helped them find that joy.

Personally, I need EASY in a book like this. I need photos of stuff I might actually, remotely be tempted as someone with rudimentary skills, to make. Jen combines her knowledge of mixed media and resin work (she is also author of EXPLORE, CREATE, RESINATE---the Resin Bible) with many years around the bench and puts it all together in an enticing, tasty mix. After reading the intro and browsing a few projects, you just want to get up, go to your workbench, take the few tools you have and GO FOR IT.

Your project may, in the long run, not come out ANYTHING like what is in the book. NO WORRIES! It is not about making precise wraps, cuts, doing the work in a straight line. Do you think the very first jewelry makers made museum quality work?

Oh HA.

And neither will you.

The *point* is to get some good advice on some good tools (that's in there), how to use them safely (that's in there) and some easy ideas on how whip out a project the first day so that you can get a sense of gratification (in there, too.)

The book IS available at discount at Amazon, but let me just throw *this* out there to ya:

You can get one direct from its author, SIGNED, at this link:

http://jencushman.com/

Any time you can get a hand-signed copy of a book, I'd like to encourage you to go that route. It's just good for your creative heart. For me, it's like getting just a tiny bit of the author/teacher's DNA along with the book.

You can also check the website above for Jen's teaching schedule.

Jen Cushman is also the Director of Education and Marketing for Susan Lenart Kazmer, ICE Resin.

Posted at 12:05 PM in Books in My Library, Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 14, 2012

Should You Take Jewelry Making Classes?

That's easy to answer: But of course you should!

A class like this one (taken with Susan Lenart Kazmer of ICE Resin) can open new windows, doors, worlds for you! I will never forget this class.

I went along for over 20 years, teaching myself catch-as-catch-can, before I decided to get some instruction. I'd purchased a copy of METALCRAFT DISCOVERY WORKSHOP by Linda and Opie O'Brien, long time favorites on the teaching circuit. In the back pages I noted that they only lived about an hour and a half from me, and that they taught privately in their home.

That was the start of yearly summer trips to their home on Lake Erie, to learn, to talk, to explore.

(Linda and Opie have retired from the teaching circuit now and are living their artistic dreams in the Berkshires. Glad I caught them before they went!)

If you have the opportunity to get to know a teacher on a personal level and be taught privately, it's a marvelous experience. Linda and Opie's home was a magical revelation in itself---full of amazing artwork and collections. The very pieces I remembered seeing in books and magazines, hung on the walls!

The camaraderie of an art retreat, however, where many teachers in various genres have gathered, is like an educational candy shop full of treats. The classes are intensified but you have the benefit of being with others who are learning, as well. The ideas bounce off the walls like projectiles! You will come home with your head spinning.

The experiences you have will last you a lifetime.

At the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group we were recently talking about taking classes and the idea of even enrolling in a college where metalsmithing (and everything that goes with it!) is taught in a systematic manner.

If you have the luxury of being able to do that, it would certainly give you an amazing foundation. I think possibly one of the best things you would learn is how to use tools properly and safely. You would learn ways to use the tools so that you would spare yourself from injury. You would also learn amazing technique.

There is one caution---and mind you, this is my opinion:

Sometimes when you are taught in this fashion, technique becomes EVERYTHING. When you train and train hard, according to technique, sometimes ideas have to be shelved for awhile. I've found that some folks who train this hard get so hung up on technique, that their work loses its soul.

I love the work of a self-taught artist, someone perhaps who has a little background or a vision and doesn't even know that what they want to do is difficult. They have an idea and want to fulfill it, so they scheme and experiment until it happens. Sometimes it falls in line quite naturally. Usually they try many things and find a niche.

At some point in the journey, however, you'll want some coaching. I did, and it benefited me very much.

It *is* expensive to take classes and to travel and stay in hotels while you take them, even if you have a room mate. Is there a viable alternative?

Yes! Nowadays, many teachers offer courses of study ON LINE, just like colleges do! Perhaps you have a book that you really enjoy, as I did Linda and Opie's. Look them up online and see if they have anything scheduled. Chances are great, since this is quite a trend anymore, that they do---or will.

You might also want to check out the Artisan Whimsy Ning Group Right now, there is a Metal Prong Challenge that you can participate in, and there is no charge as it is a group challenge. Actually the reveal is tomorrow, but that's okay---go on over and have a look. There is a tutorial on the website. Also, there are numerous blog posts and tutorials that you can take advantage of, and many You Tube videos that you can start and stop and start again....and those are free, too.

Many artists these days get tons of inspiration and new ideas from You Tube videos.

Here are mine:

B'sue Boutiques Channel at You Tube

Plot an educational course for yourself. Challenge yourself every day. Join some groups where you will be nurtured and encouraged to try new ideas. I truly hope you will join Artisan Whimsy and take advantage of all the free education and networking.

Soon there will be live classes in real time there, to take.

You are also warmly welcome to join us at B'sue Boutiques Creative Group so that you can network and learn from other artists, new as well as seasoned.

As you can see, there are numerous options. Pick what fits your lifestyle best----and get busy!

Posted at 08:31 PM in Books in My Library, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Jewelry Making, Resinology | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 02, 2012

The Repurposing Dilemma....An Important Question is Answered

Recently a collecting friend and fellow artist wrote me about repurposing a quantity of mashed up jewelry someone had given her. She was quite perplexed on the issue.

Here's the scenario:

My friend got some boxes of junk from someone who was a friend of a relative. The fellow was cleaning out his garage. One large box was full to overflowing with costume jewelry. Actually, it was a horrible mangled up ball of broken necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. She stayed up late going through it, trying to make sense of what she had, untangling chain, salvaging whatever parts she could. Much of it was so broken and grungy there was no point in doing anything with it.

But, at the bottom of the box, were many logo tags with the name of the company who made the jewelry, on them. Some of the pieces in the tangled mess also had price tags on them.

After doing a little checking, the guy who was cleaning out his garage lived next door to a facility where are the returns and repairs for this brand, were sent. The stuff they considered to be beyond repair was put out for the trash truck. The neighbor spied the box and asked if it would be okay to take it for his wife's crafting hobbies, and they said sure, take it!

Here's the dilemma: my artist friend is concerned that perhaps some of the components were made expressly for this company and that she might somehow be in violation of some legality, were she to take and use them.

What's your take on that? Feel free to comment on this post.

This is my belief:

In my artist friend's case, using bits from the box would not be damaging anything of value. It was true trash, nothing that could be repaired, no huge collectable value---it's stuff from a contemporary home party line. No harm done on that level.

As far as having issues with using the components in a legal sense, I'd have to say, I'm not a lawyer! BUT! Warehouses are FULL of material like this. Where did THEY get this stuff? Well, not from dumpsters.

Many times job houses are contacted by companies who are going out of business, discontinuing a line, or have excess manufacturing inventory. The items are then purchased by these warehouses, either directly or at pallet sales/auctions. I myself have purchased discontinued/damaged manufacturers' inventory from time to time. Sometimes the stuff worked out great; sometimes I bought a sight unseen load of horse doody. But that's another story.....

Here's the deal: Resale of components, loose stones, manufacturers' old or damaged inventory is no different than reselling vintage jewelry that someone owned and put out at a yard sale or in an antiques store.

There is ONE big NO-NO, however: Those tags in the bottom of the box with logos on them.

You NEVER repurpose any component, tag, clasp, etc that has a designer's logo or signature on it. It creates confusion about the maker of the piece and is misleading to a buyer. In the past, unscrupulous jewelry 'artists' faked many pieces of designer jewelry, in particular, Miriam Haskell, by cabbaging the metal swing tags or even name plates off the vintage pieces, and applying them to their new forgery---sometimes even using old Haskell parts or loose Haskell pearls.

Unwitting new collectors/dealers bought these pieces only to have them outed as just what they were: fakes!

You can read more about this in the book, MIRIAM HASKELL JEWELRY by Cathy Gordon and Sheila Pamfiloff.

So....No matter how lovely that clasp is, if you flip it over and a name is embossed into the back, unless there is some way you can totally obliterate that name so it is no longer recognizable---that clasp goes in the garbage. It's the best way to respect and honor that line, by making SURE no one ever gets hold of it for the wrong reasons.

If any of the components have the company name embossed on them, it's the same: you don't use them. Into the trash. If you resell them, the chances are great they will end up in the wrong sort of creative hands.

So..... to my artistic friend: Enjoy the fruits of all that detangling labor, use the lobster claws, chain, bibs and bobs and have fun. Throw the tags out.

If you follow me at this blog, at my newsletter, or at YouTube, you probably already know I am no huge fan of the repurposing trend. This is NOT because I'm a vendor of components; it is because I began my life in this trade as an antiques dealer specializing in vintage costume jewelry. And I've done my own share of repurposing...but then....I KNEW WHAT I HAD, I knew the value of the components and the pieces I repurposed.

My respect for the work of those gone before is a matter of record, and if there is any catch phrase I would preach regarding the recycling/repurposing trend, it would be this:

KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE, FIRST.

Far too many have no clue about the material they have found, inherited, discovered in a flea, purchased in a shop. The trend is NOT NEW, it's been done for decades.....how many of you have found one of these Christmas tree arrangements done on black velvet, at yard sales?

If you pull the clusters of stones off the velvet, you're gonna find signatures of important pieces more often than not. At one time, all rhinestone and costume jewelry was viewed as JUNK. People thought it was fine! to desecrate Gramma's old jewelry collection or scarf around through fleas looking for little treasures to break apart.

And today, far too many view bags and boxes of old jewelry the same as they view cheap components on sale in a dump bin at Michael's. I'm here to tell you: even some BROKEN pieces have far more value that anything you will end up making from them.

I am *not* saying that you should revere every broken brooch or tangled mass of chain as something to be stored and insured! LOL Goodness, no. Sure! It's okay to use the bits and parts....but probably not okay to break things apart that are not broken.

Educate yourself FIRST to know what you have, as you may well build your own design business on the back of income garnered from selling those vintage pieces, rather than redesigning them.

If you know what you have, the element is viable, looks good in your new design and it won't hurt anything/anyone, then by ALL MEANS, repurpose it.

Education first, repurpose second.

You might like to review these videos.....they may help you learn and grow in design knowledge as well as fund your new ventures:

Learning About Vintage Jewelry, Design Muse, Income Stream

Vintage Jewelry, More Design Inspiration, Construction, Vintage Plastics

I will be making more videos along these lines as time goes on, and I hope you find them helpful! And please understand, my commentary here is not meant to squelch anyone's creativity.....only to help you use it in the most positive, beneficial way.

Posted at 01:57 PM in American Made Brass, Designer Finishes, Books in My Library, Jewelry Making, Selling Your Work, Vintage Findings and Antique Jewelry | Permalink | Comments (5)

June 19, 2012

Tales Of Adornment.....I Love This Book

If you read my blog regularly, you know I am a huge fan of EXPLORE, CREATE, RESINATE by my friend, Jen Cushman.

A secondary volume to that, just to cement what you have learned from Jen's book about resin, and then.... to take it to the next creative level, would be Kristen Robinson's TALES OF ADORNMENT:

This is a lovely book with pictures to inspire and lots more to say on how to use ICE resin effectively. There is a fine techniques section, as well as a section on using and making bezels (we carry ICE resin and over 130 styles of bezels, frames and mounts at B'sue Boutiques)....and then, a very useful section on using and making molds.

Don't forget, we have Susan Lenart Kazmer's silcone molding putty, the stuff Susan herself uses, at B'sue Boutiques.

Back to the book....

Kristen includes a section on creativity and resin, tools section and resources as well. There are 18 step by step jewelry projects, each employing resin in the design.

Each section in the book, however, includes a story to go with the project or technique or piece shown, sentimental, sweet tales....tales of adornment! I've noted this trend in jewelry craft books in the last few years and I think it's a great one. Everyone loves a story!

Kristen is a Director's Circle Artist for SOMERSET STUDIO MAGAZINE, Bonne Vivante for SOMERSET LIFE Magazine and also, a designer for ICE resin. Look her up on her blog, kristenrobinson.typepad.com

Posted at 09:39 AM in Books in My Library, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Resinology | Permalink | Comments (3)

May 18, 2012

When a Little Wonkiness Works

I love that word, wonky. It just says it all when it comes to so much of the stuff I try to do in my workshop.

So many of us are self-trained artisans. We buy books, videos, we look at as much stuff online as we can. Some of us are really great with tools; not only do we somehow have the creative skills and ingenuity to dream a new work but we have that manual dexterity thing going on and a certain special something when it comes to be able to use tools. Using tools for some of us is really natural. For others, not so much.

I would have to say that I am in the 'not so much' category. I'm a very visual person; photos work for me best of all. I might even stand directly next to you at the workbench and you might be showing me, step by step, inch by inch....and I may not still quite get it. So I'll walk away, think about it, and one day, pick that dang tool up and insist that it work for me. It will....after a fashion. Some, in time, become second nature. Others....don't.

This morning I was looking back over Candie Cooper's METALWORKING 101 FOR BEADERS, a book I very much enjoy. There is nothing *difficult* in this book; it's just stuff you need to take some time and teach yourself. A class would be nice and Candie does teach---but she has done an awesome job with her book and reaches out to the home student quite nicely.

On page 114 there is a project entitled ORGANIC TECHNO BANGLE. I found this intriguing as the little stacks of funky gypsy-artisan made bangles are all the rage now and many artist-teachers have been showing projects and offering classes. I thought, shoot, how long can this take? I'm going down to the workshop and do this, right away. I figured I'd be done in half an hour.

Well.

Here's the thing: the project calls for 12 ga silver wire. I only had some 16 and not that much, also not sure I wanted to do a project like this with my last piece. But I did have a copious amount of 18 ga copper wire.

Knowing the effect would not be quite the same, I went for it anyway.

You know what: my project came out NOTHING like Candie's. And it's wonky.

I fudged around this and faked around that, used some polymer clay beads I'd made and glazed recently, and did it all in copper. I also used some of those squiggly things I made in the video the other week:

Wire Wrapping, Making Curliques and Tendrils

Basically in the long run, I had a look at Candie's excellent project and pulled a wonky B'sue: