Jewelry Making Outside The Box: Coupons and Contests

An Elephant's Treasure....And A Contest!

It's been such a crazy good time, unearthing all the beautiful old pieces from The 1928 Jewelry Company. Mel Bernie, CEO and driving force behind this beloved jewelry line, has become such a friend and mentor. He is always finding vintage photos and pieces to share with me.

Here and there, I talk him into making the pieces again, so that collectors may enjoy them. A few make it to our website but most are sold directly from my page at Facebook.

Ingrid Anderson, a busy jewelry designer and a member of the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook, has been an avid collector of 1928 Jewelry for many years. Here and there, she has been showing us treasured pieces of her collection. Due to her sharing, we've offered a stunning heart shaped magnifying glass, reprised from her collection. Also we are currently having the perfume bottle pendant re-made, and buyers were allowed to choose the color of stone as well as the metal color (silver or gold) that they wanted.

Ingrid also found the delightful elephant pendant in the photo above, many years ago. The original had a lovely Victorian-style cameo bonded into the bottom of it, sort of like a wax seal.

I asked Mr. Bernie about the pendant and he said, sure, we can re-create that for your collectors! And then, he wanted to know if I wanted the original cameo in the piece, or left hollow so that I could place my own semi precious stones in the pieces? Or, so that you could.....

There it is, standing up on its own, just like a delightful little figurine. But yes, the underside is hollow:

It occurred to me that my collectors and customers might really enjoy filling the elephant with their own version of treasure! So I experimented a bit to see what would happen with a domed glass lens and some sparkly items:

That piece will be taken apart now that I know it works.....I have other ideas for it, and other treasures I would like to use. Also, I used E6000 to glue in the lens and it's just a bit too glurpy. Hypotube cement would be much better for the application of a crystal lens:

You can find it on our website, if you need some: https://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/hypotube.htm

ANYWAY: We thought that maybe this time, since I have only a limited number of elephant necklaces to share, maybe we should make a mini kit with the elephant pendant and include one lens.

Then, those who purchased one, could have the option of joining us for a little contest.

You can put anything you want in there.....whatever treasures you like, that is what your elephant will carry! Glitter, seed beads, stones, pearls, watch parts, just keep thinking, you'll come up with your own unique ideas. The elephant could also be filled with a beautiful stone (you will need 25X18mm) I filled one with a piece of our Chinese turquoise:

Chinese turquoise is found here at B'sue Boutiques: https://www.bsueboutiques.com/Turquoise-Stone-Turquoise-Semi-Precious-03654-p/semi03654.htm

I can't take mine off! I also have one that Mr. Bernie put together for me, in silver...with a blue lace agate, which you can find here: https://www.bsueboutiques.com/Blue-Lace-Agate-Semi-Precious-Stone-25x18-03850-p/semi03850.htm

We really have a lovely selection of semi-precious cabs and beads at B'sue Boutiques now, and it's growing all the time, too. Our prices are very reasonable:

https://www.bsueboutiques.com/category-s/1932.htm

Anyway....getting back to the contest. This one time, only, we are leaving on the 1928 swing tags. So you will be literally be creating your own piece of 1928 jewelry!

We have silver and gold elephants. The trunk is up, and that's the way elephant collectors like it! The pendant is chunky and weighted, but not overly heavy. It measures about 1.5 inches up and down, and 1.25 across, and is very dimensional....as I mentioned, rather like an old wax seal or little figurine. The cavity underneath has a depth of about an inch. The chain is 30 inches long and included.

It would be great for resin, too. Or, why not consider doing an image on the back of the lens? That could be really interesting. You could look for just the right small image to depict the elephant's treasure...or evoke a sentimental memory....or maybe something depicting a circus.

The cost for the elephant and the lens is $35.00 and this includes the US shipping for you, too.

Those who buy the elephant and decide they want to be part of the contest to share what treasure their elephant is carrying (and there is no right or wrong, no disqualifying factors) should be members of the Creative Group. If you are not yet, come and join us! Once again, find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bsueboutiquescreativegroup/

Each one who wants to participate should tell me when they purchase their elephant kit. I'll put them on the list! I hope we get at least 10 to jump into the fun. At the beginning of October, when I come back from the master class I am teaching in California at the 1928 factory, I will create a special Pinterest board for your photos. This way you will have plenty of time to work with your elephant. I will give all those in the contest pinning rights so you can get your picture on there, after the board is up.

On Sunday October 15th, the winner, who will be chosen by Mr. Bernie, will be announced at the Creative Group and here at my blog, as well. The winner will receive 500 bonus points placed into their B'sue Boutiques customer account, ready to use. By the way, 500 rewards points equals a $25.00 gift certificate!

The winner will also receive in the mail a very special piece of 1928 Jewelry, that Mr. Bernie will pick out.

I have 20 kits. If you purchase one, you do NOT have to be in the contest, but we would love to have you join us, and see what you do with your official 1928 Jewelry Company elephant necklace!

To get your kit: Please contact Brenda Sue Lansdowne at Facebook via private message/Facebook Messenger. You may choose silver or gold. You can pay with PayPal and I can send you an invoice. You can also call us at 1-800-868-4393 for a PayPal invoice OR to pay by credit card over the phone. Someone is here most days from 9 to 5 pm. Do not request one here in the comments on this blog as I might miss you!

I can't say for sure..... but I sort of think that we will place the elephant necklaces quickly. Don't assume they are sold, though. Feel free to inquire. Who knows, maybe Mr. Bernie will make us some more, another time?

Here's to the Elephant's Treasure! Let's see what you come up with!

Posted at 10:40 PM in Coupons and Contests, Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Jewelry Making, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (1)

Build a Line Challenge Class Badge with Code....Will You Share It For Us?

Here is the code for the 2017 Build a Line Class Badge:

If anyone would like to join us in getting the word out about the class, which commences January 9, 2017......we would really be obliged! THANK YOU

There are still spots left in the class. DO NOT assume the class is filled, 'cuz it isn't, quite! YOU can still come and be a part of this most-excellent exercise. Doesn't matter how new you are to jewelry craft....learning to build cohesively is so important, and the earlier you learn in your journey, the better off you are.

For more information on the class, what to expect, what you'll need to participate and more....

2017 Master Class Challenge, Build a Line Syllabus (Class Plan)

and you may always write to me at [email protected] for more information on how you can be a part of this amazing group learning experience at Facebook.

Posted at 12:08 PM in Coupons and Contests, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Jewelry Making, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Meaning of WTW.....Work Table Wednesday

It's so HARD to get organized to get anything done! So many of us have piles of things we have ordered, or have begun to move around in our work space.

And alas, nothing is happening yet. That includes MY work space!

Work Table Wednesday is part true confessions, a bit of hey look what I got here!, and of course, new ideas/possibilities.

I think that just photographing the mess on your bench and sharing it, is a bit cathartic. It's also motivating! Once you have shown the world all the cool stuff you have to work with, you probably will organize the space into projects and start on something.

That often happens for our pals at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

And that is why, for the last couple of years now---at least!---every Wednesday is WORK TABLE WEDNESDAY at our group.

Here are some pix of some recent tables. Some are already organized into projects and some are just components everywhere with a loose idea or theme going on. Here is Shari Gardner's table. Shari always has bunches of new ideas!

And a table like Shari's is very typical for many of us, by the way.

Here is one of Allison Murray's. Another typical table, but I can promise you something wonderful came off that pile by the weekend. It almost always does.

Allison and Shari have both commented from time to time how WTW, as we call it, is a real help for organizing thoughts and plans.

Here's a table from Leila Belcher:

Wonderful things DID come from that table, and in short order, too. You can see the beginnings of this necklace on her WTW photo, off to the far right.

On the other hand.....

Some tables are spare and organized and you can get an idea of what is going to happen. This is very true of Joan Williams' table, below.

Also true of Chris Kemp's:

Everyone enjoys posting their WTW pictures on Wednesdays at the Creative Group As a rule we have 20-35 people play along on any given week. Any one who is a member of the Group, which is at Facebook, is welcome to post a photo of their table.

They may also be granted PINNING rights for their tables, as we have a special PINTEREST board, just for them:

B'sue Boutiques Creative Group Work Table Wednesday at Pinterest

There are a few requirements to be allowed to pin at the group board. As mentioned, you need to be a Group member. Then, you must have focal-type components from B'sue Boutiques featured somewhere on your table. You can also have your own things you have collected, on your board. Does NOT have to be all B'sue. Just SOME.

To have pinning rights at our Group Board at Pinterest for WTW, you need to be following me:

https://www.pinterest.com/bsueboutiques/

And then, I have to be following you! So please send me by private message at Facebook, your URL (internet address that appears in your browser bar when you go to your own Pinterest boards). That way I will go right ahead, follow you and then put you right on. Please remember to be following me first before you send me your info, as it makes it really fast to get you on that way.

After that, every Wednesday YOU may pin to the board. Please date your photos, as we get a count by the dates. It's also not a bad idea to watermark them if possible. If not, be SURE you put your name in the description so that I will know the photo is yours.

THEN: EVERY THURSDAY MORNING at the Creative Group, you will see a notice announced with this image:

When you see this image at the Group, 99.9% of the time it means one of our members has WON SOMETHING. Yes, every Thursday I count all the entries and use the random number generator at

https://www.random.org/ Someone's number comes up!

And then.....I pack up a very nice GIFTIE made from the goodies at http://www.bsueboutiques.com

B'sue Boutiques! No two gifties are ever the same and they are usually a good 50.00 worth of THE GOOD STUFF.... which is what we sell at our website.

So there you have it....THAT is what WTW is all about! Come and join us!

Thanks to Jann Tague, who made our WTW badge for us.

She is part of the B'sue Boutiques Project Development Team, whose members design our events and our bi-monthly challenges. Marcia Tuzzolino and Irene Hoffman along with Jann all work very hard to make our Group an encouraging, creative place!

The Next New Color Palette Challenge....With Ebony Black Brass

Time to introduce the next two-month challenge, troops!

The Ebony Black color palette is pure drama. Rich with several shades of cream, chocolate and taupe can be used on the base matte black color. We have a full selection of beautiful matte black brass and vintage jewelry findings and other vintage supplies at B'sue Boutiques from which to select your key focals for your designs! Get ready to create!

To participate and perhaps win the randomly-chosen giftie package chock-full of B'sue goodies, you will need to use at least two of the five colors against your selection of matte black brass. If you already have some matte black focals and pieces that would remain visible in your design that come from our place, go ahead and use them. If you need any, you'll find a nice selection at the website.

We need 30-50 B'sue Boutiques Creative Group members to participate in our challenge. Our color palette challenges last for TWO months.....so you have until October 31st to share your design at the Creative Group at Facebook and pin it to our Challenges Board

On November 1, the winner will be announced by Project Development Team member, Irene Hoffman of Heart's Dezire. And then, I will pull out some lovely goodies and ship 'em on out for ya!

I can't wait to begin working with that combination of colors, myself!

Here is something to inspire you for this challenge, made by Allison Murray of Bordeaux and Pearl:

You might wonder, what is the Project Development Team at B'sue Boutiques all about, anyway?

Isn't that something new?

Yes it is, a bit. Previously we had a DESIGN TEAM at B'sue Boutiques with many talented artists. But, with all the work of daily business here, I was having a bit of trouble co-ordinating projects and finding just the right thing for Design Team members to do. Marcia Tuzzolino, Jann Tague and Irene Hoffman have for some time been very key in assisting me with color ideas as well as filling in for me when I was away on a business trip, engaging the group and keeping all the creative balls in the air!

They also live close to one another and even meet on a regular basis to try new techniques and brainstorm ideas. Naturally it made sense to create the PROJECT DEVELOPMENT TEAM using the talents of these three jewelry artists who have great design backgrounds.

You can read more about them and The Friends of B'sue Boutiques at our website. Everyone on that page is someone who has been key to the evolution of the B'sue Boutiques website as well as the Creative Group on Facebook over the last 3-5 years. Each one is a blessing in their own way and I am grateful for the networking we do together.

Meantime.....we wrapped up the Choxie Color Challenge by announcing the winner Tuesday, September 6. The winner was Shari Gardner!

Here is what I made for the challenge:

I've already worn it a number of times!

Would you like to see what the others made?

Check out our challenges album at Pinterest!

And then come on over to the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook and join us for the Ebony Matte Black Brass Challenge!

Posted at 02:29 PM in Coupons and Contests, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Jewelry Making, Mixed Media Technique, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (3)

Hot Summer Colors and Choxie Brass Stampings.....a Winning Combination!

Choxie brass is back, and it's a hot design ticket found at B'sue Boutiques

Have you tried it yet? If not.....why not join us for the July/August summer palette challenge.....using chocolate brass and these HOT

hot-cha-cha colors!

The palette was chosen by my Idea Girls, Marcia Tuzzolino, Jann Tague and Irene Hoffman. It's a great look, festive, can't you just hear the mariachi music and smell the enchiladas in the oven and the fajitas on the grill?

And the fact is, these are good, clear colors that can be worn in some form by just about EVERYONE. Paired with the chocolate brass, it's just a winner all the way down the line.

How can you be part of the challenge? Well, this year, we have decided that all our challenges will be TWO months long, and will be based on a plating shade and a color palette that enhances it. The Idea Girls will mull and choose the palettes along with a little input from me....

And the rest will be easy! Time to gather materials from B'sue Boutiques .....my supply company which sponsors the challenges....and see what you have stashed away that will work. We're not telling you what sort of jewelry to make, just make something that you think works well with the way the colors MAKE YOU FEEL. Any sort of jewelry, any technique is fine, so long as it contains a few visible things from our place, and our chocolate brass. Although we've just recently brought it back, we carried it for some time before in the past, so it's likely that many have pieces put aside in their workshops, too.

Need some inspiration?

These pieces were made by a number of members of the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group Come and join us!

More inspiration... Here Marcia Tuzzolino shows you how to start. Just pull out the brass and the colors.....and start moving things around on your table....

It won't be long before you have some results!

Beautamous!

I love making these bracelets.....hmmmm. How about if I made another using the HOT summer palette? I think I just might!

These beads just arrived that work with the palette....

and....

Find those beads here:

https://www.bsueboutiques.com/category-s/1882.htm

Here is some choxie interpretation from Jann Tague:

Start pulling out those bits and pieces, this challenge is gonna be SO much fun!

The only type of jewelry that won't qualify for inclusion on our challenge board is a single pair of earrings......if you have made a pair that look great, we'll need you to pair them up with a brooch, a bracelet, a necklace, a ring....something.

Post your projects at the Creative Group and then post them to our Group Challenge Board at Pinterest

Joan Williams of Lil Ruby has, already!

That palette is tailor made for the Lil Ruby design style! So pretty....

So come on over and dive into a pile of choxie brass! And join us for this fun summer challenge. At the beginning of September, I'll post a randomly-drawn winner for this one; I would LOVE to see a BUNCH of participation. If we get 50 or more submissions, I will draw TWO giftie winners!

Let's see your great ideas!

Posted at 10:28 PM in Coupons and Contests, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Mixed Media Technique, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (5)

Revealing our List of Class Members For Build-a-Line Challenge Class and Our Blog Hops

There's a whole lotta thinkin' goin' on at the Build a Line Master Class Challenge this year!

We've been working hard to put names on our styles, how to pull them together, how to discover our customer and determine what sort of line we want to make.....

Will it be fashion?

Here is a wonderful high-fashion artisan-made piece from Allison Murray of Bordeaux and Pearl. Allison often shares her work with us at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

or will their line be a gift line, with personalization such as a stamped saying, something that says something about a person, something that appeals to a person's interests and hobbies?

These interesting pieces are made by artist Renee Hong of Fine and Dandy Jewelry. Renee was a member of our 2015 class.

Or would their pieces be of the type that could straddle both the fashion and gift market? Lovely ad done by Lori Prull Meyer for her line, Parisienne Girl. Lori was also in the 2015 class:

Lori's line has a strong fashion sensibility yet it could be sold handily in an upscale gift shop.

We're going to hear from our 2016 students, shortly. They will be posting the first of a series of three posts for the class, via BLOG HOP, on January 29, 2016

In their first post they will post photos of past work and if they would like, share their studio photos. Some have taken the class before, so they may tell you about last year as opposed to this year and how they plan to take their jewelry designing to the next level.

They will also be teasing you with bits and pieces from the line they hope to make in class, and will discuss their chosen themes.

The hops all be on Fridays for the 2016 class.

Jan 29

Feb 26

April 1

Without further ado, I'll reveal our students and their blogs:

Brenda Sue Lansdowne Jewelry Making Outside the Box

Diana Buynak Butterfly Emporium Ceramic Studio

Irene Hoffman, Heart's Dezire by Irene

Clare Wells Nemeth, Creative Magick

Mary Reckmeyer, Afrayed Not

Marcia Tuzzolino, Aurora Designs

Elizabeth Wilks, Wearable Art by Lizzie

Jeanette Rose Belmont, One Canvas At A Time

Lyn Joy Reeve, A Journey From Jewels To Jubilation

Belinda Reed-Ingle, Vogue Rocks

Beth Trubman, The Journey of Jewelry

Carole Carlson, Bead Sophisticate

Jann Tague, Clever Designs by Jann

Shari Gardner, SLG Jewelry Designs

Susan Bolton, Fern's Place

Chris Kemp, Noodle Pie Bracelets

Barbara Kelley, Angels' Keep

Susan Bowerman, Woodside Wireworks

Pamela Anger, Novegatti Designs

Joan Donovan, Hailey's Cottage

Alison Huie, Ally's Baubles

Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden

Erica Olmos, Beeb's Closet

Erin Whitacre, Shattered Time Jewelry

Fran Sitton, Sitton Up Front

Ginger Hammond, Lynn Leigh Designs

Paula Gaskill, Lovely LaylaBug Jewels

Mary Deis, The Rose Sword

Renee Webb Allen, Small Stuff Design

Valerie Tilghman, ArtJewelsandGifts

Chris Cravens, Vintage Cravens

Leslie Carver, Adorn Divine Designs

Donna Parry, JewelryDonna

Gina-Marie Hammer, Tangles, Twists and Treasures

Kelly Wymer, Winged Wisdom Enchantments

Please mark your calendars and join us!

Posted at 03:01 PM in Coupons and Contests, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Jewelry Making, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business | Permalink | Comments (7)

Mixed Metals Mania! Our First Judged Challenge at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

December not only commences the last month of 2015....but the beginning of a new challenge at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

This is our VERY FIRST judged challenge!

As always there will be a small gift randomly drawn early in January from among all the participants, and this is a gift for participation. That is what we have always done.

BUT....somewhere toward the end of the week, the B'sue Boutiques Design Team and I will select a winner, sort of like 'best in show'.....the one we feel hit the marks and stood out the most.

WHAT ARE THE "MARKS" ?

1. Mixed Metals Mania is quite 'wide-open'. You can design any sort of jewelry that you want, but we will not accept a single pair of earrings, no matter how over the top, as a submission. Your piece does not have to be elaborate but it needs to be either a STATEMENT PIECE or a SET OF JEWELRY: earrings-brooch earrings-necklace earrings-bracelet, etc.

2. Used mixed plated metals in the composition, and we do need to see the use of products from B'sue Boutiques in your design. You may of course fill in with things from your own stash of mixed media jewelry making goodies, and the items used from B'sue Boutiques do not have to be recent purchases. Mix up silverware silverplate with old rose ox and then, add a touch of gold. Or do gold with brass ox and mix in a little matte black. Matte black is not really a metal shade, but you can ease some in, it's okay. Or go with rusty black and copper for a firey, earthy look!

Here's a little inspiration.....see how good a little bling will look with it? Our lovely Preciosa brand rhinestone chain will do the trick, along with some stones from your stash or our website!

You can also mix in beads, polymer clay, pops of color via stones, so many ways to go. But your piece must feature plated metals.

3. VERY IMPORATANT FOR ALL OUR CHALLENGES....clear photos that are bright and easily seen. Please submit on white backgrounds with little or no staging. For me, this establishes an equal playing field for the judges. None of us will be drawn in because you have staged a lovely, well composed photo. We want to see the PIECE, front and back, perhaps several views....so.....

4. NOT mandatory but highly recommended: sometime during the month, when you finish your composition for the challenge, MAKE A PHOTO COLLAGE of your different views. To learn to make collages fast and easy: http://www.picmonkey.com

Another good photo editor online is Picassa, very popular, but you have to download it.

There are several online services that cater to IPAD and cell phone use, as well. Feel free to ask about it on the Creative Group at Facebook.

5. ONLY ONE SUBMISSION PER ARTIST may be pinned to the Pinterest Challenge Board for this Challenge. If you have more than one, put the others on the regular group board, but select which piece you would like to be JUDGED by putting it on the Challenge Board.

CHALLENGE BOARD:

https://www.pinterest.com/bsueboutiques/monthly-challenges-bsue-boutiques-creative-group/

Our regular group board where all your work may be posted is here:

https://www.pinterest.com/bsueboutiques/bsue-boutiques-creative-group/

All submissions must be labeled MIXED METALS MANIA and must be pinned. The only pinners must be members of the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook

So come and join our group! There is sure to be a lot of inspiring buzz at the Group, there always is.

Please be sure you label your photo and get it pinned before midnight January 2, 2015. I'm going over a couple of days because of the holiday.

The random winner for participation will be announced Sunday, January 3. The judged winner will be selected ASAP the week of January 3. The winner will be announced at the Creative Group at Facebook and also in the B'sue Boutiques newsletter.

The winner of the judged contest wins a lovely gift of B'sue goodies hand-packed by B'sue as well as a 25.00 gift certificate. This will be paid out to the winner via 500 points placed into their account at B'sue Boutiques

500 points is a $25.00 MY REWARDS cash out, so the points will be waiting in their account ready to use with no expiration, no code to remember, whenever they are ready to use them.

Again the judges of this competition are the members of the B'sue Boutiques Design Team and while they may participate by creating a design, as judges they will not be eligible to win.

I know December is a BUSY month, but again: your design doesn't have to be intricate or over the top.

We are looking for innovative, clever, wearable designs and well-lit photos----featuring MIXED METALS.

You might want to begin by thinking about what sort of customer you would want to buy your piece, and then create the piece for that imaginary person. You could develop a whole persona for your 'Muse'. Think about what colors they'd wear, the color of their hair and eyes, their age, their style. Once you have someone real or imaginary in mind.....it could even be a celebrity Muse!....it will be easier to create.

GO FOR IT! Let's see what you do with MIXED METALS MANIA!

Posted at 07:34 PM in Coupons and Contests, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Jewelry Making, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Mixed Media Technique, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Colors of Fall Jewelry Challenge, B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

The COLORS OF FALL challenge is one we look forward to at the Creative Group just about every year. It seems to bring out some of the best work in every one. We are mixed media jewelry makers who work with brass stampings and vintage jewelry supplies from B'sue Boutiques as well as polymer clay, leather, paints, resin, etc.

I could go on and on about techniques and artistry but with so much great work and the fact that a picture speaks a thousand words....

I will just let the photos talk.

These are just SOME of the great designs by group members using quality brass stampings and vintage jewelry supplies from B'sue Boutiques

Gina-Marie Hammer made this stunner:

Gina-Marie is a very gifted new member of the Creative Group.

Kelly Wymer of The Journey Within crafted this darling owl pendant....

Ellen Gonchar of Vintique Jools and The Butterfly Loft made this striking centerpiece necklace:

Linda Caudle of Vintage Diva made this masterpiece...

And Erin Whitacre of Shattered Time, made these:

All those leaves are hand colored by cold enameling and set with rivets!

Irene Hoffman made this beaded bracelet featuring satin gold bookchain:

Sarah Colburn made this sweet button bracelet:

Jann Tague made this great looking pendant necklace.....

Karen Eaton made this flower brooch....

I love this necklace made by Belinda Ingle of Vogue Rocks:

Pamela Anger of Novegatti Jewelry made this lovely pendant:

TO SEE MORE:

Check out our Pinterest Challenge Board!

MONTHLY CHALLENGES From B'sue Boutiques

This month's giftie box winner is.......drum roll!

SHARI GARDNER of SLG Jewelry Designs! WOOT!!!

next month's challenge is a bit similar.....but let's add something to the challenge:

We've been seeing a lot of necklaces so THIS MONTH....let's make BRACELETS and earrings in the NATURE'S FOREST THEME....or BROOCHES and earrings. IF you make a necklace it would need to be the third piece.

What will YOU come up with?

Here is a nifty collage of elements from B'sue Boutiques....some of them might work for YOUR Nature's Forest Theme SET of JEWELRY:

Posted at 07:02 PM in Coupons and Contests, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Mixed Media Technique | Permalink | Comments (8)

September's Vintage Flair Challenge....Get Ready for the Eye Candy!

I am surely glad there was no judged portion for the Vintage Flair Challenge/B'sue Boutiques Creative Group September work theme!

Everything uploaded by participants to our Pinterest page was outstanding.

But just to whet your appetite to come and look at the page, I'm going to step out a few photos in this post.

The first photo above is a swingin' pair of long drop ears that speak of the 60's, back to the Twiggy and Veruschka (super models of the time) days, Pucci and Andre Courreges dresses. Made by Monica Rangne.

To learn more about Andre Courreges, click here:

http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/andre-courreges/

Winner of Best In Show for the Change It Up Blog Hop

Choosing a judged winner for the CHANGE IT UP Blog Hop is a lonely job....and it makes me feel as fragmented as a bag of watch parts! This is HARD, guys!

Really!

I've only had ONE judged winner before, for Build a Line....which you may recall had over 55 participants and was a three month course with three blog hops. At the end the B'sue Boutiques Design Team helped me to select a winner.

Normally we don't have judged winners at B'sue events....we just want solid participation and follow through. Then I do a random number generator thing and call a winner to get a giftie. Cindy Peterson, who made some scrumptious cuffs, won the 25.00 random prize.

These are her entries... yummee! Colors like ice cream cones! Find them at Howling Dog Jewelry at Etsy:

For the Change It Up hop, we had a less intense theme for participation than Build a Line, and it was not part of a course. Four of the B'sue Design Team wanted to play along! So I didn't feel I could ask them to judge as I'd have to disqualify them from being able to win. So I had to walk this road alone.

What was I looking for? Well just as our badge says.....

I chose ON PURPOSE some of the most often used pieces from the B'sue Boutiques website....except the heart, we added that one by popular request. The tie, the cuff flat and the leafy centerpiece are things we sell a lot of and you see them used time and again in similar ways. Not that this is a problem.....everyone colors and embellishes differently. It's all good.

But I wanted to see what NEW THING could be done with something that was used quite a bit.

SO....this blog post caught my eye....

Don't think I've seen this piece often with a bunch of dark grunge-type patina on it.......or a Steampunk bent.....

OH ....what IS she doing? Looks like she attached a bunch of stuff with cold connections......and a ring in the middle. So...is this a scarf slide, maybe?

What will happen next?

Looks pretty sweet but that's just a component, a focal to me. Where is she going with this?

HOLY BATMAN and AVENGERS OF ALL EVILDOERS!

It's a ding dang HAND RING!

We had a lot of beautiful work, lots of hard thought, lots of great photos in this hop. I was intensely pleased at the caliber of the work. Much of what I saw stayed very true to the artist's other work as well....which is a good thing. It shows the person's design train is cohesive, you want that.

Erin Whitacre surely stayed true to her design train, she stayed very close to home with a piece that totally speaks her artist's name. Erin is a steampunk style artist and loves to use industrial bits and found objects.

She went and knocked it out of the park when she changed this piece up and MADE IT A RING.

So even though we had beauty beyond compare in this hop, my opinion has to go with solid work and clever originality . SO! I proclaim Erin Whitacre of Shattered Time our winner, as she truly CHANGED IT UP.

Good pictures, too. Being honest I was looking for white backgrounds, that is the best way to show a piece on a website, magazine or in a hop. But Erin took advantage of natural light and a beautiful Ohio day for her photos....and that worked, too!

Erin's prize is a 75.00 free shopping pass to B'sue Boutiques

HONORABLE MENTIONS for CHANGING IT UP to me, would have to be

LORI BEEKMAN of B. Accessorized for her segmented tie:

and again with that tie! I'd have to say MARCIA TUZZOLINO of Aurora Designs for her cuff:

Who would EVER DREAM that was once a TIE finding?

EVERYONE in this hop was a winner because the challenge forced us to up the ante, think differently and work hard.

I know it got me in gear to begin a body of work that I hope helps me become a better teacher and focus on my goals.

What did YOU learn from YOUR project...or others' ?

Please leave us a comment about that. I'd surely appreciate it.

It's a wonderful thing to be a part of what goes on at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group We learn new things from each other every day, and enjoy a great bond of mutual support.

Would love to know your thoughts on the hop, so please leave comments! It's been a labor of artistic love for all of us.

Whew!