I'm not huge into resin but I'm awfully glad I'm not afraid of it. I have had some great successes with it and have always enjoyed using Ice Resin more that other resins.
Quite some time ago I was introduced to Magic-Glos which is a one part resin that needs UV light to cure. Joy, joy, joy, you DON'T have to mix it and get it right. YES!!! And under the light it will cure in under ten minutes, quite hard. In short, it's an instant gratification type crafts product.
When I first used the stuff it wouldn't cure for me. I was disgusted and pitched it all out. In time, I surely wished I hadn't! When Christi Friesen visited us last year for the May Workshop, she showed a great way to use it on polymer clay to get a beautiful hard finish. The trick, she said, was don't pour deep. LIGHT coats. AHA! She was right. I've been hooked ever since!
We got these very cool backless bezels in for B'sue by 1928 :
From the moment I first saw them I wondered, Hmmm! How would Magic-Glos work in those?
But yeah, they are a bit deep. I had to think about it. Determined to try I got out the packing tape and stuck the bezel down, hard, onto it, burnishing the back so no resin would leak through the back:
I then filled the very bottom of the pendant with Magic Glos, maybe only one-quarter of the way up. I was careful not to get any dirt or trapped air into it. Then, I very gingerly placed it under the UV light:
Very easy, then! Just let it go 7-8 minutes, and hard as a rock. Don't worry, it's not hot in that chamber!
I then poured a little more resin, just enough that it would hold my pretty vintage cabochon in the bezel:
And the bezel went back under the light for about the same amount of time.
This was not the first time I'd done this....here is another one I did, the one in the middle:
I noticed that when I had filled it, it was cured, and I pulled off the packing tape, it was a bit gooey. SO: I just poured on a little more resin to even it out and put it under the light again. That took care of the gooey back!
This time, on the one with the vintage cab with the flowers, the back was pretty good. NOT gooey. But I did a thin layer over it again, anyway, and cured it.
Then I flipped it over and did a couple more scant pours and domed it.
I got a nice dome. But you can see, as I did the pours, some must not have gone all the way out to the edge. So that's the down side of it: You do have to do the layers to get it to cure. But each one must be identical or you will have layering.
Honestly, upright, it looks pretty sweet. I'm definitely going to use it and make something nice. Just a part of the Magic-Glos learning curve, I guess! You learn by working with something and experimenting.
I REALLY like the results of Magic-Glos over ICED ENAMELS:
I can't wait to play around with my new components and make them into jewelry! Yes, all have Iced Enamels applied in the standard way, but instead of topping with Ice Resin, I used Magic-Glos, just to go ahead and finish them up. I think they came out great!
We don't carry Magic-Glos at B'sue Boutiques but I will tell you, the deal is that you HAVE to buy the UV light to get it to work. Without it, it does not cure. Some have said it will if you pour it outside on a bright sunny day but then you have to worry about things blowing into it! So if you want to try this stuff, bite the bullet and get a light. I am not sure if the standard UV light used to cure gel nails and manicures will work, it might. I truly believe, though, if you are going to work with resin and you don't want to wreck your work, why not use the tools they recommend?
Once you have the light, the bulb will last a long time and it's not hard to find a replacement for it, either. When you buy Magic Glos, go ahead and spend for the larger bottle too. It's a better deal and, you won't just cooking on this stuff and run out! I always have two big bottles around. It's such a quick fix or finish for so many projects!
As mentioned, Magic-Glos costs more than resin, a two part kit of ICE Resin will go a lot farther. If you are used to mixing it up and using it, you might just want to continue. I would not say that one is better than the other. If time is not important, don't worry about it. But when you need to fix something quick, you will be REALLY glad you had Magic-Glos in your arsenal along with the UV light!
The 2017 Build a Line challenge began in mid-January. So far, we've been examining our style, what it says about us as artisan-designers, and trying to identify our customer. For many, some of concepts are things that can't be answered in a just a few days. It might well be a process. That's the purpose of the class, to re-route thinking and help the artist to discover which path to take.
To get started, the students were first required to make photo collages of past work. This way we would have a sense of where they were in their journeys, so far. The collages also helped the students step back, with a visual, so that they could be more objective about their work. They were asked to try and imagine they they are NOT the artist who made the collage, but someone else entirely. And then....to ask themselves, does it look like the same person made this stuff or a bunch of different people? They were also asked to try and identify common elements in the collages of their work.
A big reason for the class is to help them pull their look together so that it will speak 'one voice'. Some of us become too intrigued numerous techniques and design styles that we never do two pieces that look as if the same person made them! To be successful in developing a line, you need to get that 'one voice' concept, down. Your lines must flow and hopefully, get to a place via your hand and your branding, where people may come to realize who made them even before they are even told who made it.
We've come to the place in the class where we are sharing what our theme will be for our prototype lines developed as a class exercise. The photo collage at the top of the page was one made for the theme reveal by Suzanne Valeriano, of A Silk Purse. She's going with Art Deco-inspired jewelry design.
Here is another, which happens to be a color palette...from Joy Turner of Fireskye Designs:
I have to say, I'm quite drawn to that palette and would love to make things in those hues, myself!
Erika price went with a lovely collage of vintage pieces that inspire her to make jewelry. I believe she is the maker of some of them:
I am working along with the students but doing something a bit different....I am developing the B'sue by 1928 cast findings line:
That line has been out with its beginning 30 pieces, since late December:
The students posted 4-6 collages or photos that identified their theme feeling, like inspiration boards. Then on a final photo, the theme was revealed.
All of the photos are marked, and can be found at this Pinterest board. Believe me, you want to take time to have a look....no more long reading like we had in the blog hops! All visual!!! And they have knocked it out of the park....go over and look, just for the inspiration!
The final round will be the BIG reveal: the showing of the prototype lines made for this class. That's always so exciting! So be sure to check out the first round and come around again for the second! You get to see the BIG REVEAL by the end of the first week in April, 2017.
Once upon a time there was a wistful young girl who had no idea what she wanted, or any idea who she was. Funny thing about that girl, though: she knew she'd figure it out. Life is full of possibilities, after all.
There's a line from the movie "Arthur" that has always struck me. Arthur (Dudley Moore) was a dilatory, spoiled millionaire who drank too much and had to be waited on head to foot, by his trusty butler. He made aquaintance with a common, lower-class young woman, I can't remember her name now or how he met her, but she was played by Liza Minelli. (1981 version)
Anyway: he was dumbstruck by booze and having never done anything with his life, and she was dumbstruck by the POSSIBILITIES in life.
In one scene they are riding along in his limosine (I think!) and she is looking out the window, into the sky. Eventually Arthur asks her what was so interesting out there. She said:
"When I was young, I thought the moon followed me."
He didn't understand that, of course. It is an odd concept, inebriated or not! But, when I was young, I thought the moon followed me. I understood.
Why or how it followed me, I did not know, at that time in my life, I just thought that it did. Really! it doesn't follow any of us. Neither do possibilities. We have to chase them!
I began to chase my possibilities when as a teenager, I had a passion for fashion design. I loved to draw out my ideas, sew, cut my own patterns, invent my own look. No sewing pattern was safe from me. I would read the directions and toss them away with a maniacal laugh! ....and begin re-contouring them, splitting them, adding pieces, taking pieces away. This was one of my favorite patterns:
Betsey Johnson has always been a favorite. I wish she would make that line again! I could never afford it when I was young, but I buy it now whenever I can. ANYWAY: That basque waist was not good for my chubby little figure, so I re-made the pattern several ways. HA! It always came out looking like a hot mess.
I didn't waste time on the hot messes, and I never took them apart to find out what went wrong. I remained in motion! It was on to the next length of fabric and the latest artsy-fartsy thing I'd seen in Vogue magazine, or Harper's Bazaar. Sometimes, the results of my pattern ripping and re-arranging were genius. I wore those frocks with a swish and a sway, yeah baby, I made this dress, not only did I make it, I designed it. I was on my way to figuring out who I was and what I wanted to do, now!
Never did I dream that one day I'd be pushing beads around on a table, like Madame (Chanel). No, I'm not the head of my own clothing line, but POSSIBILITIES! I did create SEVERAL lines of jewelry. I didn't know a THING about making jewelry. Did that matter? After all... the moon followed me, and so, if I liked it and wanted to do it, I believed I could do it.
I must say, I skipped the cigarette thing. Fortunately I realized quite early that nicotine fumes would do nothing for my creativity. Or, the chronic bronchitis that plagued me for many years.
Long story short, let's fast-forward to 2012:
Here's a possibility that became one of my GREAT EXPECTATIONS. I had such great hope for this darling little candy box of a shop. Some of you got to visit me there!
The more of you that came, the happier I was!
Three years later I decided that some businesses DO grow better at home. The GREAT EXPECTATION was a wonderful learning experience, but turns out, it wasn't my calling. Back home we came, summer of 2015. We had an outdoor sale of a lot of the equipment and excess merchandise, fixtures, vintage furniture. Some antiques dealers came in early and got stuff for a steal. THEN: one lady stopped by and BOUGHT IT ALL!
After that, I had a cyber yard sale for the Creative Group. Many wanted a little something from the shop. I sold 40 muse boxes. Everyone was happy. I kept my favorite things, so the current workshop is full of memorabilia from that experience. My map chest, the decoupaged central work table, the pegboard on the back wall....you name it. I sit and work among my souvenirs and I smile. I'm not sad that the shop didn't work out for us.
Maybe something else would!
There are ALWAYS more POSSIBILITIES to ponder, and GREAT EXPECTATIONS to be had.
You see, I knew about this guy. Back to the late sixties, he was just out of the service, no job yet, at loose ends. It was Southern California, kind of a cool place to be in those days. He decided he would peddle Mod watches. I think it was Mod watches, anyway! Something like this, maybe:
In time selling watches worked out okay. Turns out, he was selling lots of those watches. As he went about to take care of his accounts, he began to notice the jewelry in the shops. Late sixties jewelry was composed of a lot of chains. This chain, that chain, long chains, multilayered chains. He saw POSSIBILITIES.
So, he and a few other guys got together and started looking for chain, so they could make chain jewelry and become the chain guys. They discovered that they could take raw brass chain, brush it down with black lacquer paint on paint brushes, wipe it off, and antique the brass in a most beguiling way. We'd call that colorization, now. We do it all the time. Well, they were doing it a long time ago!
Since it was lacquer paint, it never came off. The chain finish was stable. It was a great look. They nailed a trend! Soon they were selling as many necklaces as they could make, as fast as they could make them. But.... how did you make a bracelet? How did you make earrings? The guy knew, hey, we need to learn a bunch of stuff and we need to learn it fast or we'll lose this opportunity. The POSSIBILITY.
Fast forward a bit: they really did make it happen as a team, and then he made it happen on his own. His POSSIBILITY became a GREAT EXPECTATION, and then, a REALITY that has lasted well over 45 years. That reality that just happens to be a household word, today: The 1928 Jewelry Company.
Years ago when I was down in my basement hole banging out my big-little line of gift jewelry with my friends, I heard about that guy. I often wondered about him. I actually had even contacted his company back in 1975 because I saw a chain necklace in a magazine that had a pretty bead on it. that I liked. It would work for the bridesmaids in my wedding. They weren't able to help me then.
No 1928 Jewelry at my wedding......but! Yes, indeed I designed that dress. It was based on the dress my Great-Grandmother, Agnes Bittinger Brenneman wore back in 1901. My mother made all the button loops that went all down the back. I can't say she did it with pleasure, but she did it...and she did it with love. (Oh by the way! you should have seen the big Victorian hat I made to go with it. It was something between stroke of genius and hot mess, but I wore it happily as I skipped down the aisle, all of 19 and a half years old......)
As usual, I digress. Continuing: as I made my big-little line of jewelry, I sometimes thought about what I had read about that guy who started 1928. I heard that he started in a garage. I read an interview where they said he didn't wear jewelry and was just all about what needed to be done. A quote from the article (I think it was Los Angeles Times, 1990) was that in the beginning, he was 'trying not to starve'. Somehow I still pictured him there, gluing little bisque roses on stuff just like I was doing. Maybe a hippie kind of guy, or somebody who liked to surf and was just trying to keep it together, making jewelry in between good waves.
What a strange impression to have, moon girl! I already knew his jewelry was in every mall all around the world!
And here I was in my basement selling to hospital gift shops. Here is where HE was working:
A couple of years ago, I got to meet the guy. His name is Mel Bernie. One day he emailed me. My jaw dropped! OMG, I know who this guy is. Then he called me to sell me some stuff, but we ended up tossing around ideas. POSSIBILITIES. I think he respected the fact that I had followed his company, loved his jewelry and actually cared a great deal about it. (Well guess what....LOTS of people do). We also had a lot of mutual shared experiences in business. I learned from him....and he actually learned from me. And it just keeps happening.
Shelley and I went out there last summer. He had been inviting me over and over, and then, he pretty much insisted. I didn't know what he wanted with a little nobody like me. When I was there, I helped him sort some vintage inventory he had and we did some visiting. Things kept clicking. I wasn't there at the factory very long before I felt I belonged there. It kept drawing me in and I really wanted to be a part of what was so compelling, yet still an enigma, to me.
The conversations continued daily after I came home, dumbstruck by life and possibilities. Just like Liza Minelli in Arthur.
The result is what you see there on the poster in my workshop. You probably know that this work spot also serves as my video set? So we have placed that banner there to brand the space for a new GREAT EXPECTATION: B'sue by 1928.
What is B'sue by 1928? For now, it is a curated collection of pieces Mr. Bernie allowed me to select from his vast castings library of over 35,000+ antique jewelry molds. His molds are wonderful, and the pieces he makes with them have incredible detail. Nobody does it better than 1928! Even though he didn't know anything much about jewelry when he began (just like I didn't!), today, that name is synonymous with style, quality and elegance. It is truly TIMELESS.
The pieces he is making for B'sue by 1928 were used in his copyrighted designs for his company, over many years in business. They are unique on their own, but even more so now, because they have B'sue artisan finishes on them. NEVER has the 1928 Company released their design molds so that components could be made for others to use in their own designs. And for sure, NEVER have they EVER had finishes on them like these:
Or this....
Or this:
The gingerbread is almost exactly the color of the old French vintage stampings. Add a little more patina with a gentle touch of black or black/brown acrylic paint, wipe on, wipe off. The Rusted Iron can be distressed to reveal copper underneath. The silver is so rich....and a great match to our silverware silver plated line at B'sue Boutiques Rusted Iron as well as Gingerbread take patina like Swellegant, very nicely.
I was just fiddling with some POSSIBILITIES last night. Found out quick that regular tissue decoupage with lots of resin may not work great on rusted iron pewter...but prob will be fine with gingerbread and raw pewter. We're going to have a lot of fun with the raw pewter, changing it up and making it our own in so many ways.
Necessity being the mother of invention AND new POSSIBILITIES, I will mention that I took that heart with the bad decoupage (above in the necklace design) OFF, fiddled around some more and I came up with something else that looks really good. I'll share it with you when I'm done!
People ask me, aren't you EXCITED about this new line?
Well.... 1928 is a winner in any form. It is so gracious of Mel Bernie to release these things so now artisans may also design with them. No jewelry company has ever done that....none could! VERY FEW jewelry companies actually MAKE their own findings, so that it could even be possible. Nobody is following the moon here, neither is the moon following them. The castings we have here in our hot little hands are TRIED and TRUE, over 45 five years of screaming successes.
The finishes are tried and true, as well. Anyone who knows B'sue Boutiques knows that I don't tolerate what I call, 'scuse me, 'crap finishes'. I have no place for them in my creative life and neither do you. I want the best.....or I don't want it at all.
There is still much hard work to do, and I need all my energy to get this venture on its feet and MOVING. I am still in POSSIBILITIES and GREAT EXPECTATIONS mode. Soon B'sue by 1928 will feature custom designs unique to this line, and NOT currently in their archives. We intend for there to be new pieces available all the time. The line will grow constantly. You will never be bored with the same old tired pieces.
In a few weeks I am returning to Burbank for more sorting through old stuff for inspiration, checking out more castings, brainstorming new ideas. We will be working at the factory for a full week, and previous to that, Mr. Bernie, Shelley and I will be at CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) in Phoenix, so that he can have a good look at my world and how the crafts industry works.
Great expectations indeed! Too soon for popping corks, my friends.....but if you get a piece of B'sue by 1928 in your hands, you're going to feel a creative buzz from your head to your toes.
Here is the video from last week's introduction, if you haven't seen it yet:
One last thing: Mel Bernie has another passion that is just about as strong as jewelry making. He supports the efforts of his wife, Laurie, and daughter Emily, who run Life Animal Rescue Their mission is to rescue abandoned dogs and cats and place them in loving, forever homes.
They also have a special project of rescuing as many dogs as they can from shelters in Thailand, as well. If you love animals, check out what Laurie and Emily do. You will be very impressed! Check out their Facebook page!
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!
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.
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....
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.
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!
We were tired from all the learning, friendship and fun.... but glowing with happiness. B'sue Boutiques Workshops are a time to learn, but to do so in a relaxed atmosphere among friends who seem more like family.
Of course, this was Christi Friesen year, so the 'kids' were bouncing off the walls with excitement to see Christi again. She didn't let them down!
Christie Friesen, for those who don't know, is the Princess of Polymer Clay. She has written, what? 12 books on the subject! She teaches classes in exotic places like Japan and Australia, to name a few! Christi is quite in demand because she demonstrates that TRULY, anyone can play with clay and have success, right out of the gate.
Christi also takes note of everyone in the room and is available to all. She does not disappear into her hotel room at the end of class, but parties hearty, involved in everything everyone else is doing. She does that from early morning til late at night. Let's face it....Christi loves a party!
She even made herself a student in my Vintage Assemblage with Wire class! It looks like she was having a great time, too.
We learned so many things....how to make a little dragon with wings, such that it could easily be made into a brooch OR a figurine, as you like it. We learned how to make molds and use Sculpey Ultra Light Clay. I am so sold on that stuff now that soon I'll have it available at B'sue Boutiques
Everyone loved the Swellegant class! Here is Janet Wilson, of Chickie Girl Jewelry, simply mesmerized by something new.
I was intrigued most by the dye-oxides as, being a vendor of brass stampings, I'd always concentrated on using the Patinas from the SWELLEGANT line:
Now it was my time to learn from the 'master' how much fun the dye oxides are with polymer clay!
This one is made from a mold I made, from one of our brass stampings...
Sculpey Ultra Light treated with metal coating, Tiffany Green Patina, and dye oxides, done in layers and buffed out with a piece of denim.
SO EASY and SO FUN to do! Thank you, Christi!
Some also made little owl pendants:
That one is from Janet Wilson, done up in true Chickie Girl style.
Here is Sue Shade's table, and everyone is hard at work. Sue came with her two delightful sisters!
They brought us carrot cake and brownies, too! YUMMY!
Here is a darling fairy box that Annette Carruthers made:
I'd like to thank Annette for taking so many of our group photos.
More pix thanks to Janet Calardo, who has come to every last one of our events!
We all owe a world of thanks to Katie Oskin (of Kater's Acres ) and her husband, Luke (Mr. Katie):
On Friday, there was so much clay baking going on that Katie logged 7 miles on her pedometer! Katie did all the running and baking this year, and honestly I don't know what we would have done without her.
Luke was around for needed support. Katie was so glad to have him there. We all were!
Christi's was a two day class, Friday and Saturday. Then I took Sunday for my class, Vintage Assemblage with Wire.
Many had requested that I introduce in person how to do the vintage Haskell-style assemblage using wire for attachments.
It is truly my passion!
The class paid rapt attention to my lecture and instructions...
We took a lot of candid, off the cuff photos....
But truth be told, they all did VERY well and everyone was very productive!
Here we are discussing a design issue and how to wire on a rose montee!
Later this week, I will have a post for you to show you the amazing pieces that were done in class. I was tremendously impressed that so many got a very quick feel for what needed to be done.
Each kit contained a builder and a backer piece and lots of bibs and bobs to adorn it, including some pretty vintage Czech beads and pearlies! Paula Gaskill, one of our pals who couldn't make it this year, contributed a polymer clay rose that was drilled horizontally through the base, so that it could be wired into the assemblage, if desired.
The goal was NOT to use any glue in the composition...BUT, each kit did include a small tube just in case it was truly needed.
At the end of the day on Sunday, everyone cleaned up their spots and got ready for the party!
That's what you see in one of the first pictures, ME feeding Christi a hunk of her CHOCOLATE CAKE....she is SUCH a chocoholic!
(me, too!)
Tired but quite happy, we all eventually pulled the plug and hit the hay. Every year, though, Mary Reckmeyer has to jump on the bed! This is this year's photo of the annual Mary jumping on the bed thing:
The next morning as many as could met for breakfast one last time....and it was good-bye til next year:
Left to right, Janise Crow, B'sue, Janet Calardo, and Virginia Michelini. Such good friends....
We hate to say good-bye.
Great news, though! We've booked the event for next year already, so mark your calendars for May 19, 20, 21, 2017.
Katie Oskin of Kater's Acres is a protogee of Christi Friesen's, having worked on many projects with her in the past. She is also a Polyform Designer (Polyform being the company that makes Sculpey and Premo, our favorite clays). She will be our polymer clay teacher for next year. You will LOVE her teaching style! I will be teaching a continuance of the Wire Assemblage class. There may be some other surprises along the way, I'll keep you posted about that.
Sign ups will be next February....be sure to join us at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group to keep abreast of the details as they come up. All business for B'sue Boutiques events and classes is conducted at Facebook and announced first to the Creative Group
We would also like to give a BIG SHOUT OUT of thanks to the Polyform Company, makers of Sculpey and Premo, for providing the polymer clay for our event this year. Thanks, Polyform!!
When you have happy campers like this, preparing a teaching event is a joy.
But I won't lie! It's a bunch of work. Honestly, I think planning a wedding would be easier. In the long run, though, the more you do it, the easier it gets, especially when you work with the staff at The Dutch Village Inn in Columbiana, Ohio.
The preparation for our yearly event begins about a month after the previous event is over! This is so that I can continue to have the same weekend every year, since it falls in the middle of the month and seems to be a good time for the majority of people.
We always get the large meeting room on the third floor:
By now, it seems like home to me! LOL
If I am bringing a special teacher in, that's done far in advance as well. All the particulars are worked out and their schedule is cleared to be at the event. A room is booked for them and a room block is established for the anticipated number of attendees. A special discounted room price is established by the Inn for those coming for the event.
This year we do have a special teacher, Christi Friesen:
She is ALL about the clay play.
Here's an idea of where we are going with her class this year:
ANYWAY.....
I meet with the event director, Kelly Witmer, a number of times during the year. We work out the seating, what sort of tables will be needed, what we will be doing in the room, drink service, food for our party, etc.
All through the fall anticipation is built for the next Workshop.
Last year, Katie Oskin did clay for a day. It was SUCH fun.
Marcia Tuzzolino and Irene Hoffman prepared a half day mini-beading class.
Here they are getting all the little kits ready for last year, back home in California:
They did a great job with their class and this is what we made (photo, Frances Grisafi)
Both are B'sue Boutiques Design Team members.
In February, I write the contract, post it in the special Event room that I create on Facebook, and then it's first come, first serve!
I always post it on a Saturday so that most will be free to call in their payments, or receive a PayPal invoice. I do all the book keeping for this event as well. This year, we filled up fast!
A few weeks after sign ups are complete I make extensive arrangements for liability insurance for the event. Then I pay all the remaining bills and I start packing. First I had to finish planning my class on vintage style assemblage with wire and pack the Discovery Kits. This is most of what is in them, although I did add a few more items before finishing them.
And here I am working with the stuff, getting my head around how to make this fun for everyone:
I also made a video last week, on some basics about this type of jewelry making:
If you are coming to the class, you will FOR SURE want to have a look at this video.
A couple of other links you might find helpful are a blog post by Heather Powers of Humble Beads:
There are a couple of other videos I made on this subject, too. To find them fast, put 'cagework beading' into your Yahoo or Google search, as they will come up.
Besides that, there is more packing to be done: supplies for Christi's class, more for mine...and things for the open house party on Sunday night!
I think ! this is the last of the brass stampings to be bagged up.
All of the kits, packed up and ready!
More Russian gold plated brass to have at the ready....these are sets of builders and backers:
And pretty little bits......
And these are the hampers with all of my giftie bags for the attendees....
Pasta machines and clay oven already packed in the car!
Annette is pumped about coming this year.....she posted this on our event board:
In less than a week, we will all be in our classroom, working hard:
Our dear friend, Kristy Le, can't make it this year, but her photo sums up the entire spirit of the event:
This class is the result of 28 years in the trade, one form or another, and lots of tough experiences.
The good news is: I learned how to build a line back in the 90's, and eventually I sold it to about 500 store accounts. At one time, the line had 300 pieces. We could never fit them all in a catalog....but this is the cover of the last one we produced in the late 90's.
B'sue Boutiques was originally a little heart's-ease, cute line of gift jewelry that was designed by me and made by myself and 7 artisan helpers....in my basement. It was not a lovely work area, as it is now:
It was really quite rough and I think the way we endured it was that we really loved what we did, and we loved each other. All of us were friends, and a number of the girls who worked with me were Latinas, and it was from them that I really developed my love of their language. I taught them how to make jewelry, and they taught me to speak Spanish....well. I just wish I had some photos of that old workshop to show you. We all fit in there with plenty of space. It was well planned....but so busy, we never thought to take any pictures.
I loved that line of jewelry. One of my favorite things to make was this little pin on one of the pages of that catalog.
PN-38 was our best seller, because you could have it your way, engraved your way, and embellished your way. If you bought 12, we would give you 13....lagniappe. I always have given a little something extra.
The prep was quick and I did all the engraving. Then we would take the orders and make a master for the week, and then check stock because we always tried to have the best sellers made ahead to some extent.
From the master we would see what we didn't have, or what was custom, and get cracking. Each knew what little bits should be put on which theme. All the tiny charms and accents were kept in individual bins for quick finding! And those pearl buttons....we had serious poundage of them. We had them in big boxes all over the place, and we used A LOT of them. They were plentiful; I would advertise in the antiques papers Wanted To Buy and I got all I could ever want, for 6.00 a pound!
That would never happen now!
The challenge was to make those brooches in 15 minutes. Not long ago, I challenged myself to see if I could still do it neatly:
YES! I still can. AND, in under fifteen minutes.
When I planned the 2016 master challenge class, I decided that I would build a line along with the class based on my old line, maybe a reprise of it.
BUT THEN....I thought, no. Not quite. While I may make a few similar pieces, I eventually realized it would be better to do one one just a bit inspired by what I had done over 20 years ago.....and bring it up to speed with some of the tricks I've learned since then.
So: I am still in the planning stages! I do have a theme, though....and a plan of attack. It's been so much fun mapping out this little journey! Here you see my little black worktable that I keep back in my office. (NOTE TO SELF: get a white one! If I want to take pictures on it, they just really don't come out very well!)
You can see my notes there at the top left. Yes, I'm calling my line Sugar Shop (Jewelry).
And I am working on the "Chocolate Frosting" section:
As you can see, I am using Chocolate Brass, which at this time we do not regularly carry at B'sue Boutiques When we did, the sales of it were lukewarm even though I felt I had a better version of it than the other popular chocolate brass lines out on the marketplace, and our prices were certainly more reasonable.
I always loved it though.
Doesn't it just look yummy like a can of frosting? This piece isn't finished yet, though....
You can see I am playing with names....we used to nickname that dark brown finish, Choxie. But I don't think I can really use that on a website, as I think Target used to have a line of chocolates you could buy with that name. But as you can see, it is REALLY chocolate, like deep milk chocolate. Or a can of frosting!
So I am toying with the idea....do I change the chocolate brass up? Do I distress it? Do I add a tiny bit of color? What color?
At this time I am leaning toward Patina color Gilder's Paste....and other little colored bits on the work. Maybe give it the feeling of chocolate frosting with sprinkles!
I tried photographing it on several backgrounds to see what might make it pop.....or make ME pop!
Here again are the parts I am fiddling with now:
Things could change. Until we meet again on this subject at our second hop, which is February 26th....I may have new parts or change this all up.
Sugar Shop Jewelry, however, will remain my theme.
Sugar Shop Jewelry will be a name under the B'sue Boutiques umbrella. And under it, will come various categories:
Chocolate Frosting
Vanilla Frosting
Party Cake
Wedding Cake
Box of Chocolates
Coffee with Cream
....or something like that.
I won't get all of those sub-lines done by the end of this class, but in each line I'd like to have 5-10 key pieces that could be reproduced easily. Vanilla Frosting will be shabby whites. Party Cake will be jewelry to wear to a party! Wedding Cake will be wedding jewelry, Coffee with Cream might be some less fussy casual looks or maybe something literal---coffee and tea charms and motifs on the pieces!
Box of Chocolates will be just like Forest Gump's....you never know what you're gonna get. That is where I will put statement pieces and one-off's that will not be reproduced.
I am still thinking about ideas for a line using our silver.....It will come.
As we go along in the hop, I will let you know more about my plans for my new line, going forward.
It's been a great month! We've built collages of past work and stood back to take a hard look and determine if our styles spoke one voice, and if not, what we could do to tighten up and become more cohesive. We have also talked about our style and identifying----or better still, DISCOVERING our customer! Who is she? WHERE is she?
We've talked about whether our lines are gift lines or fashion lines, or do they straddle both, go either way?
And we've discussed design styles of the past....for inspiration and knowledge! We have talked about famous designers like Chanel, Haskell and Schiaparelli....and the differences between them. We have spoken of Renaissance and Gothic Revival jewelry, Victorian, Edwardian, Civil War style (mid-Victorian), Edwardian, Arts and Crafts Period Jewelry, Jugenstil, Bauhaus, Victorian Revival, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. We've learned a lot, and many have commented that this part of the class was fun!
The next few weeks will be just as challenging, but for now, why not bring your coffee and come hop with me through the class members' blogs? Here are the participants:
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.
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!
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:
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:
