Friday, February 20, 2015

Build A Line Challenge from B'sue Boutiques, Gina Hockett of Freestyle Elements, Part Two


From my first post about the Build a Line Challenge, taught by Brenda Sue Landsdowne of B'Sue Boutiques


This was a picture of my worktable as I sought to combine my collection of gemstone cabachons with brass stampings from B'Sue Boutiques to create a line of jewelry that would be cohesive, be recognizable as mine, and that would narrow my focus to build a successful business, creating jewelry to sell.

The journey so far has provided some valuable discoveries. Before, I made pieces of jewelry that pleased....me. As I tried to narrow my focus to concentrate on designing pieces of jewelry that would be profitable and pretty, I discovered that there was so much more to building a successful business...and designing and creating jewelry.

I started with these pieces. Doesn't everyone love Lapis and it's deep blue color?


And these pieces..


I tried to keep in mind the cost of supplies and gemstones,  the time that it took to create and finish a piece, and a final price point goal.  As I played with combinations of gemstones and brass stampings in different finishes, I asked some hard questions, then realized how many possibilities that there are in the direction I wanted to go.



Rhodonite and Ebony Black.



There is a sapphire in the group below--


Zebra jasper, Leopard jasper, (uh-oh, my cat is named Jasper), Labradorite, and Pietersite with Ebony Black stampings from B'Sue Boutiques.


Did I want to pursue this direction? Or try another combination or combinations?


Variscite and Noreena Jasper with Swellegant colored raw brass stampings.



How many lines could I create? More possibilities danced together.


Unakite and Turquoise finish brass earring stampings above. Fossil jasper and Malachite in the ones below.



After contemplating so many different combinations, I realized that color is a big player in determining possible outcomes. Since color plays such an important part in everyday fashion choices, perhaps I needed some illumination and education concerning how fashion affects jewelry choices, which affect jewelry sales. In fact, there were several big discussions among participants in this challenge on acquainting ourselves with what is happening in the fashion world. 


How would my choices affect my sales if fashion knowledge were incorporated into the decisions that went into making a cohesive line of jewelry?  What is big in the fashion world now and what will be big in a few months? 

Would the following pieces have a place in someone's jewelry wardrobe if I were to make, market, and try to sell these--when they become finished, of course! 

Tourmaline chips, ruby, and Lepodilite with B'Sue brass stampings.


Would more "valuable" gemstones have more of a place in a fashion conscientious woman's wardrobe? Would perceived value influence buying decisions?  In the picture below, there are rubies, turquoise, labradorite, seraphinite, picture jasper, and turretella gemstones along with brass stampings from B'Sue Boutiques. No additional colorization on the brass has taken place.

Turquoise, anyone? Notice the turquoise is much smaller than the other stones represented here.



Labradorite ring.


B'Sue's exclusive Silverware Silverplate finish--along with Seraphinite,  Kyanite, and Black Tourmaline.



The more precious gemstones, of course, command a higher price. Would that price meet my pricing goals for a finished line that would sell well?

In thinking how color and perceived value affect pricing and buying choices, I did find one color combination that I personally love.



Jasper, one of my feline darlings, loved it so much he tried to help me paint the flower pink to match the pearl. It went so well with B'Sue's chocolate findings! I think he wants a bowtie with a flower to show off his personal style!

Tune in next month to see how I finished my line--or lines. This class has been a spectacular experience so far. My visualizations may be far different than reality when I am done, but isn't that the beauty of taking such an awesome class with a knowledgeable, experienced teacher? Thank you Brenda Sue!!  In the meantime, take a look and see how my classmates are faring:

Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B'sue Boutiques


Marcia Tuzzolino
Jann Tague
Judy King
Linzi Alford
Cynthia Wainscott
Carole Carlson
Lynn Stinten
Marica Zammit
Catherine Shattuck
Michaele Collie
Mary Craig
Lee Koopman
Erin Whitacre
Monica Casady
Leila West
Cindy Peterson
Leila Belcher
Gloria Allen
Pamela Anger
Tammy Adams
Lynda O'Mara
Elizabeth Hildreth
Dana Hickey
Janet Calardo
Maria Clark
Lori Beekman
Jennifer Kroeger
Amy Jorgensen
Robin Reed
Ingrid Anderson
Louise O'Shields
Susan Killam
Mary Katherine Deis
Nike Bottalico
Susan Bowerman
Kristy Le
Jan Peters
Mitzie Crider
Gina Hockett--You are here!!  
Linda Anderson
Alexandra Sefton
Melida Boman
Teresa Shurter
Melissa Latimer
Renee Hong
Nadine Edris
Lori Meyer
Jennifer Merrill Williams
Denise Lussier Poirier
Renee Allen
Autumn Adams
Elizabeth Owens
Kat BarronMiller
Sandra Ballard
Coral Law

46 comments:

  1. OMG you have so many gorgeous gemstones Gina! You're right, you have some many design possibilities here.

    Loved all the designs you showed but if I HAD to pick a favorite it would be the Unakite piece. It's gorgeous!

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  2. Thanks, Marica!! Unakite is one of my favorite stones!!

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  3. Gina, you've got quite a stash my friend! I'm anxious to see it all come together…so many choices, so little time! All of your pairings are impressive!

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  4. Okay my favorites are the ones that used to swell again to on the stampings because the stones just popped in I could really see them well. But I love gemstones and I love your ideas of what you're doing with them. The other thing about your blog I liked was all the questions you asked and you yourself and shared with us. Because those are questions we probably all are thinking about. So thank you as I learn from each of

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    1. Oh, glad I was able to help in some way, Cindy! And thank you for our feedback!

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  5. Wow you have been a busy busy girl! These are awesome and I'm very much looking forward to seeing the end results!

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  6. So many gorgeous possibilities! You really can't go wrong! Can't wait to see how you take these lovelies!

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    1. Thank you, Nadine. I love trying out the possibilities!

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  7. Oh my! What lovely possibilities, each one more beautiful than the next. Love where your line is going. Thoughtful post, too.

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  8. All of your choices/selections are beautiful!

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  9. Oooh, such beautiful things! I love the natural stones, and the way you've put them together in their settings. Can't wait to see your whole line, Gina!

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    1. Thank you, Pamela! I love natural stones too--love using them this way!

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  10. These pieces are all great! I love the gemstones and all of the different finishes that you used.

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  11. You have some beautiful stones to work with. I'm lusting after that gorgeous piece of seraphinite! ~mary

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  12. Great blog post and thanks for all the pictures! I'm loving them all, but those verdigris pieces make the gemstones pop. I also love the richness of the darker pieces, too. So many possibilities.

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  13. So very many options. Love all the gemstones you're working with. Can't wait to see where you end up with your line.

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  14. Your colors are great. The pink with the chocolate brass is gorgeous.

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  15. Lovely pieces, looking forward to seeing your finished line

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  16. Love what you have so far - I really like what you did with the sash brooch stamping!

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  17. Love what you have so far - I really like what you did with the sash brooch stamping!

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  18. Framing the natural stones with filigree and brass stampings is really a nice look. Good work and looking forward to the final reveal.

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  19. Framing the natural stones with filigree and brass stampings is really a nice look. Good work and looking forward to the final reveal.

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  20. Can't wait to see thevrest! It's coming along nicely. Love the stones and the colors!

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  21. Gina I had a cat named Jasper too! Great pieces - keep up the great work!

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  22. Fabulous Blog! Beautiful items and stones! I cannot wait to see your line of lines at our last blog! Enjoyed your participation in the group too~
    Best Wishes~
    ~nike

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  23. Ginia-- I love all of your gemstones and how you're matching them up with colors to get great combinations. You're definitely putting a lot of thought into it and it's working!

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  24. Very nice, Gina, I love all your combinations. Looking forward to seeing your reveal!

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  25. LOL--every time I got to another photo in your blog and enlarged it to see better--I said, now that one is my fave! And then there was another photo of gorgeous work by you! I am totally amazed that your cabs fit the bezels so well and what a totally hot idea to use stones--in listings you could tell a tad about the properties/qualities (like energizing, peaceful,etc.) of the stones--that would be so interesting--like reading a gem book. I do really love the rhodonite on black--that was so inspired! But then I was wild for the unpainted brass pieces and the ones with sprig overlays too. These all are very elegant and I'm so excited to see your complete line at the reveal! Thank for bringing such beauty from the natural world to us! <3

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  26. Oh how adore all of your gemstones, most people love diamond but I just love the colored stones. I love all different kinds of jasper, agate, turquoise, and lapis just yummy brilliant stones. I love how you have accentuated these gorgeous stone with the perfect colored stampings, that in itself makes it a beautiful line. Love your work! XOXO!

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  27. I have to agree with Kristy Le on this point, I LOVE SEMI-PRECIOUS Gemstones the absolute BEST! I have boxes downstairs waiting for me to have time to use them, but I don't think I'll achieve the effect you have here with each and every one of these. I don't think I'd be able to choose just one favorite, but your Swellegant colored pieces are among the very top ones. WOW!!

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  28. Love gemstones, have boxes but so far done very little with them.. You have inspired me to get them out and haopefully have time to do something with them.

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  29. You are just sooo speaking my language!!! Jaspers are one of my all time favorites and you have done an amazing job of bringing out their beauty!!! GReat Job! Can't wait to see the finished line! Have a Blessed Day!!!

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  30. I love stones too. Jaspers and labradorite are my current favorites. Can't wait for the big reveal. :-) ~Elizabeth

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  31. So glad you joined us, Gina, and you truly have put heart and soul into this, using the components and stones that speak to you!

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  32. Lovely work, Gina. Your ideas can be expanded in various lines and are very appealing. Looking foreward to see some more finished pieces next hop!

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  33. Lovely work, Gina. Your ideas can be expanded in various lines and are very appealing. Looking foreward to see some more finished pieces next hop!

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  34. Your gemstones are gorgeous. I hope it works out that you choose "all of the above". The metal coloring and size depend on the gemstones themselves. If the common component is the use of gemstones, is it really different lines if you use different color metals? It might be simpler to think of "gemstone cabs" as one line with gold/silver/black variations.

    Cheers,
    Susan

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  35. Excellent blog post, Gina! Love your story and what you are doing with the stones and the Bsue stampings. Excited to see your finished line.

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  36. Absolutely love your designs. The stones with the stampings work so well together. The metal colors are so cool. Can't wait to see the finished line.

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  37. OOh Gina , you have been productive- you have a lot of choice of gemstones and brass options- look forward to seeing what you choose as your line, Linzi

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  38. Awesome post and Awesome pieces. Cannot wait to see what you decide on for this line, wow!

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  39. Gina, I had to scroll and look at them all more than once, they are just that pretty! I LOVE seeing artists combine gemstones with B'sue pieces. I wish we would see even more of it. You've got such lovely stones, and gorgeous filigrees and settings with amazing colorization on the green ones. You sure have a wonderful idea, and it's shaping up beautifully!

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  40. Just breathe taking Gina!! OMG your artwork is just beyond beautiful!! I love everyone of your pieces, they are so elegant and time honored!!!! The combination of the stones, filigrees and colors are outstanding. I love your blog so very much. You are going to have a phenomenal final reveal for sure! ~ Warm Regards Louise

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Thank you for your comments!