Friday, March 20, 2015

B'Sue Boutiques Build a Line Challenge--Part 3





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Do you see the lines above? Actually, it is a "collection" of lines! They go together, but are totally separate. But that is not the type of line I want to talk about today. The "line" I am going to show you today is jewelry made from gemstone cabachons I have collected over the years, most of them from Judy McCourt and brass findings, mostly from  B'Sue Boutiques .

Three months ago a group of us began this journey with teacher Brenda Sue Landsdowne of B'Sue Boutiques. She gave of her time and expertise to teach us how to build a line of jewelry to sell. But it was so much more!! We learned about color, components, pricing, fashion, blogging, the difference between a "line" and a "collection" and the pyramid related to selling what we make. You can read Part one and Part 2 by clicking on the links.

Finally, pictures of the jewelry I made!

Simple necklaces


Mookaite and Malachite with brass chains.



Labradorite, Azurite and Malachite with Chrysocolla, and Seraphinite with Sterling Silver chains.


Laramar, Faceted Amethyst, Azurite, Turquoise, and Labradorite in ring findings from B'Sue Boutiques.


Have you seen this brass crescent from B'Sue? This is what I used to make several bracelets!


Used bronze patina, and other patinas and findings to adorn this cabachon-topped bracelet.


A crazy lace cab used with  brass findings oven baked with vinegar and salt.




Brass findings colored by Swellegant and Gilder's Paste.


Moss agate with a copper cuff torched for color by me.



I have more bracelet components ready to put together. Below is Lepodolite with painted brass findings, jade and amethyst beads.





Seraphinite cab and beads.




Below is Leopard jasper and Goldstone with Crab Agate and Ocean Jasper beads



Montana Agate with Black Onyx and Smoky Quartz.



Picture jasper with Czech beads.


A big Ruby, with raw Ruby beads and brass!!



Earrings made with Kyanite, Black Tourmaline, Unakite and Fossil Jasper.



Turretella, Lapis x 2, and Turquoise with Swellegant-altered spoons.


So, do I have a cohesive line? The short answer is yes. The long answer is .....it depends. Making a line from cabachons is challenging. To use pre-made components, I need to have a stock of certain-sized cabachons, which may not always be available. To make earrings, I need to have matching pairs of cabachons. It was a real challenge to find those matching cabs for eight pair of earrings.

I learned so much from my classmates. I am sorry to see this class come to an end. The conversation, the aha moments, and the verbal exchanges were unmatched for any class I have taken. Thank you, everyone, and especially thank you, Brenda! Want to see what everyone else did?

Brenda Sue Lansdowne --TeacherJewelry Making Outside the Box
Marcia TuzzolinoAurora Designs
Jann TagueClever Designs by Jann
Judy KingApt to Wander Studio
Linzi AlfordMagpie in the Sky, Spoil Heap Tales
Cynthia WainscottExotic Peru
Carole CarlsonBeadsophisticate
Lynn StintenDragonzwench
Marica ZammitBead Lovelies
Catherine ShattuckVRBrose
Michaele CollieThe Vintage Gem
Mary CraigJewelry Alchemy
Lee KoopmanStrega Jewelry
Erin WhitacreShattered Time Jewelry
Monica CasadyMJCasady Copper Works
Leila WestLeila Nicole Designs
Cindy PetersonHowling Dog Jewelry
Leila BelcherLeila Bee Designs
Gloria AllenWings and Beads
Pamela AngerNovegatti Designs
Tammy Adams                                                           Paisley Lizard  
Lynda O’MaraLOmara Creative
Elizabeth HildrethMadScientistsDesigns
Dana HickeyWind Dancer Studios
Janet CalardoJan Lea Designs
Maria ClarkSweet Willow Designs
Lori BeekmanB. Accessorized
Jennifer KroegerRelic Charm
Amy JorgensenHoarder’s Corner
Robin ReedArtistry: Handcrafted Bead Designs
Ingrid AndersonLilis Gems
Louise O’ShieldsDesire Divine Jewels
Susan KillamKillam Creative
Mary Katherine DeisThe Rose Sword: Artisan and Vintage Collectible Jewelry
Nike BottalicoNike Bottalico
Susan BowermanWoodside Wireworks
Kristy LeKristy Le Trendy Jewelry Designs
Jan PetersStylized Vintage
Mitzie CriderNeedful Luxuries Occasional Blog
Gina HockettFreestyle Elements  **You are here**
Linda AndersonFrom the Bead Board
Alexandra SeftonImaginary Jewelry and Altered Art
Melida BomanThe Journey of Pens and Things
Teresa ShurterTreeZ’s Treasurs
Melissa LatimerSmithed Up
Renee HongFine and Dandy Jewelry and Art
Nadine EdrisMoondance Jewelry
Lori MeyerParisienne Girl
Jennifer Merrill WilliamsArtists of All Stripes
Denise Lussier PoirierJewelry by Denise
Renee AllenSmall Stuff Design
Autumn AdamsAutumn Dawns
Elizabeth Owens1996 Shabby Lane
Kat BarronMillerMidnight Kat Productions Art Jewelry
Sandra BallardMama San’s Mojo
Coral Lawab:coraldesign

33 comments:

  1. Well done, Gina, with so many pretty pieces! Thank you for great photos, new ideas and your participation with an excellent post for the finale. The class will go on with summary for about three weeks, then I'll say, CLASS DISMISSED! But many of this core test group for my Build a Line Classes going forward say they don't want to leave. So, since all of you are my special group who helped me brainstorm so much....we will leave it up for as often as you have questions, comments and things to share. It was a special experience indeed!

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  2. I love your line, I love gemstones, and the way you incorporated them with b'sue components, such a change from wire-wrapped gemstones, not that their not nice. I love your blog

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  3. Anything Labradorite or Seraphenite makes me happy! Love the shimmer in those stones! Wonderful work Gina!

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  4. These are beautiful stone pieces! I think they definitely fit together into a line. The stones are beautiful.

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  5. You've done a great job of pulling all this together.

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  6. Fabulous job pulling your line together - it flows so well! Nicely designed to show off the cabs. Great line!

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  7. Wow!!!! Your pieces are amazing.

    Those cuff bracelets and rings are calling my name. ALL of them lol So beautiful.

    Great job Gina!

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  8. Gina you have a great line. I know how hard it is to come up with natural cabs that match for earring and necklace. Great job.

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  9. Wow! Love the use of natural gemstones in your work. The one bracelet that is "oven baked with salt and vinegar" is to die for, so rustic and yet feminine. Lovely.

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  10. Your designs are wonderful. I love all the gemstones and how you've paired them with the metal components. Maybe you'll luck into a treasure of matching cabs to keep you going and going and going.

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  11. Gina, I don't know how you pulled this off, but YOU DID! Your work is beautiful, the stones with the stampings make everything pop. You chose an ambitious theme and executed it very nicely. Well done!

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  12. Lovely creations. Great choice of gemstones and brass components. Ingrid

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  13. Great work! Wow, you pulled something very difficult off & did it well! I have so enjoyed this class with all of you and will miss all the interaction! It will be something I will never forget! Happy sales and good fortune to you!

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  14. Gina--Your line is great! I love gemstones, but rarely use them and always appreciate well-done jewelry that incorporates the many colors and designs as yours does! Congratulations!

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  15. Beautiful pieces, Gina. Natural stone cabs are definitely people pleasers, and the way you have them presented is fantastic!!

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  16. Just gorgeous! Love the cabs and metal combos. All the pieces are fantastic but the cuff bracelets make me swoon! Wowzer! such great work!

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  17. Those gemstones are so pretty. I use gemstones but seldom put them with B'Sue components. You did a great job. They will sell well.

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  18. I predict you will do well the gemstones with they brass is lovely

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  19. What a stunning collection of beautiful gemstones meshed with B'Sue's beautiful stampings these should sell very well for you. I loveeeeee your line!

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  20. Wow what a beautiful collection you have created. I love all of the designs but the bracelets & rings were off the charts cool. Love how you used the stampings layered together. Wonderful line!

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  21. Wow what a beautiful collection you have created. I love all of the designs but the bracelets & rings were off the charts cool. Love how you used the stampings layered together. Wonderful line!

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  22. Gina .. Congratulations on your design line it's beautiful .. Love those cuffs .. <3

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  23. Yes to cohesive! I love your cabs and the azurite is a total win!

    Cheers,
    Susan

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  24. Oh my, what a gorgeous line you developed, Gina! The semi-precious stones with the brass pieces are amazing, and what a cool use of the crescent! I really love what you've done, and wish you much success with it! ;)

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  25. It looks like you had a lot of fun! Very pretty pieces.

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  26. Gina this line is exceptioanl at the highest form!!! OMG Elegance, rich energy, beauty, style, grace, and artistic brilliance is the less that I can say about your phenomenal jewelry line!!! Oh thank you for such an awe inspiring display of beauty! Uhh yes I love your line. Thank you deeply for so much of your Inspiration and I am thrilled to have been on this amazing adventure with you!!!!

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  27. Can I come over and play in your cab drawers? I especially like the rings. Gorgeous colors and what fun to wear these pieces. Good job Gina!

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  28. Gina, I love semi-precious stones and stone cabs. I've been collecting them since I was a child, but haven't used any of my collection in jewelry yet for the reason you mention. Matching cabs & semi-precious beads is a challenge. You've done an amazing job matching them as well as utilizing them in your jewelry with the brass stampings. You make it look effortless, but it's definitely a skill you've developed through hours of work. Lovely.

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  29. Gina--I SO completely love the natural stone cabs you're using--it's a miracle as you said to find ones to fit the mounts and matching pairs for earrings! My all-time fave is the lepidolite with the laid one flowery stems and all! Gorgeous! I never thought of layering things onto stones--what a great idea for assemblage. ( I have some stuff from when I was going to wire wrap everything on the planet (LOL), so this has opened my eyes to new possibilities if I can ever get more going that I want to on my own line! ) Anyway--your artistic eye is amazing. I just love the different colors you've used to compliment the stone colors on different pieces. And there's a marvelous black one with what I think is an agate that is so elegant! Hope you do many more and post for us all to see. :):)

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  30. What a rich looking line! And definitely creative uses of the components. You have a great way of seeing things and designing great pieces.

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Thank you for your comments!