Hi Everyone, and thanks for stopping by!

Welcome to our Build a Line Master Challange Blog Hop 2016!

This is our second of 3 blog hops. This time, I wanted to talk about what inspires me.

It’s true, birds and nature inspire me, but that goes for most of us Islanders. How did I get into jewelry, and stay inspired the last 25 years?

Well…. perhaps it’s because I always wanted to be a Pirate. Yes, it’s true! I know, I know, but without the eye patch. And the wooden leg…. The exciting part that  always inspired me was  the big fat chest of gold and jewels! And I wager I’m not the only closet-wanna-be-pirate in this group! That chest always made my heart pitter patter. Now I’m a grown up Pirate, and I get to work with beautiful shiny metals and jewels every day. And I am blessed.

What has kept me inspired, through the past 25 years of making jewelry, is my friends, family, and peers, who are a constant inspiration to me. Each day, I get to recharge myself on their beautiful pieces, and for a moment, see the world through their eyes.

We have been making collages of our work in class, to teach us to look at it objectively. To be able to stand back and squint. To begin to see what our personal artistic style is. And to use that info as the baseline for future growth. And okay, they’re fun too! Here’s a recent one of my work:

I learned a lot about my style from this collage. I learned that I liked color, that I used a lot of drops, that I was being influenced by Victorian style, and that I liked gemstones. Now you think that I’d know some of those things, being the person who actually designed and made the jewelry. But, no. As usual, I was the last to know. The Victorian part totally shocked me. Is that what I really wanted to be doing? The answer is yes, I think so. At least for now!

I’d like to introduce you to the second piece in my line of bracelets. It’s called The Silver Raven. He sits on a large rusty black B’Sue vintage filigree oval, and B’sue rings, chain, clasp, drops and crystal flower. Ravens are my favorite bird.

As part of our class,  I have had to ask myself,  am I a hobbyist, a maker or a production designer? I have been a hobbyist for a good 23 years. I am now a maker, with hopes to be a production designer. I’d love to see my work on the runway. That has been my dream since I was 14, and got a hold of these great earrings that would swing when you walked. That was the moment the seed was planted. I wanted to make earrings and jewelry that moved. That swung gracefully when you walked. Since I started this Build a Line Master Challange course, I finally feel that this dream might be possible! Full steam ahead….arrrrrrrgh!

Please continue to hop hop hop, and visit my list of friends below:

Brenda Sue Lansdowne Jewelry Making Outside the Box

http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com

Diana Buynak Butterfly Emporium Ceramic Studio

http://butterflyemporium.indiemade.com/blog

Irene Hoffman, Heart’s Desire by Irene

http://heartsdezirebyirene.wordpress.com

Clare Wells Nemeth, Creative Magick

http://www.craftingmagick.blogspot.com

Mary Reckmeyer, Afrayed Not

http://www.afrayedknot.net

Marcia Tuzzolino, Aurora Designs

http://auroradesignsjewelryblog.me

Elizabeth Wilks, Wearable Art by Lizzie

http://wearableartbylizzie.blogspot.com

Jeanette Rose Belmont, One Canvas At A Time

http://www.onecanvasatatime.com

Lyn Joy Reeve, A Journey From Jewels To Jubilation

http://lnreeve00.blogspot.com

Belinda Reed-Ingle, Vogue Rocks

http://voguerocks.blogspot.com

Beth Trubman, The Journey of Jewelry

http://thejourneyofjewelry.blogspot.com

Carole Carlson, Bead Sophisticate

http://beadsophisticate.wordpress.com

Jann Tague, Clever Designs by Jann

http://janntague.wordpress.com

Shari Gardner, SLG Jewelry Designs

http://slgdesigns.wordpress.com

Susan Bolton, Fern’s Place

http://www.fernsplace.org

Chris Kemp, Noodle Pie Bracelets

http://noodlepiebracelets.com

Barbara Kelley, Angels’ Keep

http://angelskeepbandbdotcom.wordpress.com

Susan Bowerman, Woodside Wireworks

http://woodsidewireworks.com/

Pamela Anger, Novegatti Designs

http://novegattidesigns.blogspot.com

Joan Donovan, Hailey’s Cottage

http://haileyscottage.com/

Alison Huie, Ally’s Baubles

http://www.allysbaubles.blogspot.com

Sharon Palac, Sharon’s Jewelry Garden

http://www.sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com

Erica Olmos, Beeb’s Closet

https://beebscloset.wordpress.com

Erin Whitacre, Shattered Time Jewelry

https://shatteredtimejewelry.wordpress.com

Fran Sitton, Sitton Up Front

https://sittonupfront.wordpress.com

Ginger Hammond, Lynn Leigh Designs

https://lynnleighdesigns.wordpress.com

Paula Gaskill, Lovely LaylaBug Jewels

http://www.lovelylaylabugjewels.com/Blog.php

Mary Deis, The Rose Sword

http://theroseswordmdeis.blogspot.com

Renee Webb Allen, Small Stuff Design

http://smallstuffdesign.com

Valerie Tilghman, ArtJewelsandGifts

http://www.artjewelzdimensions.blogspot.com

Chris Cravens, Vintage Cravens

http://christinecravens.blogspot.com

Leslie Carver, Adorn Divine Designs

http://www.adorndivinedesigns.blogspot.com

Donna Parry, JewelryDonna

http://jewelrydonna.typepad.com

Gina-Marie Hammer, Tangles, Twists and Treasures

http://tanglestwistsandtreasures.com/blog/

Kelly Wymer, Winged Wisdom Enchantments

https://wingehttp:dwisdomenchantments.wordpress.com/

Sponsored by: B’Sue Boutiques

With sincere thanks to our Teacher:  Brenda Sue Lansdowne

Kindly leave me a message if you feel inspired!

Welcome to my Blog! What a thrill to have so many family, friends and colleagues drop by for a visit! This is our first of 3 blog hops. I hope you’ll visit all my classmate’s blogs too.

I have finished my first piece, for my new line of jewelry. I have chosen to do a line of bracelets. I’m doing them in the assemblage style. I really love designing them. Making something totally new always inspires me. Though that doesn’t always end well though…

I find artistic inspiration everywhere on our island. Something that always inspires me is BIRDS! Their song and flight are amazing. Their glorious freedom. I LOVE feeding, watching, sketching and photographing them. And yes, I talk to them. Doesn’t everyone? Their beauty is unsurpassed. I live at the base of Mt. Tolmie. Every type of local bird lives or hunts literally in my backyard. Our teacher and mentor, Brenda Sue Landsdowne, carries all kinds of beautiful metal bird stampings in her store. I was so thrilled to see so many! I just knew I had to start creating with them. Here’s a picture of some of the birds in my  collection :

I have my first Bird Bracelet done. What a blast! I am very new to making these cuffs. I look forward to learning from each new cuff I make. And from all the stupid mistakes I make too! It’s amazing how many goofs ups you can make on such a small piece. Plus me and glue, are not the best of friends. Below is a picture of my first piece. We will be making a minimum of 5 pieces for the Build a Line Master Challenge. Our classes have exceeded my imagination. I adore the topics we get to study each day. I am truly blessed. I love to learn, and I love school!

Well, I’m off to meet some new local  birds. I’ll have to see if one of them whispers to me. You really have to listen!  Thanks VERY much for stopping by. Below is the list of my classmates blogs. Please visit them too! I know I’m excited to see what everyone’s been making. We haven’t been allowed to know each other’s theme till this blog hop. I love surprises….See you on the second blog hop!

Brenda Sue Lansdowne Jewelry Making Outside the Box

http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com

Diana Buynak Butterfly Emporium Ceramic Studio

http://butterflyemporium.indiemade.com/blog

Irene Hoffman, Heart’s Desire by Irene

http://heartsdezirebyirene.wordpress.com

Clare Wells Nemeth, Creative Magick

http://www.craftingmagick.blogspot.com

Mary Reckmeyer, Afrayed Not

http://www.afrayedknot.net

Marcia Tuzzolino, Aurora Designs

http://auroradesignsjewelryblog.me

Elizabeth Wilks, Wearable Art by Lizzie

http://wearableartbylizzie.blogspot.com

Jeanette Rose Belmont, One Canvas At A Time

http://www.onecanvasatatime.com

Lyn Joy Reeve, A Journey From Jewels To Jubilation

http://lnreeve00.blogspot.com

Belinda Reed-Ingle, Vogue Rocks

http://voguerocks.blogspot.com

Beth Trubman, The Journey of Jewelry

http://thejourneyofjewelry.blogspot.com

Carole Carlson, Bead Sophisticate

http://beadsophisticate.wordpress.com

Jann Tague, Clever Designs by Jann

http://janntague.wordpress.com

Shari Gardner, SLG Jewelry Designs

http://slgdesigns.wordpress.com

Susan Bolton, Fern’s Place

http://www.fernsplace.org

Chris Kemp, Noodle Pie Bracelets

http://noodlepiebracelets.com

Barbara Kelley, Angels’ Keep

http://angelskeepbandbdotcom.wordpress.com

Susan Bowerman, Woodside Wireworks

http://woodsidewireworks.com/

Pamela Anger, Novegatti Designs

http://novegattidesigns.blogspot.com

Joan Donovan, Hailey’s Cottage

http://haileyscottage.com/

Alison Huie, Ally’s Baubles

http://www.allysbaubles.blogspot.com

Sharon Palac, Sharon’s Jewelry Garden

http://www.sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com

Erica Olmos, Beeb’s Closet

https://beebscloset.wordpress.com

Erin Whitacre, Shattered Time Jewelry

https://shatteredtimejewelry.wordpress.com

Fran Sitton, Sitton Up Front

https://sittonupfront.wordpress.com

Ginger Hammond, Lynn Leigh Designs

https://lynnleighdesigns.wordpress.com

Paula Gaskill, Lovely LaylaBug Jewels

http://www.lovelylaylabugjewels.com/Blog.php

Mary Deis, The Rose Sword

http://theroseswordmdeis.blogspot.com

Renee Webb Allen, Small Stuff Design

http://smallstuffdesign.com

Valerie Tilghman, ArtJewelsandGifts

http://www.artjewelzdimensions.blogspot.com

Chris Cravens, Vintage Cravens

http://christinecravens.blogspot.com

Leslie Carver, Adorn Divine Designs

http://www.adorndivinedesigns.blogspot.com

Donna Parry, JewelryDonna

http://jewelrydonna.typepad.com

Gina-Marie Hammer, Tangles, Twists and Treasures

http://tanglestwistsandtreasures.com/blog/

Kelly Wymer, Winged Wisdom Enchantments

https://wingehttp:dwisdomenchantments.wordpress.com/

Sponsered by: B’Sue Boutiques

With thanks to our Teacher; Brenda Sue Lansdowne

In the small hours before dawn, I wait.

Is today the last day of organizing, and doing inventory? Surely not!

I’m going to eat, cook, lounge and eat. Maybe in that order. Maybe not.

I am going to give thanks for the wonderful things,  that have taken place

this year,

and review the screw ups that happened. Such is life in the real world.

So I wish you all, a very Merry Christmas! And, may 2016 be full of many

true blessings!

wiith love….

The 15-day countdown is now upon on us! The excitement is building everywhere.

Here on the Island, we will be having a merry little Christmas. Because we don’t have a bunch of commitments this year, and stressful deadlines, we are enjoying the small joys and visits of the season.

In regards to my gemstone bangles, I had a painful setback. I tried five methods of finishing them, so they still looked beautiful. But the end wires on the bangles, still poked your skin on the inside or caught your clothes on the outside. And all five methods I tried failed….which led me to try a 6th method. It works great and looks good. I wish I had thought of it first. So, I’ve had to take apart all the bangles I’ve made, about 15 of them, and re-wrap them all. Grrrr!  Such is art. And the lesson I learned is, there is a reason for a prototype. Do not keep creating, until you deal with the challenges of your prototype.

I have been thinking lately about starting a pre-piece for my new line of bracelets. I want to do it all on my own, with no advice. This will make a nice ‘before’ picture. I want to be able to document my journey and growth. And maybe have a good laugh at me too! I have so many supplies, that I’m dying to use! Time to get going!