Needful Luxuries - Jewelry Design is Life: March 2015

As promised, here is my third (and favorite) kitty. Isn't he beautiful? Rascal is his name, because he once was one. Actually he is again at 11 years old, but that's a story for another time. My kids call him my second son. Moving on...

Welcome to the third installment of the B'Sue Boutiques Build a Line Challenge. Our hard working, wise, generous, unpaid, and patient teacher is Brenda Sue Lansdowne of B'Sue Boutiques. I hope you've been following along as I and the other 55 or so members of the group learned the meaning, importance, and implications of building a cohesive jewelry line. In addition to its primary purpose, the three month "class" has covered branding, the importance of keeping up with fashion and jewelry trends, knowing your target market, blogging, pricing, inventory control and other useful topics. Brenda has taught us, and searched out/provided valuable information from other sources. If I was wearing a hat I'd take it off; she's been great.

As for the other members of the group? I wish we could meet in person; there would be a lot of hugging and laughter. Everyone has been supportive and encouraging, sharing lessons learned, laughs, successes, failures, and life events. I'll be sad when the group breaks up. Good folks!

This last post about the challenge will focus on photos of my finished pieces. I've got three necklaces, two bracelets, and four pairs of earrings. I'll post a photo of an unfinished necklace, too.

This last trimester has been the easiest for me because of the aha hour I had in February, which is described in the last post. This time I've been more kind to myself. I haven't achieved as much as some in the group, mind you. My pieces aren't priced yet, and I only finished nine (five were required). One ambitious soul completed 30! I learned so much during this challenge, and this is just a jumping off point. We've all grown as designers and business women. We'll continue to grow, too.

Each of my pieces has at least one item from B'Sue Boutiques. I'm not an assemblage designer, but I tried to use as many components from bsueboutiques.com as possible. I'm not great about labeling where items originate from, so I may not have used as much from B'Sue Boutiques as I think/intend. That's something we learned recently during the challenge; how important Inventory Control is to keeping accurate records, pricing, pieces appropriately, and maintaining sufficient supplies for future sales within a line.

You've seen the first necklace before. Its long to be layered with one or more of the others. I may add a few more dangles at the bottom, but I consider it complete.

Notice the elements that the first and second necklaces have in common, including the lovely sea foam green Czech glass beads. The glass pearl extender is old if not vintage, and the metal has a natural patina that coordinates with the green. How cool is that?

There are still a few common elements in the third necklace. I could/should have made this one shorter, to layer above the second necklace. I'm not sure what I think about this third one. One good thing is that I used a pretty glass orphan bead (in the middle) that I've had at least four years. This necklace will be the least expensive in the line.

More common elements are seen in the first bracelet. I made the bead chain (as also seen in the second necklace), and wound old lace through an antique brass chain.

The second bracelet is more sweet and blingy than my usual design aesthetic, but still coordinates with the rest of the line. A new item is the off center, sea foam green flowers. I may make another, simple necklace using those flowers as the focal point. Now for the earrings:

Any pair of earrings will coordinate with any necklace and/or bracelet. Voila, a line! The third pair has gorgeous, vintage glass beads with pink flowers. That's the only other color I used. In case you aren't familiar with my work; many of my pieces are monochromatic. However, a successful jewelry line doesn't need to as as limited in color; as you'll see in the other class members' pieces.

On the photo above, imagine as the shortest layer a simple necklace (with the sea foam green flowers for a pendant) which I described in concept, but haven't made. Or each piece can be worn separately, of course. Below is a shot of the necklace I didn't get completed. Its a statement piece, but still at the bottom level of the pricing pyramid. (Sorry its a rather dark photo. Next I should take a photograph class, maybe.)

And, a shot of my adored son (home for spring break) and my "second son". They kept me company as I wrote this post. Doesn't Drew look uncomfortable? I put the pillow behind his head, boy what a lot of good it did. Meredith was here for two days this week, but I didn't take photos of her, grrrr. Bad Mommy. But I digress...

Do yourself a favor; read the blog posts of the other talented members of this terrific group, who are listed below. And shop the lovelies at B'Sue Boutiques online shop, bsueboutiques.com. High quality jewelry components featuring metal stampings in several finishes, made in America and Lots of free resources. Thanks for reading!

Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B’sue Boutiques,
Jewelry Making Outside The Box

Marcia Tuzzolino
Aurora Designs

Jann Tague
Clever Designs by Jann

Judy King
Apt to Wander Studio

Linzi Alford
Magpie in the Sky, Spoil Heap Tales

Cynthia Wainscott
Exotic Peru

Carole Carlson
Beadsophisticate

Lynn Stinten
Dragonzwench

Marica Zammit
Bead Lovelies

Catherine Shattuck
VRBrose

Michaele Collie
The Vintage Gem

Mary Craig
Jewelry Alchemy