Moondance Jewelry:B'sue Boutiques' Build-a-Line Challenge Blog Hop, Part #1

  

What's better than ice cream? Jewelry, right?
 
OK, sometimes it is a toss up but today we are all about the jewelry! Welcome to the B'Sue Boutiques' Build-a-Line Challenge Blog Hop. Now, that's a mouthful!
I'm delighted to be a participant and have the opportunity to work on developing a more cohesive approach to my jewelry while in the company of 50+ other jewelry artists. During the long, cold, dark winter days I try to learn new techniques or work on some other aspect of my budding jewelry business. This challenge was right up my alley.

Selecting my theme wasn't all that challenging. I wanted something to help me focus and tie my work together; a collection, if you will. My style is earthy, organic, kinda boho, and most often I only make one of any particular design. After a quick brainstorming session I settled on Rustic Garden for the name of my line. It conjures for me lush blossoms (perhaps a bit faded), fruits, vegetables and shrubs all in a rather untidy mix. My garden may be a little overgrown but it's a comfortable, warm and cozy spot.

For me that translates to jewelry that is nature-inspired and uses a mix of materials, colors, textures and techniques. I've chosen to use the Pantone Spring 2015 color palette for this collection.  Although I have to confess that I've taken some liberty with those colors (I can't really seem to color inside all the lines!). If all goes well, as I develop more pieces you'll see the color variations as a common thread throughout the collection.

Playing with color to get some nice greens for embossed earrings.

 Components from B'Sue Boutiques are the other common element to this evolving line of mine. Brenda Sue Lansdowne (of B'Sue fame) is the sponsor for the challenge and these blog hops. Using her components is easy to do since she has a great selection of high quality and reasonably priced brass components. If you aren't familiar with her website check it out here. http://www.bsueboutiques.com

Unadorned Deco Lily stamping in rusty black patina

I used the Deco Lily stamping above to create the first finished piece for my Rustic Garden collection. The rusty black patina finish on this is beautiful all by itself but when you buff and seal it, well, it becomes swoon-worthy! I love the play of shadow and light on this piece.(I'm a big fan of warm metals anyway). All those little dangle-y bead clusters and leaves just add to the movement as well as the garden theme.

Rustic Garden Deco Lily bracelet

I'm working on several other pieces for this collection and will have at least five completed by the last blog hop. Below is one that's a work-in-progress. Birds' nests are a sure sign of spring and always inspirational! But what kind of jewelry should I make with that charming little bird's nest???

Come back for the next installment on February 20th and see how things are progressing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Now get hoppin'.........there's lots of other eye candy to take in!

Nadine

(P.S .Comments welcome!)


Blog Hop Participants

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
Lee Koopman
Strega Jewelry
Erin Whitacre
Shattered Time Jewelry
Monica Casady
MJCasady Copper Works
Leila West
Leila Nicole Designs
Cindy Peterson
Howling Dog Jewelry
Leila Belcher
Leila Bee Designs
Gloria Allen
Wings and Beads
Pamela Anger
Novegatti Designs
Tammy Adams
Paisley Lizard
Lynda O'Mara
LOmara Creative
Elizabeth Hildreth
MadScientistsDesigns
Dana Hickey
Wind Dancer Studios
Janet Calardo
Jan Lea Designs
Maria Clark
Sweet Willow Designs
Lori Beekman
B. Accessorized
Jennifer Kroeger
Relic Charm
Amy Jorgensen
Hoarder's Corner
Robin Reed
Artistry: Handcrafted Bead Designs
Ingrid Anderson
Lilis Gems
Louise O'Shields
Desire Divine Jewels
Susan Killam
Killam Creative
Mary Katherine Deis
The Rose Sword: Artisan and Vintage Collectible Jewelry
Nike Bottalico
Nike Bottalico
Susan Bowerman
Woodside Wireworks
Kristy Le
Kristy Le Trendy Jewelry Designs
Jan Peters
Stylized Vintage
Mitzie Crider
Needful Luxuries Occasional Blog
Gina Hockett
Freestyle Elements
Linda Anderson
From the Bead Board
Alexandra Sefton
Imaginary Jewelry and Altered Art
Melida Boman
The Journey of Pens and Things
Teresa Shurter
TreeZ's Treasurs
Melissa Latimer
Smithed Up
Renee Hong
Fine and Dandy Jewelry and Art
Nadine Edris..................................................You are HERE
Moondance Jewelry
Lori Meyer
Parisienne Girl
Jennifer Merrill Williams
Artists of All Stripes
Denise Lussier Poirier
Jewelry by Denise
Renee Allen
Small Stuff Design
Autumn Adams
Autumn Dawns
Elizabeth Owens
1996 Shabby Lane
Kat BarronMiller
Midnight Kat Productions Art Jewelry
Sandra Ballard
Mama San's Mojo
Coral Law
ab:coraldesign

Mmm Marsala

Marsala Bouquet

Marsala, the much-talked-about Color of the Year from the color experts at Panetone (http://www.pantone.com/pages/index.aspx?pg=21163&from=hpfeatures), is that rusty wine colored liquid that is the main ingredient in chicken marsala. Some people aren't happy with what they consider a dull color. Granted, the Panetone version of marsala definitely has some brown undertones, much more than my bouquet pictured above. However, like the Italian wine it is named after, there are a range of hues in the marsala family from more golden to ruby shades.
Having already confessed my love of earth tones, you won't be surprised to learn that I like the marsala pick quite a bit.  While I tend toward the more ruby side of this spectrum, I find the color to be warm, lush, and somehow comforting (not unlike a good glass of wine). I can see it as the main color in designs or as a side note. Either way, I expect marsala to find its way into many of my jewelry designs this year.  
Here's the first one for 2015.

Salute Marsala!

Marsala's charms

Living color

Happy New Year! I hope your 2015 is off to a good start. I'm not much for resolutions but in the past couple of years I've used the winter months to learn new jewelry techniques to improve my designs. There are so many things that I want to do it can be hard to focus so I try and stick with one primary technique. (Sometimes I'm more successful with that approach than others). This year I'm thinking about color.

When my daughter was young she used to complain that our house was brown; all of it. While that's a slight exaggeration it is true that I'm drawn to earth tones. I love old stuff: rusty metal, chipped paint, faded fabrics and muddy colors. I surround myself with those colors and tend to use them over and over in my jewelry.
Getting ready to apply for the Build A Line Challenge has sparked my thinking about color. I don't want to reveal too much yet (applications aren't due until January 8) but I am thinking about busting loose with color for 2015! I'm hatching some ideas for the challenge and want to do a little experimenting first.

I think this means I need to buy some new beads! Yes, I do have 9 gazillion but I don't have the RIGHT COLOR! Now this is a resolution I can embrace.

Adventure on!
Nadine