Build a Line Challenge from B'Sue Boutiques, Elizabeth Hildreth of MadScientistsDesigns, Part Three

Welcome the the 3rd and final Blog Hop of the B'sue Boutiques Build A Line Challenge (BALC). In this leg of the hop you get to see the whole line revealed.

Master Class

 For the past three months a diverse group of 55 jewelry artists have participated in a jewelry design master class led by Brenda Sue Lansdowne. We learned about designing a cohesive line within a specific price range. This class has been invaluable for all of us.

Lessons I've Learned

This class has helped me focus on planning and completing a cohesive line of jewelry. (No small feat!) My line includes necklaces, earrings, and a hand bracelet. I tend to make things as inspiration strikes, so having to focus on a single line was surprisingly a bit of a struggle. Ha! 

I learned about the different categories of jewelry makers: hobbyist (that's me!), jewelry maker, or jewelry designer (what I am going to be). Read more about my discovery here.

Take aways

• Focus - keep your eyes on the prize, cohesive lines sell best

• Impulse Pricing - know what impulse price points are and how to use them effectively

• Know the Pricing Pyramid - the lowest pricing tier will be your bread and butter customers whose purchases allow you to make more elaborate statement pieces, plan a tier for buyers at every level of income

• Fashion savvy - keep an eye on what is going to trend and incorporate aspects that remain true to your style

• Read Vogue - they seem to be ahead of the curve with up and coming trends such as styles and colors that will trickle down through all aspects of fashion

• The Devil Wears Prada - yes, yes she does

My Line

I call my line Going To The Bazaar. Classic Moroccan, Spanish, Indian, and Middle Eastern jewelry inspired me and I added a Bohemian flair. I love the lush look of the jewelry from this region, but in silver and gold with gemstones it would be prohibitively expensive. I decided to make an affordable line with the same rich, luxurious feel. I'm pretty proud of it and I hope you like it too! :-)

The Reveal: Going To The Bazaar

Hand Bracelet in Ruby Red from the side $35.00

Hand Bracelet In Ruby Red

Hand Bracelet In Ruby Red from the front

Hand Bracelet in Ruby Red from the back

Hand Bracelet in Ruby Red from the side

Necklace in Ruby Red with Crystals $25.00

Necklace in Ruby Red with Crystals front close-up

Necklace in Ruby Red with Crystals rear view

Earrings in Ruby Red with Thin Side Down front view $27.00

Earrings in Ruby Red with Thin Side Down front/rear view

Necklace in Ruby Red Long Length $20.00

Necklace in Ruby Red Long Length front close-up

Necklace in Ruby Red Long Length rear close-up

Earrings in Ruby Red with Thin Side Up front view $27.00

Earrings in Ruby Red with Thin Side Up front/rear view

Necklace in Sapphire Blue with Crystal Chain $40.00

Necklace in Sapphire Blue with Crystal Chain

Necklace in Sapphire Blue with Crystal Chain close-up

The Ruby Red and Sapphire Blue pieces shown feature Swarovski crystals. All of these pieces will be available for purchase in my Etsy shop, MadScientistsDesigns, by April 1st. All will be custom orders and made especially for you.

All of the jewelry features handmade clasps and ear wires, B'sue Boutiques filigrees with hand-painted details and hand wire-wrapped bead dangles. Prices range from $20 - #40 for the pieces featured.

Custom color and customization is available on any of the pieces. Currently available colors are Swarovski crystals in ruby red and sapphire blue, crystals in topaz, and glass beads in amethyst purple.

Time to Hop

Hop on over to the next stop. I hope you enjoyed the reveal. Tell me what you think! ~Elizabeth

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  ---- YOU ARE HERE ----  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  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

Ingrid's Adornments

He'd brought her back a trophy from his last raid. It was a beautiful thing, some blown-glass machine part wrapped carefully by his hands in copper wire. She loved it because he'd made it, and more because he'd won it. For her.

Ingrid cradled the precious thing in her hands. She had no idea what it had once done, nor what it could do again, simply that it had been raided from the Machines of the so-called Civilization that decried her people, and forced them to live as raiders. The Civilization whose cities were gradually encroaching on their lands.

She had no love for the Raiders, having seen the destruction of the Airborn Longships that the crews brought to bear on their enemies. But such enemies. She had never seen their Cities, only heard stories from those who had travelled their. But such stories! Buildings stretching into the sky, smog that swept around the streets in smothering clouds, machines that could do anything and everything. The People were civilized, they embraced the ways of Elektricity, the ways of smoke and lightning. But they kept it in its place, serving the people, not being served like an infernal master.

There was a sound at the door. Ingrid's hand went to her galvanic rifle. Another relic of the raids.

Then the door flew open and all she could see was him, showering her in a flood of metal chains, clinking glass, and beautiful things.

It was a long time before they spoke. Then he began to tell his tale, low at first, voice rising and falling in hypnotic rhythm.

“We took a city this time,” he said, pride suffusing his voice. “a proper one. No more cut and run. The Captain brought us straight down on top of them. They never saw it coming. They sent their machines after us, the ones that walk like men, and are so hard to topple. But Alrik found their weakness, the spot where a single elektrik blast would take them out. They came at us with sonics and tesla weaponry, but the Captain stood firm, and we did not shrink from their onslaught. We fought them down in their own streets, and capture what we wanted, leaving them shivering from the loss. Look!” he raised a fist filled with glittering metal and glass. “Look what I brought to you, my wife, as trophy of our victory!”

 
She smiled, then, and hung around her neck the hard-fought, hard-one things, each more precious than a jewel, because he had won them, and won them for her.

 *******

Story by S.M Smith. Read more by S.M. Smith here.

xo ~ Mad

More Flash Fiction:

The Captain's Trophy Part I

The Captain's Trophy Part II

More Steampunk Viking Knit Jewelry

 

Coming Soon...

The Steampunk Viking Collection

 

I'm very excited to announce 

the Steampunk Viking Collection 

with three exclusive flash fiction stories 

by S.M. Smith.

The Captain's Trophy Necklace

  

Ingrid's Adornments Earrings

 ...and more...

The collection will be available 

at MadScientistsDesigns 

on Friday, November 22nd.

Which ones are your favorites?

xo ~ Mad

Don't Cry Over Broken Glass...

Well, as anyone who works with that deceptively delicate substance, glass, knows, sometimes it breaks...

Note the cracks near the bent metal...

That happened to me tonight when I was preparing a vintage vacuum tube for its new life as an earring. (sigh)

Butt shot...

Now I have to search for another close match to the poor tube that didn't break.

Black and White Drama Shot

Overly traumatic... um... I mean dramatic, I know, but I hate to break them when I'm trying to give them a stunning new life as earrings or necklaces...

Did you break anything today?

xo ~ Mad

Are YOU Ready For The Holidays? Part 1

I know that I am ready with several new lines both planned and in the works.

I have already launched the first series in my Autumn Line: Decadent Decoupage Earrings. Decadent Decoupage are 2-sided with 4 different images on handmade ear-wires. They are sassy but classy with a neo-Victorian and Steampunk feel. This series predominantly features Steampunk ladies on clock faces altered art . The earrings are lightweight and easy to wear while really making a statement! Each pair is a piece of one-of-a-kind original jewelry art. Artwork for your ears!

 

Steampunk Decoupage Earrings 004 Risque

 

Steampunk Decoupage Earrings 003 Gaze

 

Steampunk Decoupage Earrings 002 Sepia

Coming soon:

Decadent Decoupage Nudes

Delightful Decoupage Earrings

Vintage Vacuum Tube Christmas Ornaments

Wire Wrapped Christmas Ornaments

Handmade Winter Journals

Play time!

Well, I've been sort of on hiatus because I managed to misplace my camera battery..... finally gave in and ordered a new one and it JUST CAME!!!! Woo Hoo! Back in business!

So...... while I waited for a decent picture, I decided to take another look at my favorite tutorial site: Jewelry Lessons and some of my jewelry magazines. So many techniques, so little time..... sigh. Needless to say, inspiration overload occurred and I started trying new techniques! Here are a few of the new techniques I learned (or worked on):

Herringbone Weave:

Netted Bezel:

Wire Wrapping:

Knotted Headpins:

I love learning new techniques! If you ever see anything that you want me to try, just let me know.  :-)