Thursday, February 19, 2015

Build A Line Challenge from B'sue Boutiques, Alexandra Sefton, Part 2


Greetings from Freddie, my green helper, the Endangered N.W. tree octopus!  He says this 3 month Build a Line Challenge from B'sue Boutiques has been, and is a roller coaster!  Ups and downs, tearing hair out, doing the happy dance, it's all been happening for me and the lucky 54 other wonderful jewelry designers who are doing this challenge with Brenda Sue Lansdowne--our incredibly funny, kind and generous teacher.

Are you ready for the 1st big reveal?  I  have a terrible fear of heights, but I jumped way out of my comfort zone and learned to do assemblage jewelry, colorizing metal and so much more.  Here I have some of the pieces from the new line I've designed:  Imagine the Colors of Nature.  In the next month, the first of these pieces will be appearing for sale in my Etsy shop.


Yes, that IS a different theme than I blogged about last time! As anyone familiar with the creative process knows, you don't always end up with exactly what you imagined in the beginning.  And as Bob Ross said, "there are no mistakes, just happy little accidents," or in my case, happy BIG accidents!

In the next two weeks I will blog more about how I created these pieces. But for now, you can see that there are 2 parts to my line:  (1)  The Nature Brights Line: copper, silver, gold and brass assemblage pieces and hand painted metals with: leaves and flowers, birds, dragonflies, and butterflies. Some pieces can be adjustable to brooches, many will have matching earrings as an option.  (2)  The Mini Cha Nature Line: incorporates the same nature elements as above,  but in adjustable bracelets and mini rings with leaves, pearls, birds, mini lockets, flowers and more.  I have many other colors planned--a lovely denim blue, teal, magenta, pink and much more to be seen at the final reveal!


This is my first time learning and experimenting with colors on metal and assemblage jewelry!  I had so much fun using patina paints and lumiere paints with their "halo" colors and pearlescents--almost a leafing effect when you mix the colors.  It took some time to figure out which colors worked well together but eventually I settled on the colorway for my line.

March 20 is our final Blog Hop and I will have surprise pieces for the rest of my new line that no one has even seen yet!  On that day, you will be able to see my complete line of delicious colors and mini chas!!



I'd be delighted if you'd leave comments for me--and have fun hopping on to see the other participants' new lines by clicking on the links below.  Live large and enjoy!!!  <3<3<3



Visit the links below to see all the wonderful people participating in the blog hop:

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
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
Ingrid Anderson : Lilis Gems
Louise O'Shields : Desire Divine Jewels
Susan Killam : Killam Creative
Nike Bottalico : Nike Bottalico
Susan Bowerman : Woodside Wireworks
Jan Peters : Stylized Vintage
Gina Hockett : Freestyle Elements
Linda Anderson : From the Bead Board
Teresa Shurter : TreeZ's Treasurs
Melissa Latimer : Smithed Up
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
Sandra Ballard : Mama San's Mojo
Coral Law : ab:coraldesign

80 comments:

  1. So much beauty! Keep it up. ~ Melissa

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  2. OMG your colors are soooo beautiful! Surreal almost :-)

    And I'm loving your photos too. Great attention grabbers! Love them.

    Well done Alexandra!

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    1. Thanks Marica--you brightened my day with your lovely comments and appreciation!! <3

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  3. Brava, Alexandra! Way to jump out there and showcase your new skills! 😉

    I'm loving the vibrant, pearlescent colorway

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    1. Thanks Lori for such cool comments and kudos! Glad you like my colors--I'm off to your blog now!! <3

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  4. Great job Alexandra....some new looks from you but you still get to do your cha cha bracelets! Well done...keep moving forward.....

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    1. Thanks Brenda--not one piece of this would've happened without you! You can now officially consider yourself a Mover and Shaker! Thank you so much for all the support and encouragement! <3

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  5. Beautiful colors with unexpected elements of nature. Love what you have created. Can't wait to see more.

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    1. Debbie--thank you for the sweet comments! My theme changed several times but it's cooking now! :):)

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  6. Just love your line so far! I'll be back to see how it continues to develop. Great work!

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    1. Thanks Denise for looking and for your comments. So glad you'll be back! :):)

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  7. Those bracelets make mw want to dance! Beautiful. And your painted pieces are lovely. You go girl!

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  8. Love you colors in I'm so glad that you continued the process and came out with some beautiful jewelry. I love the colors of the charm bracelet. It reminds me of autumn colors. So I see in your line spring and summer and autumn. Now to finish up the jewelry line and I can't wait to see it on March twentieth

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    1. Cindy--thanks so much for the vote of confidence! And your kind words. I like what you said about spring, summer and autumn--I hadn't thought of that. :):)

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  9. Love you colors in I'm so glad that you continued the process and came out with some beautiful jewelry. I love the colors of the charm bracelet. It reminds me of autumn colors. So I see in your line spring and summer and autumn. Now to finish up the jewelry line and I can't wait to see it on March twentieth

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    1. Thanks so much Cindy for liking my jewelry! I hadn't thought of the seasons like that so I appreciated you pointing that out! :):)

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  10. Beautiful colors! Always exciting when those "accidents" are indeed happy! Ingrid

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    1. Thanks so much for your nice comments--it didn't seem like an accident at the time! :)

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  11. I'm still loving those cha chas! So looking forward to seeing the finished lines :D

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    1. Hooray--I'm not the only one who is crazy for cha chas! Thanks for your comments! :):)

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  12. Way to shake things up! Love your color explorations and the pieces you've created so far. What a wild ride this is for many of us!

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    1. Nadine--yes it IS a wild ride! Thanks for your comments and for liking the color ways! :)

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  13. Your colorway is fantastic! Love all the designs and the cha cha bracelets are divine!

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    1. Oh goody--another person loves cha chas! Thanks for your sweet comments and love of colors! :):)

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  14. Beautiful pieces, and great colors, Alexandra! I love dangly bracelets, so I must say those are my favorites. ;)

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    1. Let's all dangle away! Thanks for such a great comment and for your support! :):)

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  15. Oh my, Mother Nature never looked so good! Beautiful colors and designs. ~mary

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  16. These are such beautiful colors!

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  17. I love what you did with color!! Experimenting to get your colors is an awesome job, and what lovely colors you came up with. Lovin the cha-chas, too, and mini-chas should be just as cool. Lovin what you are doing--keep up the good work!! Gina H

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    1. Gina--thank you so much for the encouragement and for loving my colors and chas!! :)

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  18. I love what you did with color!! Experimenting to get your colors is an awesome job, and what lovely colors you came up with. Lovin the cha-chas, too, and mini-chas should be just as cool. Lovin what you are doing--keep up the good work!! Gina H

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    1. Gina--thanks so much for your encouraging words and for loving my colors and chas! :)

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  19. You have proven you can make Changes Cha's on a smaller scale and they're just as gorgeous!!! I show your Cha Cha's to lots of folks because I have several favorited. I just love them! You're super talented and I love every single piece of your line. Great colors and great designs!

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    1. Wow--Leila, I just about cried reading your sweet words! Thank you SO much for encouraging me in my obsession with cha chas! And thanks for faving them!! It feels so great to have an artist like you whose work I so admire, actually admire my work!! :):)

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  20. My auto correct changed that and I didn't notice. Sorry. Cha-cha's!!!!!!

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  21. Loving your line - especially that aqua/pink collage piece with the bee... ya got something there. Also, the cha cha bracelet is to me is SCREAMING for those lockets to be verdigris color like your collage piece. Color is your tie-in for everything and a little color in that bracelet would be amazing. Love your line!

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    1. Aha--I wasn't sure about painting those lockets because they need to open and close a bunch--so thanks for the great suggestion! I'm still working on getting a good verdigris color, but we can't have pieces screaming now can we?! I'll just have to keep experimenting. :):)

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  22. Stunning work, I am so drawn to the colors you are using. Looking forward to seeing your finished line!

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  23. Well done! No one would guess you just started doing these techniques.

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    1. Carole--that's high praise indeed! Thanks so much for your encouragement! :)

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  24. You are clearly having fun with the colors. Your lines are looking great. Your shop will be bursting with beautiful collections this spring.

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    1. Thanks so much Tammy! As I got over being stuck, I actually did have fun with the colors, tho I didn't take notes and am hoping I can replicate some of them! So glad you liked my pieces. :):)

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  25. Great job on the metal colors - you're moving right along!

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  26. Alexandra, these color combinations are fantastic. I love the two parts to your line. Really looking forward to the surprises you have planned for us.

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    1. Maria--thanks for your words of encouragement! I sure hope the surprises come together well because we all know things don't always work out as planned! :):)

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  27. Alexandra, these color combinations are fantastic. I love the two parts to your line. Really looking forward to the surprises you have planned for us.

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    1. So glad you like the 2 parts of the line. Wasn't sure if that was cohesive enough. If I were famous, I would divide it up into two lines, but I might eventually do that anyway! Absolutely love what you're doing with your soutache clay! :):)

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  28. Alexandra--you've come so far! Your colors and designs are great. I'm glad you're having so much fun with it and expanding your creative horizons! I'm looking forward to the new secret part of your line!

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    1. LOL--it's even secret from me! Not really, it's just that I don't know yet if what's in my head will come out well. Ah the joy of creating...... Thanks so much for all your listening, love and encouraging chats!! You are a great friend! :):)

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  29. your colors are brilliant it looks like such a fun and cheerful line.

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  30. FABULOUS!!!! You are Rocking it!!!!

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    1. Yes, I'd like to get these old bones rockin'!! Thanks! :):)

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  31. Alexandra .. beautiful work .. thank you for showing us finished pieces and I love them all .. Looking forward to seeing more on March 20th

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    1. Jann--thanks for all your encouragement along the way and now! Glad you like my pieces! :):)

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  32. I am so excited to see your line! What yummy colors and designs~ I wish you the very best and hope you achieve all you set out to do~ I too have a fear of heights and am learning how to expand my thinking about my art~ Take care!
    enjoyed reading you~
    ~nike xo

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    1. LOL--Nike we may have a fear of heights but look how we both are soaring! As you know, I love how you are bugging out! Just looked at your earrings again--so cool! Thanks for your kind words. :):)

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  33. Beautiful colors, can't wait to see the rest!

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  34. WOW - if these are your accidents your planned pieces must be out of this world. Absolutely gorgeous in every way. Bob Ross one of my favorites too! I can't wait to see more of this line, your colors are incredible.

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    1. So glad you like my colors! I still don't know if the planned surprises will work out okay until I do them, so I'm playing around now trying to replicate some of the pieces you saw. Didn't take color notes which was a mistake! Thanks so much for your encouragement! :)

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  35. Looking good! Awaiting the big reveal. :-) ~Elizabeth

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  36. Wow, wow, wow I am such a big fan of your work and this line is no exception!!!!!!! Your colors are so vibrant and everything about your line screams happiness, beauty and fun. Your charm bracelets are way awesome and I love the colors on the large leaves like crazy!!!! You are a phenomenal artist for sure! I am humbly honored and truly grateful to be on this journey with you!!! ~Louise

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  37. Good thinking and progress! Looking forward to seeing your five pieces all lined up!!

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  38. Good thinking and progress! Looking forward to seeing your five pieces all lined up!!

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  39. Alexandra - your colors are great! It's been fun for me to learn processes of coloring metals, too!

    Cheers,
    Susan

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  40. Alexandra, what can I say. You have such a colorful and beautiful line coming along. So anxious to see what you will bring in March.

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  41. WOW ! Your colors are beautiful and so well used with all the stampings. Love all the stampings you have used. Your line is so cute. Love it! Look forward to seeing the rest of your line.

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  42. AWESOME!! Alexandra, you're knocking it out of the park with these beautiful compositions! I'm very impressed with your coloring, especially since it is the first time coloring metal. Fantastic job. Can't wait to see the rest of your line.

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  43. Lovely colouring Alexandra- and great choice for your line- lots of scope between the bracelets and the bigger pieces. Look forward to seeing your line ! Linzi

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  44. Love, luv all the pieces. Fantastik colors looking forward to all the completed pieces. You are a Makering machine.

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  45. Wow, you've mastered the colorization of these pieces. I love the cha-cha bangle, too! Bright, happy things here!

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