Friday, February 20, 2015

B'Sue's Build a Line Hop 2 of 3



Gung hay fat choi! How auspicious our hop lands during Chinese New Year! This is the year of the Wood Sheep or Goat. The Sheep is kind, tender and sympathetic.  Sheeps are creative and elegant. Because of their softer side, they are symbolic of peace and harmony and beauty. We have been considering our lines, creating them and soon we will be revealing them. Sure then, to be beautiful every one of them.

I have loved making my original works, generally making the entire piece with very little purchased components at all. I have quite prided my self on that, the ability to take just wire, metal and fire to create some wearable piece of art. Wearable art, a small piece of beauty but only a single piece, and most often priced out of impulse range. Wearable art for many of us has to be budgeted. If you love my work I want you to be able to own my work. See it, Love it, Buy it!  This at times necessitates a lower price line.

I have tried to create lower price points for my shop, but the harder I tried to create that price point the less my shop looked like my shop. While it did bring sales, It lacked the cohesion I had hoped it would bring. Focusing on photos and trying to create a unified photography style helped, but my shop still lacked that little something that just pulled the whole thing together.

The prideful part of me stands here tall and proud and thinks but being a hand crafted artisan is what we were striving to be. OOAK works, pride said, would make us stand out. That pride has gotten in the way of creating cohesion in my shop along many price points. At times, pride told me it seems too easy, it feels as if I am cheating, playing with these beautiful pre-made components of B’Sues and not making them myself.

The artist in me slaps pride and leans close to my muse whispering there is artistry in all of what we make and isn’t it going to be so nice that any one who would like to own a piece of my art, my heart, may be able to do so?

wind dancer studios, sneak peek, new line, new collection
Necklace from Muchas Champagne collection paired with stacking rings
and stacked copper bracelets already available in my shop.
It is important to me my new line creates cohesion with existing pieces.


Sharing that little piece of myself has always been the point. The way these designs complement my existing works, creating a full range of price points is a thing of beauty in itself, and instills such a sense of accomplishment. I think the artist and I will be hanging out more often, she makes sense :)

wind dancer studios, sneak peek, new line, new collection
Sneak peek: Red Heart filigree ring with pieces from Mucha's Nature and Music Collections
It was just as important to me that the collections be able to mix & match with each other as well.
Heart ring is another existing piece in my shop.


It is that desire to share my art that makes it so exciting to see the pieces in my shop fall into place as I create this line and these collections. It is incredibly freeing to think I can finally get back to the art of creating beauty in as complex or simple as I like. To be entirely hand made by me or artfully crafted by my hands. I look forward to completing this line and taking my work to the next level. This is where I’ve been headed all along, what I have been striving for and I can finally see it coming together. I love that! All I really needed it seems was that little nudge Brenda and her Build a Line challenge/Master Class has given me.

wind dancer studios, sneak peek, new line, new collection


Oh I’ll still visit with Pride every so often. I mean who doesn’t like making little pieces of art? But now we’ll have a design path to where we’d like to take this art. How incredibly freeing this new found path has been!

Til Next time!
Dana

Please join me in hopping with the rest of our designers on this our second hop...
I hear there are lots more sneak peeks to be had!

Our Hostess
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

~*~*~*~*YOU ARE HERE!!~*~*~*~*
Dana Hickey  waves HI!!
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

70 comments:

  1. Dana - this is a brilliant post. My hat is off to you (and my wallet is out, ready....).

    Cheers,
    Susan

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    1. That's one of the nicest things anyone could say! Thank you!

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  2. I agree. Brilliant post. And so is that necklace. Wow!

    Now that we've started on this incredible design path, there's no turning back. And I love it :-)

    Can't wait to see more of your pieces Dana!

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  3. Simply beautiful. And I love what you blogged about as well! Very nice, Dana!

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  4. Great post and I believe art can be seen in most things. Looking forward to seeing more! ~Ingrid

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    1. Thank you Ingrid! I do too, I think my pride was just blocking the view for a little while.

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  5. Great blog post! Love how your designs are coming out. Looking forward to seeing more.

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  6. You your designs are going to be beautiful can't wait to see everything finished

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  7. You your designs are going to be beautiful can't wait to see everything finished

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    1. and again!! Don't you love it when blogger double posts for you?!

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  8. Your designs are looking great. You are not alone in your inward struggle. When I took a hard look at my online shop I saw at least two personalities. If I didn't know the same person made them all, I might have seen a dozen hands in the designs. It's good to know from our class discussions that there's a way to stay true to our desire to create one-of-a-kind wearable art while being "artistically generous" and also designing more widely accessible pieces.

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    1. A LOT of truth in that statement Tammy. I'm grateful for that big shining neon arrow saying hey try this instead!

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  9. Very nice! Can't wait to see the finished line next month!!

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  10. I cannot wait to see your entire line! Great Blog!

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  11. Great writing, and I know about Pride, I argue with her quite a bit! Looking forward to seeing your entire line.

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    1. I think pride and I have reached an agreement thanks to this class :) Thank you so much Micheale!

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  12. Glad you've still got a path to Pride's door! Really beautiful pieces--LOVE all the metals, filigree, reds and all, plus your description of how you got where you are now. Waiting happily to see your full line. :):)

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  13. Great post, Dana, and I'm so glad you've found a way to share your beautiful art with even more people. Can't wait to see the rest of your goodies! ;)

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  14. Very nice, Dana...Happy New Year to you as well. Looking forward to your next post!

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  15. What gorgeous and elegant creations you have and your jewelry is stunning, loved your post. Here's to continued happy creating. XOXO!

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    1. Thank you so much Kristy! Happy Creating to you too!!

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  16. A very thoughtful post Dana, the struggle about pre-made components resonated. Very refined pieces. Love the collection so far.

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  17. A very thoughtful post Dana, the struggle about pre-made components resonated. Very refined pieces. Love the collection so far.

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  18. Dana .. beautiful pieces .. looking forward to seeing more of your jewelry on March 20th

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  19. I am still making my own ear wires for my collection, so I feel you when you say it's hard to not make your own components. :-) ~Elizabeth

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth! I like the lever backs but I like mine too. :) I'm finding ways to keep both sides happy.

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  20. Interesting post and stunning work. This was a real pleasure to read and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of you work, and blog posts too!

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  21. Your work is very elegant. I got a chuckle from your arguments with Pride. What with Pride and Critic, the voices in our heads get pretty loud sometimes.

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    1. Thank you Carole! They do! Sometimes they say things we need to hear, but sometimes gah! it's blah blah blah and man it's hard to get them to hush up! I'm thinking I've got a decent compromise for them for at least the time being :)

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  22. Can't wait to see your new pieces of art. Great blog.

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  23. Looking good, Dana. Very pretty earrings.

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  24. Beautiful pieces! Can't wait to see the completed reveal!

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  25. Beautiful artistry and impeccable work!!

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  26. I love that conversation!!! You have a beautiful aesthetic and i love what you have shown! Can't wait to see the rest! Have a Blessed Day!!!

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  27. Sounds like you did some really serious wrestling with yourself there, Dana. Remember, these pieces are the work of the hands of a master die maker. We can cut the findings, manipulate and drill them, add color, make them completely our own. I don't think that an artist can truly make any many spinning all their fiber, making all their own fabric, fabricating all their findings, making all their own paint and all their own canvas....unless they have a very very exclusive clientele. Few of us have that luxury. You have done a beautiful job here and I do believe if you continue and promise yourself that when you use prefab findings, you use great ones....you'll build your bottom line and your clientele.

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    1. Thank you Brenda! Sometimes you don't even realize the inner dialogue is going on until you decide to do something that goes against the status quo. It was a real eye opener for me and a huge relief afterwards.

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    2. Good answer, Brenda! ;)

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  28. Enjoyed reading your post, I'm struggling with pre-made/handmade, also. Looking forward to seeing your finished line next month.

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    1. Thank you Monica! It looks like a lot of us are dealing with it.

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  29. Hi Dana, interesting to hear about your internal warfare but without out the premade components there would be no B'sue and no challenge! and remember they are just that- components - to marry together with your own pieces- and everything your create is your own art :D Look forward to seeing the rest of your line in a month , Linzi

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    1. Thank you Linzi! I do love Brenda's components, they are beautiful and of a really good quality and I'm happy to use them. I think I'm going to write on the topic some more. If I can figure out why I felt that way maybe I can help someone else. :D

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  30. Dana--Excellent post. I think many of us struggled with the same things as you have been, but I'm not convinced that we can have it both ways. I'm glad it all came together for you. I'm looking forward to see more of your finished pieces in the final reveal.

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    1. Thank you Lynda! I think we can, we just need to remember to place everything where it belongs in the pyramid and create cohesive lines. The base pieces support the top tier pieces allowing a flexibility in your work. It was never about one or the other, it was about learning to allow them to coexist. At least for me :)


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  31. Beautiful Post, now that you found that inner peace to co-exist with, lol cant wait to see your line.

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