Hello creatives!
I'm Susan Killam of Killam Creative and am thrilled to participate in this first "Build A Line Challenge" blog hop for B'Sue Boutiques. This is a whopper of a challenge, and one that will stretch my creativity in ways I haven't felt before. I hope to grow all sorts of new branches on my learning tree. (Ha! See what I did there?)
There are over 50 of us in this challenge. All of us will be working hard to create a cohesive line of jewelry and pull our look and thought process together. At the end, we will reveal a line of jewelry with a minimum of five pieces, all in our chosen style.
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| Flights of Fancy |
Let me tell you a little about me. I've been making paper-based art for years. I started out with simple greeting cards and evolved into highly embellished cards. I was a design team coordinator for a small online paper craft shop for a few years. I've since branched out to altering 3-dimensional objects, from mini Altoids tins to blocks of wood to old cigar boxes. Shadow boxes are my favorite projects now -- or maybe it's just the excuse to rummage through flea markets for the perfect "found objects"!
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| L-R: Halloween shadowbox detail, altered tin, embellished greeting card |
In addition to the paper and mixed media, I make Argentium silver chainmaille jewelry. I start with raw wire and finish with a beautiful clasp and a tiny sterling silver heart.
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| L-R: Hodo weave with Larimar clasp, Japanese lace weave, Byzantine with turquoise clasp |
Last year I started collecting and wearing vintage rhinestone jewelry. I'm very inspired by Miriam Haskell, Stanley Hagler and Robert Demario. Being the creative type, I decided to learn cagework and tapestry beading and make my own new beauties from reproduction and vintage parts that couldn't be repaired. That's how I found B'Sue Boutiques!
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| My first cagework necklace; with vintage and new components |
So, "what's next?" you ask...
The B'Sue Boutiques "Build A Line" Challenge!
The B'Sue Boutiques "Build A Line" Challenge!
Without further ado, let me tell you a little about my new line, called Flights of Fancy. Through each piece we will know a little more about the oh-so-busy life of a wee bird called Fancy. Here she's wearing her favorite peacock feather outfit. Tomorrow she might go for a phoenix's fiery reds and oranges. She never knows until the first light of day!
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| Fancy wearing her favorite peacock "outfit" |
I'm still getting to know her, too. What I do know is she will be featured in each piece. These gorgeous B'Sue Boutiques brass components below (plus much more!) are all part of this new line. I'm not sure how it will work out yet, but I'm sure Fancy will help me along the way!
Here's an example of how one necklace may turn out. There's a lot of tweaking to happen, but I like where it's going!
The next "Build A Line" blog hop is February 20th, and I'll be showing you a couple of finished pieces as well as progress I've made along the way. There is a lot that is new to me and at this point I'm either frustrated that something didn't turn out as I'd hoped, or doing a happy dance that it did. :) I like the happy dances much better!
Here's a peek at my work space.
Here's a peek at my work space.
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| Yep, I tidied up. It doesn't always look like this... |
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| Supplies for all types of jewelry making and mixed media conveniently behind me! |
Here is the complete list of "Build A Line" challenge participants -- women from all over the globe have taken on this challenge. We are all at different stages of jewelry making experience but have one common goal: to learn the skills and discipline to build a successful, cohesive line of jewelry. Won't you join us?
Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B'sue Boutiques <<<<--------- Our hostess with the mostest!
Marcia Tuzzolino
Jann Tague
Judy King
Linzi Alford
Cynthia Wainscott
Carole Carlson
Lynn Stinten
Marica Zammit
Catherine Shattuck
Michaele Collie
Mary Craig
Lee Koopman
Erin Whitacre
Monica Casady
Leila West
Cindy Peterson
Leila Belcher
Gloria Allen
Pamela Anger
Tammy Adams
Lynda O'Mara
Elizabeth Hildreth
Dana Hickey
Janet Calardo
Maria Clark
Lori Beekman
Jennifer Kroeger
Amy Jorgensen
Robin Reed
Ingrid Anderson
Louise O'Shields
Susan Killam <<<<--------- That's me!
Mary Katherine Deis
Nike Bottalico
Susan Bowerman
Kristy Le
Jan Peters
Mitzie Crider
Gina Hockett
Linda Anderson
Alexandra Sefton
Melida Boman
Teresa Shurter
Melissa Latimer
Renee Hong
Nadine Edris
Lori Meyer
Jennifer Merrill Williams
Denise Lussier Poirier
Renee Allen
Autumn Adams
Elizabeth Owens
Kat BarronMiller
Sandra Ballard
Coral Law
42 comments:
Oooh, I love your collage work! I make some cards, but nothing as gorgeous as that. Love that little birdie stamping, and I can't wait to see where she'll be flying in your line. ;)
Wow what an awesome page you have and the colors on your bird are truly awesome! ~Louise
My all-time favorite stamping!! LOVE the way you colorized this baby!
I love your mixed media projects. And omg those colors on Fancy are amazing. Really really beautiful.
Can't wait to see some more Fancy pieces :-)
Your work overflows with creativity!
Love the idea of including the same little bird in each piece. Your colorization is beautiful!
I'm already in love with Fancy! Looking forward to your journey.
Love your Fancy theme and am looking forward to seeing each of her outfits :)
What a creative post. I really enjoyed reading your story. Give "Fancy" my best wishes. Can't wait to see her complete wardrobe! Nicely done!
Hooray--birds! I already love your line and can't wait to see what happens! :)
I love your story about the bird called Fancy .. so cute and clever .. looking forward to more .. Jann
Oh my, that's is so creative! Love it and can't wait to see more of Fancy!!
Can't wait to see what you & Fancy put together for your line! Cheers!!
Love your theme and can't wait to see what awesomeness you and Fancy come up with!
I love how you colorized the hummingbird. I look forward to seeing Fancy in all her glory when your line is complete.
What a great idea! I already love Fancy and am looking forward to her wardrobe changes!
I like what I am seeing . Your chainmail jewelry is very sweet.
The color of the bird is awesome and right there for anyone loving the peacock colors
I am sooo envious of your workspace! Love your little pal, Fancy. She is definitely going to be a Fancy Dancer for this challenge! Great paperwork also. Beautiful photos.
Gorgeous blog and novel idea for your line. MORE, MORE
I too love vintage jewelry and Miriam Haskell. Your cage work and pearl necklace is lovely. That bird is sweet with wonderful colors! Looking forward to her adventures. ~Ingrid
So pretty! I love it.
Beautiful creation! Cannot wait until the completed line is revealed!
The peacock colors are fabulous, great job.
Same beautiful bird but so many wonderful colours. I'm sure he will be a real winner.
Love your blog and your work! so excited to see what you make! to the journey!
Very nice blog and I can't wait to see what Fancy decides she's doing next :) Good luck~! xXx Ne
I'm a bird lover and can't wait to see what Fancy does!
You can't go wrong with birds. So many of us love them.
Your "Fancy" is perfect. Hummingbirds are such a wonderful creation - I've never met anyone who wasn't fascinated with them, and the way you're blending her with the other pieces is really precious. She's going to be flying pretty high I think!
Great blog! Your blog is so bright and easy to read. Keep up the good work and I look forward to sharing this journey together!
Excellent job, Susan, and so delighted that you joined us and shared a bit of your story! Can't wait til the next post....keep sharing with us at the class group and on the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group, too!
Your hummer is awesome in her peacock finery, Susan. I love hummingbirds and can't wait to see your variety in your creations!
Love, love, Fancy! What a great theme to build a line around--she is very inspiring. Looking forward to the places that Fancy will take us--and loved looking at the places you have been. Thank you! Gina H
Nice blog, love the colorization and cannot wait to see a piece at the next hop
Fun idea with Fancy! Your shadow boxes are fabulous, too!
Great blog and love the theme. looking forward to seeing your line of jewelry.
Susan, "Flights of Fancy" is a great concept for a line. Looking forward to it.
I love Fancy's peacock coloring - can't wait to see what else changes into!
Love your blog and your design idea such a pretty piece and here's to happy creating.
Looking forward to seeing Fancy's journey. Can't wait to see more. :-) ~Elizabeth
Love "fancy" the birdy- looking forward to seeing how you use him :) Linzi
You are so talented and I really like the bird "Fancy". She is so beautiful. How nice to have her as your company.
Fancy looks great! I love how you colored her feathers!
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