Build a Line Challenge: Progress at Last

 

Last week, my son posted this on his Facebook page.  I read it and thought how true it was.   He has had so much to struggle with these past years and I am so proud of him and the adversity he has overcome.  I commented on his post, and as I did, I thought……  he learned this from me.

I really needed that, to be put on notice that I should stand by what I taught my children.   I was ready to throw in the towel, to give up on BSue Boutique’s Build a Line Challenge  and resign myself to the fact that I was and always would be a hobbyist, a creator of fun things, one of a kind pieces,  and too scatterbrained to build a cohesive “line” of jewelry.

I had watched a video that Brenda posted to help us out.   In the video, she built the beginnings of a line in a few hours.   I had been struggling for much longer and had far less done.   What was different about me? I mean, what was different other than the fact that she has years of experience and knowledge?  Well, for one thing, Brenda knows every item she has.   I have things scattered all over the place and needed to sit down with a whole table full of different things and play around.   For another, she began with a big beautiful statement piece and took smaller components from that to create other pieces.  This was not exactly something I could do because I had chosen to build a men’s line and most men are not going to buy one of those big necklaces.

For a week after I watched the video I panicked!  I read the posts in class but refrained from commenting.  What exactly could I say?   ARGGHHH!   I can’t do this!   I’m too scatterbrained!  I can get great ideas but can’t follow through!   ARGHHHH.   What business do I have, at 70 years old, trying to fit into a culture like Steampunk?   ARGHHHH   I am the Charlie Brown of the B’Sue Build a Line Challenge!   ARRGHHHH!

 

Here’s where I was at when I watched that video.    I had discovered one thing about men’s jewelry.  SIZE MATTERS!!!!  Stop the snickering ladies and don’t go there!   Men have broader chests and somehow, I think their torsos are longer.   The links I usually make for my chains weren’t working.  They looked too frou frou.  I had torn apart my original links and switched to heavier gauge wire, like 16 instead of 20.  That worked well.   Men also need longer necklaces.   Steamers often wear cravats and vests and even greatcoats and I had to get my focals below the cravat line.   I found that a lot of the things I had ordered for links would not work with my links.

 

from Steampunk Emporium

Here is another thing about men of “esteam”.   They do not go to Comic Con every week so the big piece or even the cufflinks or tie tac might not get worn a lot.   I needed something they could also wear for the regular life.  I also realized that this “line” was set to appeal to a smaller subculture.  I needed pieces that would appeal to other men.  Jewelry for men is a smaller subculture all by itself and now I was truly limiting myself.  What the heck do I use that will appeal to men in the mainstream culture at the same time?

Most are not big fans of flowers and glitzy gaud in their jewelry (unless they are a banger or rapper) and most do not go for lime greens and pinks so I wanted to stick with mostly the basics, antique gold, copper and silver with maybe some dark green, black and blue.

AND last:  Most men, given a choice would prefer a sleek convertible to s comfy station wagon.

With these thoughts in mind, I made some decisions.

   Number one:   All of my pieces would be convertibles.   Each chain will come apart and become either two necklaces or a necklace and a bracelet.   One of the necklaces would be more ornate.   The other could be worn with jeans and a tee or with an open neck shirt so that whoever bought them could get more use out of them which should encourage the expenditure of the more significant amount.  Another reason for doing this:  the plainer one would go behind the collar and actually be more comfortable to wear than a chain of all large links.

Number two:  All of my focals would be of mixed metals using all 3 (antique gold, copper and silver) so that any focal could go with any chain.

With these things in mind, I began to work on themes.   Here is what I have come up with.

These are my chains.   The links look like springs and vacuum tubes and in some cases, are gears.   There is one of each metal so far.   I am thinking of combining gunmetal and gold for another basic chain but that is not a given.

antique brass links

copper links

 

The first lower end items I made came from Brenda’s video on Beerings.    I turned the beer caps into key chain fobs.  My grandson loves to test outlandish beers so he hooked me up with some weird beer caps.  My personal favorite is the Arrogant Bastard beer cap (the black one).   His is the 3 Floyds (with the pink and green).   I added a spring/sprocket link and a clasp so they can be hooked to a key ring   OR…………to one of my chains.   Josh loves his, by the way.   What’s great about these is that someone could custom order one in their favorite beer as long as they mailed me two caps (one in case I mess up) and were willing to wait until I received the caps and made the piece.

beer cap key fobs

 

The first “theme” type things I made used those big pearls from B’Sue Boutiques.  I love them!   I used one in the chain for the bracelet on the gold chain, made a cravat stickpin with another and two for cufflinks.   There is a set now.   You could start with any or all of them.   I had this old vintage brass and mother of pearl button and paired it with a dark jade donut focal for the chain.   I’m setting a precedent here.  All my stone focals will be one of a kind.  A man will not went to see his own focal all over comic con.   Men do have some sense of style after all.   This also allows me some freedom of expression of my own which I really need.  I cannot simply turn out piece after piece that is all the same.

pearls theme

 

I needed a “theme” for the copper and that’s where those cute little steampunkish hats come in.   Notice I used all 3 metals in this one.   This particular focal can be repeated over and over.  The cravat pin and cufflinks will also remain the same.  For a slight extra fee, I can make the focal badkground in different colors of patinaed copper.

basic copper chain

copper seaparated

hats focal

 

hats set

 

The “silver” set is not actual silver but tinned copper, which is silver colored copper wire, much more economical and never tarnishes. I used a stone focal for the photos but, of course, that is detachable and any of the focals can be purchased for this set.  I also used some beads in this one.  I think I’ll stick with hematite  beads, a silvery black that is so beautiful.

basic silver set

silver set separated

The plain silver chain, for everyday wear is so simple, but any small charm can be added, a key, a simple gear, a small arrowhead, endless possibilites to express in everday life that you have steamy associations.

 

Where is the assemblage you are asking?   We’ve been busting our butts, painting, gluing and putting things together.   What the heck are YOU doing over there Lee?  Brenda is giving me a sideways look and thinking,……ummm…..Lee, this is supposed to be the B’Sue Build a Line, not Lee’s original chain and stone line.  I want to see more of my product out there.

I’m getting to it.  I’ve had starts and stops and abandoned my original idea and started another so I know I do not have as much done as the rest of you.  BUT, I”m getting there.

Here are some of the focals I’ve worked on this far.   Some are very simple to go with the plainer necklaces.  Some are not.   More are in the works.  Every focal comes with a clasp and can be detached.  A guy could have a whole wardrobe of focals if he wanted!  You go guys!

bugs and leaves

Purple Heart medal

simple key

 

I’ve been a wire wrapper for a long time and have plenty of spare wrapped stones.   I’m thinking these wrapped stones would look great with the chains and while they might not be exactly steamy, they are manly.   I have this idea of gluing some of the little charms to them, as you can seen with the  white calcite and the little dragonfly charm.   I’m thinking that I can make up a few with a bug or a dragonfly or bird or key or more on them, then I could offer a selection of the charms and a person could choose which one he wanted on his stone (here I could add some color to match the stone also).

Ohio flint

arrowhead

stones with charms

 

I have three more themes that I am working on right now, one uses bugs and will be lots of fun if it works out the way I plan.   One uses clocks.   I actually have the focal done but cannot show it yet because it’s getting published in an e-zine that comes out in March and I can’t use it in any blog or facebook page until after that.   I can only say it’s called Frozen in Time.   The cufflinks and cravat pin are not ready yet.  The last one uses those little propellers from B’Sue and while the focal should be fine, I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how in the world I can use them for the cufflinks.   I believe they will catch on the jacket cuff and get ruined.   I need some biplanes!  Brenda!!!!!!  Any other ideas?

Anyhow, I’m having fun, lots of fun and am so glad I did not give up on this.  And, I’ve even gotten a reward of sorts already.  My son, Justin, is very sparing with praise.  I had him try on some of the pieces so I could judge if my size estimates were correct.  He actually said “these are actually pretty cool, mom”.    Even if my line never takes off and I sell nothing, I have learned so much from all of you and I am glad I did not throw in the towel.

Why not hop around and see what the rest of the gals in the challenge have made?   Here’s a list for you.

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 X You are here

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: 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