Hi Everyone, and thanks for stopping by!
Welcome to our Build a Line Master Challange Blog Hop 2016!
This is our second of 3 blog hops. This time, I wanted to talk about what inspires me.
It’s true, birds and nature inspire me, but that goes for most of us Islanders. How did I get into jewelry, and stay inspired the last 25 years?
Well…. perhaps it’s because I always wanted to be a Pirate. Yes, it’s true! I know, I know, but without the eye patch. And the wooden leg…. The exciting part that always inspired me was the big fat chest of gold and jewels! And I wager I’m not the only closet-wanna-be-pirate in this group! That chest always made my heart pitter patter. Now I’m a grown up Pirate, and I get to work with beautiful shiny metals and jewels every day. And I am blessed.
What has kept me inspired, through the past 25 years of making jewelry, is my friends, family, and peers, who are a constant inspiration to me. Each day, I get to recharge myself on their beautiful pieces, and for a moment, see the world through their eyes.
We have been making collages of our work in class, to teach us to look at it objectively. To be able to stand back and squint. To begin to see what our personal artistic style is. And to use that info as the baseline for future growth. And okay, they’re fun too! Here’s a recent one of my work:
I learned a lot about my style from this collage. I learned that I liked color, that I used a lot of drops, that I was being influenced by Victorian style, and that I liked gemstones. Now you think that I’d know some of those things, being the person who actually designed and made the jewelry. But, no. As usual, I was the last to know. The Victorian part totally shocked me. Is that what I really wanted to be doing? The answer is yes, I think so. At least for now!
I’d like to introduce you to the second piece in my line of bracelets. It’s called The Silver Raven. He sits on a large rusty black B’Sue vintage filigree oval, and B’sue rings, chain, clasp, drops and crystal flower. Ravens are my favorite bird.
As part of our class, I have had to ask myself, am I a hobbyist, a maker or a production designer? I have been a hobbyist for a good 23 years. I am now a maker, with hopes to be a production designer. I’d love to see my work on the runway. That has been my dream since I was 14, and got a hold of these great earrings that would swing when you walked. That was the moment the seed was planted. I wanted to make earrings and jewelry that moved. That swung gracefully when you walked. Since I started this Build a Line Master Challange course, I finally feel that this dream might be possible! Full steam ahead….arrrrrrrgh!
Please continue to hop hop hop, and visit my list of friends below:
Brenda Sue Lansdowne Jewelry Making Outside the Box
http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com
Diana Buynak Butterfly Emporium Ceramic Studio
http://butterflyemporium.indiemade.com/blog
Irene Hoffman, Heart’s Desire by Irene
http://heartsdezirebyirene.wordpress.com
Clare Wells Nemeth, Creative Magick
http://www.craftingmagick.blogspot.com
Mary Reckmeyer, Afrayed Not
Marcia Tuzzolino, Aurora Designs
http://auroradesignsjewelryblog.me
Elizabeth Wilks, Wearable Art by Lizzie
http://wearableartbylizzie.blogspot.com
Jeanette Rose Belmont, One Canvas At A Time
http://www.onecanvasatatime.com
Lyn Joy Reeve, A Journey From Jewels To Jubilation
Belinda Reed-Ingle, Vogue Rocks
http://voguerocks.blogspot.com
Beth Trubman, The Journey of Jewelry
http://thejourneyofjewelry.blogspot.com
Carole Carlson, Bead Sophisticate
http://beadsophisticate.wordpress.com
Jann Tague, Clever Designs by Jann
http://janntague.wordpress.com
Shari Gardner, SLG Jewelry Designs
http://slgdesigns.wordpress.com
Susan Bolton, Fern’s Place
Chris Kemp, Noodle Pie Bracelets
Barbara Kelley, Angels’ Keep
http://angelskeepbandbdotcom.wordpress.com
Susan Bowerman, Woodside Wireworks
Pamela Anger, Novegatti Designs
http://novegattidesigns.blogspot.com
Joan Donovan, Hailey’s Cottage
Alison Huie, Ally’s Baubles
http://www.allysbaubles.blogspot.com
Sharon Palac, Sharon’s Jewelry Garden
http://www.sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com
Erica Olmos, Beeb’s Closet
https://beebscloset.wordpress.com
Erin Whitacre, Shattered Time Jewelry
https://shatteredtimejewelry.wordpress.com
Fran Sitton, Sitton Up Front
https://sittonupfront.wordpress.com
Ginger Hammond, Lynn Leigh Designs
https://lynnleighdesigns.wordpress.com
Paula Gaskill, Lovely LaylaBug Jewels
http://www.lovelylaylabugjewels.com/Blog.php
Mary Deis, The Rose Sword
http://theroseswordmdeis.blogspot.com
Renee Webb Allen, Small Stuff Design
Valerie Tilghman, ArtJewelsandGifts
http://www.artjewelzdimensions.blogspot.com
Chris Cravens, Vintage Cravens
http://christinecravens.blogspot.com
Leslie Carver, Adorn Divine Designs
http://www.adorndivinedesigns.blogspot.com
Donna Parry, JewelryDonna
http://jewelrydonna.typepad.com
Gina-Marie Hammer, Tangles, Twists and Treasures
http://tanglestwistsandtreasures.com/blog/
Kelly Wymer, Winged Wisdom Enchantments
https://wingehttp:dwisdomenchantments.wordpress.com/
Sponsored by: B’Sue Boutiques
With sincere thanks to our Teacher: Brenda Sue Lansdowne
Kindly leave me a message if you feel inspired!
Chris, I love your back story of where your inspiration began! Your newest piece is just fabulous! I’ll be watching for your jewelry on the runway, in the future. Congrats on having your “AHA” moment from your collages!
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Thank you very much Marcia!
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You always make me laugh. I will never forget that little pirate – or you equating your love of jewelry with the pirate’s treasure! I bet that’s true for so many of us. I know I played pirate quite often for that treasure. 🙂 Wonderful writing and I love your anecdote about the earrings that “swing when you walked”. I could see you at 14, coveting those earrings!
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Thank you dear friend. I’ll tell you a secret, I still have those earrings! My bestie was going through her jewelry box with me, and there they were! She said, “oh those…I never wear them.” And I told her they were mine, and could I have them back? I told her that t
they were very special to me. I thought they were long gone…now they are finally home again. With me!
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What a beautifully written blog. I love having this glimpse into your world! Your silver raven bracelet is wonderful and I think you are well on your way to seeing those earrings sway down a runway. Being here was my pleasure! Thank you!
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Thanks for dropping by for a visit Susan! You’re my partner in mirth…
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Chris, I loved your blog. Your bracelet is gorgeous and I can just imagine what the rest of your line is going to reveal. Can’t wait to see everything on April 1st.
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Thanks for visiting Irene. Here’s hoping my showstopper turns out as good as I’m imaging it. Right now it’s about 50-50!
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Oh wow Chris I loved your story and about being a closet pirate! I’m with ya!LOL! Your bracelets are beautiful, and I love your cuff, it is gorgeous. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in April. ;D
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Arrrgh Matey, perhaps we’ll have to sail together sometime…
Cheers to you for visiting! ❤ Many thanks.
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Great post with a beautiful bracelet.
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Very kind thanks Miss Gloria!
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Love birds and all things nature. Ravens are an awesome bird. Looking forward to seeing your line.
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Thank you Clare. It’s so nice to connect with a fellow Raven lover.
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Hello nature lover. Your raven cuff is nice. Might there be a pirate’s parrot in future work?
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Hello! Thanks for visiting my blog. There just may be a parrot in my future series of bird bracelets!
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Great post, Chris! LOVED the photo of you hard at work, I hope we will see more photos like that as we go along. When blogging, it’s important to share YOURSELF in the midst of the process. Of course, I need to take my own advice as there are few pix of ME on my blog! But I guess I can defer to there being over 10 videos over the last six years. That’s not prolific, but it’s a nice little audience and they get to see me, warts and all. And….you mentioned the discoveries you are making about yourself as the class unfolds. I’m seeing that a great deal as I read along. It really makes me happy…..because that’s what this class is all about. DISCOVERY! So keep discovering, keep digging and diving for pirate’s treasure…and in one form or another you will get what you want for your investment in time and quality supplies. XOXO
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Thanks Miss Brenda. Kind thanks for visiting my blog. I’m really enjoying the class. Can’t wait to see your line! Yum…
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I have to say the birsd threw me off at first. I too love nature.Great blog. The raven is great that will come together nicely
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Thanks so much for visiting my blog Paula. Nice to connect with a fellow nature lover. It’s an endless source of inspiration for both of us!
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Who knows….maybe you were a pirate in another lifetime!! Love the Raven and cant wait to see the rest of your line 🙂
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You’re right Val, I must have been a pirate in a previous lifetime. I would have buried my treasure…and spent this life looking for it again!
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What a wonderful post, Chris! I love your Silver Raven bracelet and it definitely looks like it would swing gracefully 🙂 I am looking forward to seeing your line soon!
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Thank kindly for your visit Chris. I’m looking forward to your line most of all!
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Chris your Silver Raven bracelet is so much fun! Your post is very enjoyable. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your pieces.
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Thanks for visiting Elisabeth. I enjoy your posts in our class.
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Loving your nature and love of Birds I am excited to see more of your lovely bird jewelry and I really think you Cuff is wonderful. keep up the great work
Erica
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Thanks so much Erica. And that’s for visiting my blog!!!
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Great work Chris. I know that the rest of your pieces will be as fantastic as your cuff is.
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Awww…thanks Susan. You’re a sweet lady. Thanks for visiting my blog.
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Love you BLOG and the bracelet with the bird is beautiful .. looking forward to your final reveal .. Jann
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Thanks for visiting my blog Jann. I’m looking forward to your Chic line too!
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I really like your blog. I enjoy jewelry that moves and am looking forward to seeing your completed line.
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Thanks Jeanette for visiting, and for understanding my vision for jewelry that ‘moves!’
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I enjoy reading your posts Chris and getting a glimpse of your process and where you live. I think I need to do more of that. Your bracelets are coming a long nicely….good luck on that pirate’s booty!!!
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Sorry…I hit the wrong key.
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Thank you for visiting Beth, and thanks for the kind wishes! I’ll be busy digging….
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I know what you mean about being the last to know. 🙂
Loving the pirate aspirations, we really do sit on treasure, don’t we?
The bracelet is just *beautiful*, and I want to see more!
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Thanks for visiting Leslie. Before we know it the class will be over, and all my birdie creations revealed. I’ll let you know if I find the pirate’s booty in the mean time!
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Chi’s I love your story and I used to love to draw pirates ands parrots as a child so I guess were dule pirate spirits, always loved a good pirate chest myself. Love your line your creating it just gorgeous and I can’t wait to see the rest! Love ya bunches XOXO!
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Thanks for visiting my blog Kristy. That’s so cool you liked (like) pirates too! Let’s keep digging for that chest! Thanks for the compliment. I hope I can do it justice on the reveal…
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Love your backstory-and the raven. Can’t wait to see the whole line revealed!
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Hi, thanks for visiting my blog Barb. I imagine you see some amazing birds from your place too. They are so uplifting! Can’t wait to see you line too.
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Great post! Thanks for sharing your story and love your raven cuff! Ingrid
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Thanks so much for visiting Ingrid, and your kind compliment!
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Beautiful cuff. I love where the line is going!
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Thanks very much Erin!
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Hi Chris, loved your post, as always. Can’t wait to see your finished pieces. This class has been fun and I love learning all the stuff that I didn’t know I needed to know. But, its also has some tough spots, like trying to determine if we are hobbyists, makers, or designers. I still don’t really know where I fall in those categories. I have a store and I am selling a few things here and there, so I don’t think I would qualify as being a hobbyist anymore. I want to sell my work, so I believe I am a maker, but as for how far I want to go, I don’t know. I’m not sure I would be up for all the pressure that comes with being a production designer. So, I truly wish your dream comes true and we can see your jewelry draped around the necks of movie stars on the red carpet.
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Thanks for visiting Shari, and for your kindness and support.
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I am really looking forward to seeing your bird line..Its one of my favorite stampings.. This is so fun 🙂
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Thanks kindly Kelly, and thanks very much for stopping by!
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I think my grandmother was born close to where you are from. That brings up good memories of visiting there when I was a little girl. I love the name, Noodle Pie Bracelets. It is one of those names that is hard to forget. I collect bird figurines, and love it when birds are in jewelry. The raven bracelet is really pretty. Thank you for sharing a little bit of your world. I really enjoyed your blog.
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Oh, you’ve intrigued me now. Whereabouts was your grandmother born? My nickname has been Noodle, most of my adult. Dating to a day that I made, and brought these cookies to work, made with Chinese noodles…I have a company name with my family name in it. But I wanted something fun for my bracelets. And that’s how Noodlepie Bracelets was born! Thanks very much for your visit Donna.
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What a great post, Chris … and how cool to live on an island! Your bird line will be fantastic, and I can’t wait to see all of the pieces. (and yes, I want a treasure chest of gold and jewels too!) 😉
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Thanks for visiting my blog Pamela. I do love living on an island. Keeps the riff raff off, lol! If I dig up any pirate’s treasure, I’ll be sure to tell you…
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Haaaar Matey, me loves ye raven cuff! If I happen to sail near ye port, I’ll be stealin’ it for sure! Ha ha! Love your cuff and can’t wait to see what sails through the next blog hop!
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Ahoy Matey! De wind might fill me sails and blow me into your port, but my treasure, she’ll be buried…Kind thanks for visiting my blog Sharon.
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Very enjoyable blog. It’ll be fun to see what you having hiding in your treasure chest at the big reveal.
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Hi Sue, Thanks so much for visiting my blog!
I am going to begin working on my showstopper piece this week, after much thought.
Hope it ends up looking like the version of the one in my head!
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