Challenge: Resin Bubbles

So the readers of Lorelei's Blog (http://lorelei1141.blogspot.com/) were issued a challenge...create something with these resin bubble slider bars available at Michael's Craft Stores in teal or purple. I accepted the challenge for several different reasons. I don't use slider bars, I don't do resin, and I wanted to stretch my artistic muscles in a new direction. With that in mind, I started with one package of the purple bubbles but eventually returned to Michael's and used my handy dandy coupons to purchase more purple and a package of the teal.

I completed four necklaces for the deadline of this challenge...but have so many more designs that I did not finish...I can't wait to get back to work!!

I am not the best blogger, or should I say, not the most regular blogger. I have also found I am not the best photographer when it comes to my jewelry. Many times I sell it faster than I can take pictures of it. My goal for this year was to have a bigger web presence...Pinterest, etsy, better blog, website. But I am finding that the photo issue is stalling my efforts to move forward. I feel that poor photography has hampered the magnificence of my completed resin bubble projects. So just know, blog hoppers, all four necklaces are spectacular in person. But I guess you will just have to take my word on that. I invite you to stay to the end despite the deteriorating photos.

First Up: Purple

The first pic is hanging on my mannequin so you can see the drape of the beads and such. The next two I think show the color combinations in a better light. I used the slider bar as base to display a variety of purple and pink beads at varying lengths. It is suspended on a plain gold chain.

In my work, I use natural materials...glass, wood, stone, metal...so starting with the resin piece was a big step outside my box.

Purple Project #2:

Step number two for working outside the box was to go asymmetrical. I had these totally awesome faceted purple amethyst beads that I thought echoed the color and texture of the resin bubbles. I added some big gold ovals, purple cotton cord, a reclaimed gold chain, and a single gold flower button as an accent. Although I was going for some asymmetry, I created this necklace with the resin bubbles as a straight line anchor. Getting closer to busting out of the box!

Now on to the Teal...

Finally used the slider bar as part of the line of the necklace instead of being the star or the anchor. I used hammered gold circles, a hammered toggle, a line of sparkly teal and gold beads all mixed with teal ribbon and rat tail satin cord to set off the felted blue butterfly. Asymmetry takes flight.

Teal Project #2

Here is where the photos took a turn for the worst. I am going to try and re-do them so you can see the actual component you stopped by to see.

I used the light teal rat tail satin cord to suspend the main attraction. I found these great gold butterfly buttons to march up the side interspersed with hammered discs. I once again used the slider bar as a part of the overall flow instead of using it as the focal. The star of this show is the reclaimed cloisonne earring with the teal butterfly. I was amazed that the color matched so well.

I am not totally done with this component or what it can teach me. I will go back and try to use the slider bar in a bracelet design...or in a multilayer necklace...or oohh, oohhh, ooohhh, how about stacked together as a large focal. The ideas are endless. I can't wait to see what you all did with the same unassuming component.

I hope you all enjoyed my stop here on the resin bubble slider bar challenge. Thanks to our hostess Lorelei for putting forth the project idea and making it possible for us all to join in the fun. Thanks for a great time...and some brain strain. I look forward to the next challenge and what we all can do with it.

Here is a list of the other blog hoppers!


Lola

Denise McCabe

Mustard Bead

A Polymer Penchant

Pearl and Pebble

Peacock Fairy

Beads for Busy Gals

Dawn Williams

Shirley Moore

B Street Studios

Sally Russick

Pamela770

Erin Prais-Hintz

Heather Powers

MirandAck

Lily

Karen Firnberg

Tanya

Mary

Rosebud101

Ann

Toltec Jewels

Micha

Terri

This and That

Second copper earring workshop was just as successful and fun as the first one. I had a few repeat participants and a few new ones. I was so excited to see the different designs and color choices. Everyone left with a completed pair of earrings and no two pairs looked the same. I can't wait for next month, April 27, 2013!! Please call or email me if you would like to join in the fun. Space is already filling up quickly for April's workshop.

Participating in a blog hop for the first time this week. One of the blogs I regularly read posted a challenge using a component from Michael's, one of my regular haunts. I purchased just one set but have had so much fun I am thinking of heading out to get the other color to see what other creations I can make before the big reveal on Friday.

5th Friday on the Square is this week in Slaton, Texas. I will be at Multiplicity Art Gallery all evening pouring wine, talking art, and laughing it up with all that come to visit. Please stop in to say hi, try on some earrings, and enjoy the view.

Don't forget to stop in at the Town Square Antique Mall in Slaton to see what the artists of Multiplicity Art Gallery have been doing. We all have a love of re-purposing and needed a place to show our wares. There is furniture, wall art, clocks, fiber art, knickknacks...you name it, we have it. Our booth is the back corner. You can't miss it with the purple walls!

Have not taken many new pictures lately so I hope this one is not a repeat. I get a lot of comments about this pair of earrings...but somehow they are still on display at the Gallery. Which is actually fine by me because one of these days, I am just going to snag them for myself.

The objet d'art in the background is a copper and brass pin, or brooch as my college professor called them, I framed. That is a new thing I started doing so I can display jewelry without fear of it walking out the door. It is easy to hang on the wall, too, for different display options. I know some people actually show their hand-crafted art jewelry just like it was wall art, something to be admired and not hidden away in the jewelry box.

 

5th Friday on the Square

Friday, March 29, 2013

Slaton, Texas

Multiplicity Art Gallery

157 S. 9th Street

6 pm to 9 pm

 

Look Around Lubbock with FoxNews 34

Life has been busier than ever.

But wanted to share this little bit of fun.

The Features Reporter, Brittany Price, at our local FoxNews station asked me to do a whole morning of segments. So last Thursday at the crack of before dawn, we set up the camera and lights at Multiplicity Art Gallery in Slaton, Texas to film live six segments about me and my art work. The of the segment links is below for your viewing pleasure. I had asked Brittany if she wanted to bring me a few pieces of unused jewelry. She sent out an email to the office and gathered up a bag full of bits and pieces. In this segment, you will see what I made with the scraps from her bag of goodies. I sent with her back to the office the five pairs of earrings seen on the table. She said she took the black pair and the office ladies divided up the rest. It was a lot of fun spending time with her and her camera man Nick.

Look Around Lubbock: Recycling junk into jewelry

Working the Web

I have been neglecting my blogging in order to work some other aspects of the web. I am trying to get an esty store up and running. I have been exploring the world of Pinterest. Researching the best way to get a website active has been on the to do list. But real world stuff keeps getting in the way, like earning money!

I conducted my first copper earring workshop this past weekend. It was fabulous! Everyone left with a pair of completed earrings, most wore their own hand-crafted earrings home. I was so happy with the results. Thanks to everyone who came and added to the experience. Looking forward to next month's project and more awesome results.

In my blog reading, one blogger mentioned PicMonkey as a cool photo editing service. So I played around with it. Here is the result. (not very exciting, is it?)

I took this picture with my camera phone. I did very little editing with PicMonkey just because I had already gotten a really tight pic. But can't wait to try again and utilize the really cool effects. As part of the editing process, you can upload your pic directly to social media. Since the only social media things I do is Pinterest, this pic got sent to my Pinterest account: bstreet studios. So if you are here as a result of my Pin, thanks for stopping by. If you are interested in purchasing the earrings pictured, below is the Buy it Now button. They are $30.00 with free shipping. The Buy It button will take you to PayPal. Please make sure your address is included in the comments section. I will email you when they are in the mail.

New Year, New Events

For the first post of 2013, I am announcing a string of events at which I will be participating. First up is FirstFridayArtTrail. The Llano Estacado Clay Guild will be represented at McPherson Cellars located at 1615 Texas Ave, Lubbock, Texas. It is at the corner of 17th and Texas. There will be many different artists and styles of art from clay to glass to jewelry to collage.

Friday, February 1, 2013

McPherson Cellars

1615 Texas Ave.

Lubbock, TX

6 pm - 9 pm

 

 

Event #2 My Copper Earring Workshop. That's right. I will be hosting a series of workshops this year at Multiplicity Gallery, Slaton, Texas. Each workshop will feature a different pair of hand-crafted copper earrings so each one is a stand alone class. You can pick and choose which workshop to attend and leave with a pair of artisan earrings. I will provide at the tools and materials necessary. You will provide the muscle. The first session is Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 2 pm. Please feel free to contact me via phone or email (bjbeller@hotmail.com) to sign up or call the Multiplicity Gallery. You can leave me a comment, too. Class is filling up fast, but I will always make room for you!

 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Multiplicity Gallery

157 S. 9th

Slaton, Texas

2 pm

 

Stayed tuned for more events and activities!

Art Business

I can't believe I have not updated the blog since the big Studio Tour! Thanks to all of you who showed up in support of the event. I think this is one of the best local arts events. It is fun to tour the city, get a peek into people's homes and studio space. I am always amazed at how creative artists are to carve out some dedicated studio space in amongst their daily lives. I have a whole building I can stockpile supplies. And I just close the door when the mess gets to be too much and not invite anyone in. I guess that is the undisciplined part of my brain. I can walk away from the mess and deal with it another day. Some people are not as fortunate as I am in that regard.

For all of you who didn't make it out, here is a link to the Spotted pictures. I encourage you to click through them all...but here is a link for my pic...
http://spotted.lubbockonline.com/photos/index.php?id=3766258
and a link for a pic of my mom when she was able to escape to other venues...
http://spotted.lubbockonline.com/photos/index.php?id=3766493

 

 

This is the Save the Date section of my message

5th Friday in Slaton

November 30, 2012

Multiplicity Gallery

(just down from the Bakery)

157 S 9th Street

Slaton, Texas 79364

6 - 9 pm

I am working with the gallery owner, Carol, on getting some workshops and/or classes going for 2013. Stayed tuned for more details. So all you peeps who asked for it, now is the time to let me know what you want to learn! Let's work together to make some fun classes!

First Friday Art Trail

December 7, 2012

GlassyAlley

1940 Texas Ave.

Lubbock, TX

6 - 9 pm

This is the gallery I displayed at for the Studio Tour. Pauline invited me to stay for the month of December. I changed things up so it looks like a totally different display. There should be food, wine, and live music! I know we are going to pack the house out with totally awesome art so stop by to see something new!

DownTown Art Market

Saturday

December 8, 2012

Tornado Gallery

1840  Buddy Holley Ave.

Lubbock, Texas

9 am - 3 pm

I have not done DAM this whole year! I can't believe I have missed out. So I thought I would end the year with a comfortable old friend. This is an indoor/outdoor event and I reserve the right to chicken out if it is too cold or too windy. Wind being the bigger possibility this season.

I will be displaying in the Llano Estacado Clay Guild annual membership Show. It will be at the Lousie Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA) December 5 - 31. I think I will bring my Tuscan Poppies and maybe a few little other treats.

That was a lot to take in, but I had a lot of time to make up for.

36 hours...

until the doors open at GlassyAlley for Studio Tour!

My display is set and ready to go. I forgot my camera today so there is no preview peek at my space. But it looks really good and I am happy with the results. Now the space just needs to be filled with friends and family, new and old acquaintances. We will have food and wine and plenty of chat and laugh. I am looking to next year already and think I will not display again until June. So this may be the last time to see the jewelry and art of Barbra J. Beller for a long time.

Since there is no sneak of the completed space, here is a peek at my monsterpiece. This is just a 3"x5" look at a 30x40 canvas.

Tuscan Poppies 30x40

I have not touched a canvas is quite a while. In fact, I did a clean out of my new canvas stock and sold all the large (bigger than 16x20) canvases I had. I got tired of hauling framed paintings hither and yon to just drag them home again. So in a fit of frustration and trying to gain some focus, out went the canvases. But at times I just have a burning need to slap some paint on cloth or swirl my paintbrush through pigment. I found this oversized canvas that just needed to be rescued. I had a flash of inspiration when I saw it and could not get it home to the studio fast enough. When I bought it, the cashier kind of looked at me like I was crazy. I handed her my business card and told her to come see what the canvas looked like when I was done with it. She would not even recognize it. I don't even recognize it. So Linda, come see what craziness I did with the monster canvas!

Hope to see you at:

GlassyAlley

1940 Texas Ave.

Lubbock, Texas

Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm

Sunday, noon to 6 pm