Sweet Willow Designs: February 2015

Welcome to Part 2 of the B’Sue Build a Line Challenge. My emerging line combines brass stampings and filigree from B’Sue Boutiques and my own polymer clay faux soutache. Faux soutache is a traditional fiber arts technique that uses colorful braided cords to make intricate and fluid jewelry designs. I’ve interpreted the soutache in polymer clay which offers endless options for color and design.

I started by selecting a range of brass options that caught my eye and that I thought would pair nicely with the polymer clay. I had leaves, flowers large and small, filigree and ornate brass plates. Initially I was overwhelmed as I envisioned using three of the large flowers in a statement necklace.

Luckily there are three other artists participating in the challenge that live in the Denver area, Lynda O'Mara, Alexandra Sefton and Lori Prull Meyer. Lynda got us all together to talk about what we were creating. We each shared our progress and sought advice from the others. This proved to be really helpful to me as the main advice from the others was to simplify my vision. The relief was immediate. I don’t have to create wild, large pieces – simple may be better for my style. Finding myself renewed and inspired by meeting these artists, I was ready to go.

I’m starting at basic bracelets. I used the brass ornate framed piece as my base, curving it into a bracelet shape. Using silver Gilder’s paste I changed the color of one of the brass pieces to match a button I planned to use as a focal.

I sculpted directly on the bracelet blanks, cured them and used E6000 to glue the polymer clay to the brass. The polymer clay does not adhere to the metal so lifting it off is a breeze. The colors are a turquoise, gold and purple.

In the second piece I created I experimented with a two tone look by leaving the brass its original color and a silver button. So far I’m liking the initial designs and am starting to generate more ideas for the next pieces.

For 2015 I planned to join several challenges and push myself to try new techniques and explore my creativity. I’m not sure production work is for me though I’m glad to learn from the talented artists pushing themselves to create a jewelry line. It’s fun to see where this takes me.

Please take a look at the other fantastic artists participating in the challenge by visiting their blogs below.

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