Build A Line Challenge from B’sue Boutiques, Judy King of Apt To Wander Studio, Part One

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I blame it all on my husband!  HE was the one who said, “Why don’t you bid on some of the vintage jewelry”?  Of course the first lot that I purchased was double stacked on a 3 X 8 table and took me weeks to sort through all of it.  There were some great pieces that I sold in my Etsy store, but there were just piles of pieces that didn’t have a lot of intrinsic value…but too nice to discard.  Just about that time I stumbled upon B’Sue Boutiques where I saw beautiful pieces created with repurposed jewelry.  The rest is history!!

A little about me…

Here I am!

Here I am!

I’ve been a registered nurse for 42 years and have worked in many areas of nursing, but primarily in oncology.  Three years ago, I had an offer from a company based in Philadelphia for a position in which I could work from home and I gladly accepted.  What a joy and blessing to be able to get up each morning, put on yoga pants and a T-shirt and head into my office!  I have a 27 year old daughter (my only child) and she and her husband Ben are expecting our first grand baby in May.  Of course, I’m beyond excited!  My husband is retired but manages to keep himself fairly busy away from the house.  We are involved in church activities and are avid movie goers.  Our sweetheart is a little dachshund girl who we call Sissie…but more affectionately “Baby Doll”.

Back to my jewelry…

My work and style has changed so much over the last couple of years.  I eventually sold all of my vintage jewelry and now just concentrate on brass, beads, pearls, some polymer and a little bit of fiber here and there and I adore found objects.   I love working with Swellegant products and producing incredible colors and patinas on most any surface.  I am really all about assemblage.  It’s what I love and what I do best…BUT…it’s not what every customer is looking for.  I am still in a quandary about what I want my future in jewelry to be about.  While my head understands the business aspect of making products that sell…I haven’t convinced my heart of that yet!!  I am a proud member of the B’Sue Boutiques Design Team along with some very talented artists.

 

B'sue Boutiques Design Team

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/Articles.asp?ID=297

 

 

 

My Build a Design Line…

I have decided to use a combination of brass, natural pearls and brass for my line.  I’ve started playing around with some ideas, but haven’t decided on exactly which direction I want to take.  I’m excited to see everyone’s designs and just know that we will all learn so much from this challenge.

 

 

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Robin and Ben Predmore

 

 

Sissie and Harold

Sissie and Harold

 

 

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Coraline No middle name yet Predmore

This is a shell assemblage that I created over a year ago and have since sold.  I think I will be going a bit simpler for this challenge!!

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Blog Hop Artists and their websites:

 

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

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

49 thoughts on “Build A Line Challenge from B’sue Boutiques, Judy King of Apt To Wander Studio, Part One”

  7. Judy, you’re such an inspiration. I’m always looking forward to your newest pieces! I’m always amazed at what you can accomplish in short periods of time, without ever skimping on quality work or an abundance of creativity!

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  8. I know whatever you do will be fantastic. You inspire me so much with your work, I know this line will excite me as well! Don’t you love working at home as a nurse? I know I do!

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  18. Love that beach necklace, makes me wanna head to the outer banks right now~! I can’t wait to see what you design and congrats on the new grandbaby, I too have a granddaughter coming in May 🙂 Good luck with your line xXx

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  19. How exciting to be waiting for your grand-baby! Congrats & prayers to all of you. Also, a special thank you for your help as one of our “Great Leaders” It’s so nice to meet you and see your beautiful designs. I love the dog! I grew up w/ a marvelous dachshund, but so far haven’t replaced her. I have a marvelous old brass pin of a dachshund family I’m going to make a mold of. I can’t bear to use it, but I’d love to share it when I get the molds made 🙂

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  20. Judy – did you work at Indiana University Medical Center? You look so very familiar — and your intro comment about being a former Oncology nurse made me wonder if our paths had crossed in the medical world –I worked in the Pediatric Heme/Onc research area at Riley Hospital at IU for 11 years, and then worked for the IU Med School and Research Admin offices for another 6.
    I do love your Challenge concept, and can’t wait to see what you create. I wasn’t able to join in the Challenge, so I’m sitting on the sidelines enjoying all the wonderful creativity!

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  23. Congrats on the grand-baby! I love your dachshund, my husband and I have one named Gunter, they are so sweet. I look forward to seeing your line.

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    • Thanks so much! I hope the new owner loves the necklace as well. I am going to do another large assemblage similar to this one but want to make some fan coral with polymer clay (if I can!) I have a couple of large pieces from many years ago and am going to try to make a mold with it. Will keep you posted on the outcome!!

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    • Oh, good…glad you like them! I think they can be painted…not sure about torching (probably not). I did find out that you can use the Swellegant matte sealer and it will give a gold one a satin finish. 🙂

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  35. Hi Janet! First of all, Let me say Congratulations to all on the pending arrival of Beautiful Baby Coraline!!! And of course Baby Doll is just a Sweetpea!
    What a beautiful blog- I love the personal aspect you have given it- that was something I really struggled with, but now with reading yours, and getting that “extra” personal warm glow, you have changed my mind and I am going warm mine up a bit… I have always wanted to include more but thought that no one would be interested… Thanks for changing my mind! LOL…I am very much the same, I do not know for sure what direction I will go in until I sit down and start creating. I cannot wait to see what you create~ I just adore that beautiful sea shell necklace!
    See you in class! 😉
    XO Liz

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    • Autumn…this is something that I’m still debating in my mind. Do I want to make small pieces for customer satisfaction….or do I just “do what I do” which are larger pieces and don’t worry about customers who don’t love large stuff. I have sold medium size assemblage to ladies who say “I don’t like large necklaces” because they finally tried them on and saw how awesome they looked on them!! Sometimes we need to change the customer’s perception?????

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