Leila Nicole Designs

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

A Visual to My Batch Process

Wanted to share this. I've mentioned here and in blog posts that I work in batches. This is an example of a batch I started tonight. These will be 42 necklaces once completed. I sorted out the parts i want to use, laid them out, and prepped them with base coats. I'll leave to dry and when I'm ready I will start to hand paint and then seal.

Once completed and dried I can assemble really quick (or leave parts for later projects) and then I'll have 42 pendants I can list or take to craft shows. Just wanted to provide a visual to my previous comments. This is especially helpful for me to do, especially if working with solder or chemicals since my husband has rotating shift. I'll do similar batches so he can watch the boys (if working with solder or etching) while I work and then when he's away I can work on simple less toxic phases around my boys.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Part Two: Build A Line Challenge from B'Sue Boutiques; Leila West of Leila Nicole Designs

Welcome Blog Hoppers to round 2 of the B'Sue Boutiques Build a Line Challenge.

This is the blog post where I get to share some of my super secret "squirrelly" stuff....and if you don't get the squirrel reference, then hop on over to Part One and you'll understand. ;-)

For my Gilded Rose Collection (reference behind the name also in Part One) it started out as a basic brass piece that I ordered from B'sue. Once I cleaned the brass I added solder and stamped my design, a fun technique to do if you like fire and solder. I happen to love fire, playing with fire, and everything your parents say not to do, so it suited me just fine.

Once I had all my pieces ready to go then I had the task of adding some fun paper choices. In my head I was thinking it would gorgeous, bright fun paper designs, and then it was time for the application. Pretty, right? Wrong. I did not like it at all. The colors were hard to match up with the paint I was using and cutting and sealing the paper on the brass in between the uneven solder was surprisingly difficult. And messy. The perfectionist in me had a hard time with it. I wanted it perfect. Professional looking! Now if it were a one of a kind piece, then sure, I could make it work. However the goal is to build a line and in thinking about possible demand for said line, I needed fast. This was not going to be a fast technique since the paper was thick, hard to form, and challenging to color match.

So my solution? Tissue paper. Tissue paper has it's own challenges due to the fragility of it, especially when wet, however it was moldable around the uneven solder, quick to apply, wasn't thick or chunky to work with and frankly it just was faster for me to use. Being that it was one color, it was also easy to work with as far as adding color.

Before the sealant dried I added some coloring to kinda match the colors of the flowers I was using.

Then I realized after I had added color to the tissue paper that it was probably an unnecessary step. The flowers I had chosen for this batch of my line would cover most of it up. Now this was not wasted effort in my mind because in my next batch I can 1) skip this step which will save me time or 2) I can include this step knowing I can swap out to smaller flowers to add variation to my line.

A nice lesson learned.

Once I had my bases completed I started painting the flower pieces I would be using. Since my family has been fighting colds for about a month now I was a little bit behind...so the first day I felt healthy enough to paint, I did. Painted one entire Sunday while watching tv with the hubby and boys played...

Lots and lots of goodies there! Not all for the challenge, but since I'm painting I may as well paint them all and get them ready for other pieces. Now when I feel the need to create I will have some pieces ready to go. Even managed to finish out my night by painting a bunch of cameos. Being that my hubs works rotating hours and switches every 2 weeks, I have found that it's really helpful for me to just work in batches.

So pretty! I just love them all together.

Now the second dilemma I ran into was another learning lesson. I don't even know why I did it this way because in retrospect, i guess you could say I did things backwards, but hindsight is 20/20 and I will correct it for future work. When I soldered my pieces, the backs got a little messed up. I forgot to take pics but trust me, they weren't something I would sell as is. So rather than spray paint, which probably would've been easier and faster and I could always do in the future, I decided it would be fun to just add the same tissue paper to the back. It actually didn't turn out too bad, but where the dilemma was happened to be the holes. I did all this work pre-hole punching, lol. Oy! So punching holes into the metal unfortunately lifted the paper in areas and I had to re-seal. So another lesson learned - punch holes before applying paper and save time preventing double work. You would think I'd know this, but I had a squirrley moment... Mostly likely distracted by something else shiny.

So alas, I'm FINALLY ready put it all together! Base is complete. Flowers are sealed and dried. It is time to see if my plan will work....will it match the design in my head.

Yes...getting there.... and yes, those ARE binder clips. I have clamps but because of the multiple layers of rivet and glue I needed a "clamp" that was uber strong to hold it all together. What can I say, binder clips worked - altho you do have to be very careful not to scrape your finish if you choose to use them.

...and initially I was going to glue the base to the ring, however upon asking questions in the group, I decided for my sanity, I would rivet the piece and not have to worry if it would fall apart on a customer. I'm not the best riveter, but it wasn't too bad.

So all in all, this month has been a wonderful experience of trial and errors and finding solutions. I did a couple dumb dumb moves but it was enough for me to take note for the next batch. I started off completing my bigger more statementy piece and then made it smaller. There's still a bracelet I'm working on and I may or may not have earrings, but I'm shooting for a variety of price points. The nice part about doing this line is I can vary it up and still stay within the same look. Whether I add smaller flowers or maybe do an even bigger statement piece. For these specific pieces to stay within my desired price points I chose to keep it to basic chain, but I can vary that up as well and do some fun designed chain. I can swap out the crystal and maybe do a flower drop. Who knows, skies the limit! I have shared my pieces with my MIL who has already placed dibs on a piece once completed and instructed me to make more because she feels they'll sell well at her job. And a couple co-workers have also expressed interest in a piece, so it's been nice to know that a few folks have expressed interest and that there really is interest not only in handmade but "different."

I'm quite happy with where my line is heading, and before I leave you to hop on to another designer, I will show you a few of the finished pieces. Let me know in the comments below what you think of this design and line so far, won't ya?

Click picture to see larger

The Blog Hop starts here. Please check out all these talented designers and don't forget to leave a comment and let us know you visited. Happy Reading!

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

Carole Carlson

Lynn Stinten

Marica Zammit

Catherine Shattuck

Michaele Collie

Mary Craig

Lee Koopman

Erin Whitacre

Shattered Time Jewelry

Monica Casady

MJCasady Copper Works

Leila West

Cindy Peterson

Leila Belcher

Gloria Allen

Pamela Anger

Tammy Adams

Lynda O'Mara

Elizabeth Hildreth

Dana Hickey

Janet Calardo

Maria Clark

Lori Beekman

Jennifer Kroeger

Amy Jorgensen

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

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

Renee Allen

Autumn Adams

Elizabeth Owens

Kat BarronMiller

Midnight Kat Productions Art Jewelry

Sandra Ballard

Mama San's Mojo

Coral Law

ab:coraldesign

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Part One: Build A Line Challenge from B'Sue Boutiques; Leila West of Leila Nicole Designs

Well hello. My name is Leila West, Owner of Leila Nicole Designs, and participant of B'sue Boutiques Build a Line Challenge. This is the first installment of this amazing master class generously offered by Brenda free of charge and I am excited to get started. We have quite a few participants and I can't wait to see what everyone creates. I look forward to seeing everyone back here for part 2 on Feb 20 and part 3 on March 20 in these big reveal blog hops. Everyone is working so hard to put together a cohesive line of jewelry as we reveal our thought processes in designing our chosen lines. At the end of this journey we will reveal our complete line of jewelry which encompasses a minimum of 5 pieces in our chosen style.

So why is there some funny looking surreal art as my first picture?

Because that is where my story begins. I grew up doing all sorts of arts and crafts. We were actually pretty poor, but my parents scrimped and saved to be able to afford to put us into sports as well as provide us with supplies to be creative. That is where my foundation started and what kept my siblings and I out of trouble growing up. I lost my creative drive once I reached college age (~~boys~~ learning), but when I met my now husband, the spark was re-ignited. I fell into digital collaging and participated in many challenges and met many amazing people online. But I'm like a squirrel that sees its next nut and I watched a youtube video of a lady making a wire wrapped tree of life pendant and I wanted to learn how to do it. I used to make beaded wire trees when I was younger and had even sold a few and I thought it was pretty darn awesome that I could turn what I did back then into an actual wearable piece of art ....and that my dear friends, is where my passion for jewelry making begins. Only natural really, my grandmother was a great traditional artist as well as a jewelry maker altho her career was a school teacher. She took us on many outings and encouraged the artist in us. I wish I had had a chance to study jewelry under her, I would've loved to have learned some of her techniques.

So I taught myself from the ladies instructional videos and began making Tree of Life pendants. This was the first one I sold of my perfected design. Oddly enough, I kinda miss it. It's really pretty, but this is from 2010 and my photography was very amateur. I've gotten much better lighting since then and those are more of a ruby colored bead, if you couldn't tell. ;-)

....but like I mentioned earlier, squirrel.....I got bored and searched for more. Then I came across Brenda's youtube and I couldn't get enough. So many free mini courses teaching me all sorts of techniques to satisfy my squirrley tendencies. I became hooked. I made a comment on a video one day thanking her for teaching me the most awesome technique and was quite surprised to see a response inviting me to their Flickr group. I had joined but was never able to post because of some weird Flickr glitch and then she moved everyone to FB. And a wonderful community was born where all sorts of learning and sharing is happening every day.

And now I make pieces like this (sold to someone who got a very nice Christmas present):

And that, everyone, is an incredibly fast explanation of how I have landed here. In this fantastic master challenge.

My goal in this challenge is to absorb as much as I can but my focus is in developing a practice or method to creating a line that could be instantly recognizable...and affordable. I want people to see my piece and instantly know it's mine. And I want to make them fast enough that I can grow beyond my little Etsy shop.

So here is what I'm starting with, my basic pieces for the design I have in mind. I'm not sure if I want to add more to make it a mini assemblage or if I want to leave simple. Still tinkering there.

My goal with this piece is to keep the design the same and change up the colors. It's actually an idea I had been toying around with in my head for months after a simple comment Brenda had made to another design I had posted. A simple comment that sparked an idea that I saved for later because, well, squirrel.... Well now it's time for me to bring it to life. Around the bottom and the sides I'll be using the stamped solder technique. I love playing with my torch and I think it will add a fun design element to the piece that I have not seen many use, so I feel it will be unique enough to catch a buyers eye and use their curiosity to reel them in. The center where you can still see brass I haven't quite decided on, but you won't see brass...because that would just be boring. ;-)

For more of a visual, here's the beginnings of that solder bit. Don't mind the other stuff, I'm always multitasking. I would show me actually stamping the solder, but I don't have a 3rd hand and my partner in crime is on graveyard shift, so he's not available and my boys aren't allowed past the doorway of the garage.

Now giving my line a name, I'll be totally honest and that is something I've always struggled with. It's an odd concept to me to name a piece since I never think about the name of the piece I wear.

However as I was looking at the rose and mulling over colors and layout I started humming "Kissed by a Rose" sung by Seal.

Then I started thinking of solder and how gilded is another word used to describe solder and decided I want to call this line I create The Gilded Rose Collection.

Now one of the only challenges I see to making my collection is time. Many of you already know I work full-time. But the majority of my time is dedicated to my boys and the only girl I will have. Our new rescue Tina. Between the 3 I stay pretty busy, but I'm so excited for the next reveal days and hope to see you return! If you wouldn't mind, won't you leave me a comment and let me know you stopped by? Until next time. XoXo....squirrel!

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