Weekly Challenge for April 15th 2012 - Allison L Norfleet Bruenger Collections

Weekly Creative Challenge for April 15, 2012

Apply for Shows and Looking for Opportunities!!

Well this year has started off with a bang. The "Queeny Park Spring Art Fair" was great. I redesign part of my booth with new banners and a couple of new fixtures and it went over well. I also introduced some new look for 2012. I have added more Sterling Silver to some of my designs and I also introduce within my "Art within Art" line some new drawing with a more abstract appeal. Next week I will show the two designs that new look. This week I'm featuring two of my designs with that natural worn through and distress feel.

With all of these new additions it makes it hard to decide which look to enter into the fun world of jurying for shows. Many of the shows for the fall season already want you to throw your hat in the ring. That means jury fees and booth fees being sent out daily and then the waiting begins. Well that is the nature of the business. I hope this will be a great year with lots of opportunities. Well here is this week's entries for my weekly challenge. One of these as well have already found a home but I hope they give a little beauty to the week. Enjoy!

Take Care and Stay Creative.
Allison B.
www.alnbcollections.com

Weekly Challenge for April 8th 2012 - Allison L Norfleet Bruenger Collections

Well I'm Back and Creating with a Vengeance !!!!!!!!!!

I can truly say the end of 2011 was Great and Very Very Very Busy. It has taken me 3 months to regroup after the holiday season and I have worked on developing a new look and a couple of new lines. As this year progresses, I will be introducing new lines such as the "Mini Art within Art" line and "Metal Textured" Earrings just to name a few. It has been a challenge but I'm working on creating one of a kind pieces that can knock one's socks off.

This year has started off well. I have already been in 2 Spring Shows and the totals were higher than the same time last year. I feel truly blessed at the growth but I know there is still a lot of work and designing to be done. I have been signing up for workshops that will help me to add a new dimension to my work. I have also purchased new equipment such as a riveting tool and specially designed saw to aid me in my creative process.

Well, even though one of these pieces has already found a great home, I wanted to show you these 2 new pieces. For this past show I created 16 new pieces and I will be showing them to all of you over the next few weeks. Well I hope you enjoy these new pieces as much as I have.

Take Care and Stay Creative!
Allison B
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blobspot.com

Weekly Creative Challenge for October 2, 2011

Busy ! Busy! Busy!

Well this past September has been a very busy time for me. So many show, so little time. This is the time of year when many of the art fairs, festivals, and shows all take place. There seems to be some type of event every weekend. During this past month I have participated in 6 shows and It has been a whirl wind of travel, setup and sales. It has been hectic and fun at the same time. For example, I have been in a different show from Thursday to Sunday this past week - I had a trunk show on Thursday, an art walk on Friday, a jewelry show at my job on Saturday during the day, a Mall art show during Saturday evening, and a art fair on Sunday. By Sunday evening my whole body felt it and on Monday morning my voice was going just in time to do an eight hour shift at my job. This was a pretty intense week but through the grace of God (and Lots of Coffee) I got through it and It Was Good!

I have sold many of my design which has made me very pleased. I will be showing you all these designs in the next couple of weeks. Many people like my new lines such as my "Textured Block" series and my free form wire earrings. My "Art within Art" and "Fretwork" lines have been doing very well also. I truly feel blessed.

Well here is a sample of one of those pieces that already has a Home. It is called "Visions on a Cloudy Day." I love the Labradorite faceted rounds and the eyes. I will be continuing this series and update you all on my progress.

Well I have to get back to work.
Take care and stay creative!

Allison B
www. alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Weekly Creative Challenge for September 11, 2011

The Season Has Begun !

Well, I have started the "Season of Shows". I have participated in my first fall show and it was Great! I showed and sold many of my metal pieces. Also I sold many earrings of both styles. I received a lot of feedback and I'm working on new pieces to be ready for the next upcoming show the weekend of September 16th through the 18th (Mosaics art Fair in St Charles, MO).

I will be working on many new concepts as well. This past show I introduced my "Textured Block" series of smaller metal and gemstone pendants and they were very well received. I made 8 pendants for the show and I sold all 8 of them. I will be working on having at least 12 for this next show and will be featuring them in an upcoming blog in the near future. Then you can see what I came up with.

I'm still waiting to hear the outcome of the jurying process on 2 other shows. I hope it will be good news. If it all goes well I will have 11 shows for the September to December time period. WOOOOOOO ! Yes ! 11 Shows. Keep me in your thoughts. "Tis the Season to be Busy"!

Well, for this week I will feature one of my newer pieces that debuted at the Queeny Fall Art Fair here in Ballwin, MO. This piece is called "Beautiful Flight." I hope you all enjoy my new design. I will have to get back to work now so take care and stay creative!

Allison B
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com

ALNB Collections Weekly Challenge for August 28 2011

In the Planning Stages.....


Well the Fall and Holiday season is approaching. Yes "The Holiday Season". I will be starting the new show season next weekend. This will be my first big show for the upcoming season. I have taken a break from blogging to work on new designs and I have come up with many new designs. I'm at 15 new designs and counting.


I have also started hearing the outcome of some of the shows I have applied to and for this season I will be at 11 shows and counting. Yes! 11 Shows! I know it seems to be a little crazy but I have talked with others artists and they have informed me that this is the "Nature of the Beast." This is the beast season for shows in the artist world. Many of our sales for the year are earned between the month of September to December. A lot of artists don't participate in spring shows because they don't seem to sell as much during that time of year. They usually do shows during the Summer, Fall and Holiday season.

This years show season is also different because I have also included shows that are out of state. I will be by the end of the year have done 3 shows in Illinois. I am trying to spread my wings a little bit. I hope they will enjoy my work there as well. I have a new gallery in Chesterfield, MO in which I have my work. The gallery is called "MindWorks Gallery" and It has been great so far. I'm very interested to see how the holiday will be there. I'm trying to reach more people through social media such facebook, twitter and of course blogging. I now even have a "fan page" with facebook. Working on a business is more than a notion but It is rewarding when someone really likes your designs.

Well starting next week I will be showing my new fall line so keep watching for the new pieces starting in September. Stay in touch to see all the designs and visit me on facebook when you have the chance. I will show you new pieces next week.

Take care and Stay Creative!
Allison B
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Weekly Creative Challenge for the Week of July 3, 2011

Looking Towards the Future!

This is the time that we as artists are now in the "Hurry Up and Wait" mode. This is the time of year that all of the fall and holiday season shows are doing their "Call for Artist" rush. All of the shows due dates are all coming to a head in early and mid July. There are so many ways to apply now. From email to zapplications to snail mail. They just get it in on TIME!!!!! And Let's not forget the FEES- Applications fee, Booth/Space fee, Electrical fee, and even the Insurance fee must be considered when you apply to all these shows. There are many fees but very little time.

I have to admit this is when it is a great time to compare notes with fellow artists to see what is really happening out there. Many artists have been doing these shows for years and most artists are great about sharing information about things such as if a show is worth doing to who is a great company and who to get your artist insurance from. Networking is a wonderful and important part of this business called "art". I am glad I have become friends with a fair amount of artists who are caring and will share information that will help you with these important and sometimes "Scary" decisions that can shape your career in the long term.

Well I have to finish up this blog entry so I can print up some of these applications and send them on their way. I hope I will hear promising news in the upcoming weeks. But until next week I share with you one of my last creations that found a home earlier this month. Introducing "Gaze from the East." I hope you enjoy this new work and have a wonderful and creative "4th of July" and great week.

Take Care
Allison B
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Weekly Creative Challenge for June 26, 2011

Stay Focused! Stay Steady!

Well it is very interesting when you finish a big show and you think you have time to relax a little. Well, that might not be the whole truth. It is amazing how time fly's and then you realize that there is another show just around the corner and you have to get back to work designing and creating. Thank God that this is a job you love to do. There is so much that is needed to be done for each event. This is also the time you need to be in multiple places at one time. I think I need to clone myself so I could get everything done.

Just this past week I went out to dinner with my husband James and we began to discuss the plans for this upcoming Fall/Holiday Season. YES! Fall is Fast Approaching. It will be here before you know it. It was very enlightening as I looked over all the shows, events, and art fairs, I figured out that by the end of the year starting in June I will hopefully be in about 15 to 17 shows. When you look at the list it is exciting, but also a little scary. This is when you take a deep breath and ...

STAY FOCUSED!!!

This is when your planning skills will kick into High Gear! All I can say is wish me luck - Pray for Me! I guess this is where the Rubber meets the Road - Or there the Saw Blade meets the Metal! (Ha, Ha!). Well you all will get to take this fun ride with me for I will let you know how it is coming along week to week! Sometimes I might have to skip a week if it gets wild. But it will be fun!

Well, I'd like to show you one of the pieces that sold during this last art fair. It was called "Torn Away"! Hope you enjoy it.

Take care and stay Creative!
Allison B
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com