Week Thirty of My Weekly Creative Challenge

Week Thirty of my Weekly Creative Challenge is Here!

WOW......

Well we have made it to Week Thirty. I want to thank all of you for following me and my creative process for these past 3o weeks in 2009! This process has definitely help me with my designs and I cant wait to see what we can do together in 2010. This was one of my favorite pieces this past year. I made for the "63119 Art Gallery Crawl" and I sold it that same weekend which was great but I only got to take a few photos of it before it was gone. " Welcome my last entry for 2009 "Poppy on the Side."

I will be taking a two week break from blogging so that I can come up with some new pieces. This break will also give me the time to finish developing a line that I have been chopping at the bit to show you all so I can get your feedback. I love developing new lines and creating new concepts to share with you all. I hope this blog encourages us all to be creative and I truly look forward to 2010.

Take care, God Bless and have a Wonderful New Year!!!!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Twenty Nine of My Weekly Creative Challenge

Week Twenty Nine has an "Icy Touch" to My Weekly Creative Challenge

I cant believe there is only one more week left for 2009 Weekly Challenge. It will be great to know that somehow we will make it up to Week Thirty for the end on year. Well this week I wanted to keep it cool and so I went for the "Silver Touch". This is the week of Christmas and I found it only fitting to have my featured piece something that could bring a "Chill to the Air" . I love Fretwork and I love working in Silver. I don't get to create as many pieces in silver because of the cost but when I sketch something up that screams "Silver," I just have to do it. I added the Swarovski crystals to this design to add just a touch of shimmer. The pendant is light weight but definitely makes a statement. Well "Drop of Dew is this week's entry. So Enjoy and have a Wonderful Christmas!!!!

Take care and Keep Creating !

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Twenty Eight of My Weekly Creative Challenge

Week Twenty Eight of My Creative Challenge has some of that "Old World Charm"

There are only 2 week left in 2009 and we are coming to the end of a very productive year. This year was full of exploring different styles and techniques. One of the things I discovered is my love of fretwork and the intricate designs of different eras such as "Victorian", "Art Nouveau" , and the "Art and Craft" movement. I love the swirls and nature oriented details of many of the fabrics, interior furniture & accessories and fine art of those times. All of these wonderful areas of style and creativity has influence my style as well and "Victorian Bloom" is just one of those pieces that show that influence. I loved working in copper and I love combining different styles of chain. The lampwork beads in this piece were just that added something which was needed to pull this design all together. These types of pieces make me look forward to what coming in 2010. Well here is this weeks entry "Victorian Bloom" Enjoy

Take Care and Keep Creating!!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Twenty Seven of My Weekly Creative Challenge

I feel all "Linked" together for Week Twenty Seven of my Weekly Creative Challenge

Learning a new technique can be so enjoyable and it is even more fun when the pieces you create actually come out the way you image them. This week's entries did just that for me. It all started when two of my favorite customers came into the store with these great bracelets on. The designs were so cool and Ms. Margie O. and Ms. Debbie S. assured me that I will be able to learn this in no time. So these two wonderful ladies met me on a Thursday morning and in less than two hours later, I created my first chain mail bracelet. I love the combinations of deep red and Gunmetal. The second one is a combination of Peridot with a double AB coating and Indian Red Swarovski Crystal all linked together with antique copper rings. Well I give a special thank you to my two "Masters of Chain mail" Margie O and Debbie S. They are two very creative and kind individuals. Thank you both. I hope you enjoy my new creations .

Take care! and Keep Creating!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Twenty Six of My Weekly Creative Challenge

Feel the "Chill in the Air" on Week Twenty Six of My Weekly Creative Challenge

The holiday season is upon us and it is time to find that special little something for all those people on our gift list. I know that's where my thoughts should be focused on but all I can think about is what am I going to do in 2010. My mind is on what new lines I will be working on and what will be the focus of my new blog for the new year ( if anyone has any suggestions let me know). Well, I know I need to finish 2009 first and this is one of those pieces that I want to feature before this year ends. So here is my little "Winter Blossom" necklace to start off the holiday season . Enjoy!

Take care and keep creating!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Twenty Five of My Weekly Creative Challenge

"Tag You're It" is Week Twenty Five of My Creative Challenge

Well I'm back on track and this week has three entries for all of you to take a look at. I love working on this line a lot. It is fun to come up with different images that can fit into this set limited space. I want the fretwork to be detailed but not to overtake the shape of the "tag" itself. I design these pieces in copper, brass and silver and the price range varies. This is truly a great outlet for me to create little sparks of beauty! I hope you enjoy them just as much as I enjoy making them.

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and don't eat too much turkey. It might make you sleepy and you won't feel like being artistic!

Take care and keep Creating!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Twenty Four of My Weekly Creative Challenge

I'm "Entangled" in Week Twenty Four of My Weekly Creative Challenge

Well I thank everyone for letting me take a break to get ready for this past week's 3 Day Art Crawl in Webster Groves, MO. The show went Great and I was very pleased with al the feedback I received on my new pieces. Iworked on ten new pieces for the show and they all got a great response and some of then were purchased this past weekend. I also worn a couple of samples of new ideas I had in minded to develop for 2010 and those got great feedback as well.I'm always trying out new concepts and I'm very thankful to you all for helping me along the way with all of your comments and support.

Well here is one of those new pieces. This is "Entangled Blossoms in Rose" Again Thank You and have a

Great Week!

Take care and Keep Creating!

Allison B.

www.alnbcolletions.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Nature's Answer to Week Twenty Three of My Weekly Creative Challenge !

Nature's Answer to Week Twenty Three of My Weekly Creative Challenge !

Working on new pieces is always fun. I wanted to get back to basics and I choose to go back to my love of nature. This piece was fun because of of the little wire wrapped pieces (Woooooooooo). Many of my drawings that I have worked on lately are definitely "Nature Inspired." I think that I'm skipping the winter season and throwing my thoughts towards "Spring". I love incorporating flowers and leaves into swirls of Copper and Silver. Well anyway here is my latest work" Entangled Leaves" Enjoy and keep creating!

Take care !

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Twenty Two of My Weekly Creative Challenge

Week Twenty Two makes me feel

"All Dreamy"

Well Week Twenty Two is the beginning of staying on course with the create process that will spark 2010. I have been working on a series of drawing that will launch my creative process for 2010. Sometimes you have to get back to basics and drawing out my pieces is how I began to focus on designing. Around a week ago I saw one of my teachers from Maryville University. Her name is Leslie and she was my Ceramics teacher. I loved her class and the one thing she pointed out to me was the importance of drawing out my concepts first. She really enjoyed my sketch books . So I went home and pulled out a couple of those books and took a stroll down memory lane. I realized how much I missed working in clay and how much I missed sketching out all my designs. It was fun looking at how I came up with the pieces I did back then. So I decided to do a series of 24 sketches of necklace and pendant designs to work from for the rest of the year. It will be fun to see how the pieces develop from the drawing stage to the final pieces. This is the first of this series. It's my "Deep Purple Dream" (Yes I did like" Donny and Marie" as a child). Well, anyway Enjoy!

Take care and keep Creating!!!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Oh La La! Week Twenty One of My Weekly Creative Challenge

Twenty One Weeks!

I feel "Creative and All Grown Up!"

Week Twenty One has me realizing that I have I still have a lot of work to create before the year is out. I cant wait to take a tally of how many pieces I worked on since I started this challenge earlier this year.

On Thursday of this week I will be participating in my first Open House. One of my coworkers is having an open house at her home and I and 3 other artist will be joining her in this fun venue. This will be a great change from all the set up and craziness on setting up a tent, displays, and selling in an outside setting. It will be a "Wine and Cheese" affair. OOOOOhhh La La! I'm really looking forward to this event. and here are just a couple of the pieces I will be showing. Well I have to get back to work now. So wish me luck and keep creating!

Take Care!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Twenty ! Finally of My Weekly Creative Challenge!!!!!

Week Twenty! Finally

I made it to Week Twenty!!!

Well I know I have fell off the edge of the world these past weeks. I have been working on new pieces and I participated in 3 shows these past 2 weekends. This is the reason I fell of the blogging map for the past 3 weeks. I have to say they have been a GREAT and productive three weeks and I feel Truly Blessed. The first show was the Mosaics Art Festival in St. Charles Missouri and it was Great ! It was my first outside art show. I had a lot of planning to do to get ready for these 3 show and some how it all worked out. The next week I had to set up for the Green Home festival Craft Fair in St. Louis on Saturday and "Art in the Park" in Francis Park on Sunday. All of them was definitely a learning experience and I feel blessed to have learned so much. The next show I'm getting ready for is a "Open House" with 4 other artist in Oakville, MO and then gallery crawl in Webster Groves, MO in November. I will let you know all about all these events in the upcoming weeks.

I'm Back to Blogging !!!

Take Care and Keep Creating!!!!!!!

Allison B.

Week Nineteen Smells Like a "Rose"

Week Nineteen Smells Like a "Rose"

Well I'm back from Detroit and it's time to get back to designing. I have to admit I had a bit of a bus man holiday because while there, of course, I worked on a couple of pieces. This bracelet was one of my favorite so I thought I would feature it for this Week's Challenge. I really liked the color combination of pink / pale rose and copper. I already have 2 orders for this one. It feels like a vintage piece with a little" blush" of color. Well I now introduce to you all "Victorian Rose".

Have a Great Week and Keep Creating!

Take Care

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Eighteen!

So Much to Do......

So Little Time!!!

I have come to the realization that TIME moves far faster than I can. I can't believe that we are almost half way done with August already. I had to take a little break after the Big A$$ Indie Art and Craft Show. It was great and a whole lot of fun! The next shows coming up are the "St. Charles Mosaics Festival of the Arts", St. Louis Hills"Art in the Park", Green Craft Art Fair, and The Lady Bug Beads "Bead art Fair". The planning for these shows are intense but rewarding!

I thought I would start off slow and I created this little piece of fun. I love jewelry with an Asian feel and this one gave me a chance to wire wrap and string all in one piece. This piece throws me back into the FUN and I look forward to next week's design. I will be heading to Detroit so I might post my blog on Saturday. Well Enjoy and Keep Creating.

Take Care!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Seventeen! The Beginning of the "Fall Show" Series 2009

Week Seventeen!......

Wow the Beginning of the "Fall Show" Series.

Well, the notifications are coming in and I feel very excited about this 2009 Fall - Winter show schedule. As all the information comes in, I began to think to myself "Wow, now I have to create work to sell at all of these events. I must say it's a little crazy but it's a challenge I'm will to take. This week I'm previewing some of the bracelets that will be for sale at the Big A$$ Indie Art and Craft Show at Mad Art Gallery in St. Louis,MO. The opening night is next Friday and I will be working that night to greet the guests and show them all the beautiful jewelry showcased at the event. In September I have 3 shows so far to get ready for (maybe 4). Wish me luck. I will show all of you my progress in the weeks to come.

Take Care and Keep Being Creative!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Sixteen : Back in the "Metal" Again

Week Sixteen finds me

"Back in the Metal Again"!

Well everyone it time for me to get back to my love for the Metal. I have been wanting to start working on this new line for a long time and I finally started getting it together. This is the first installment of my new "Trinkets & Tokens" metal line. This line gives me the chance to explore the use of simple shapes & delicate fretwork with decorative chains, beads and fun finding. I really like this line because I get to create beautiful pendants that are simple, yet unique. Keep Watching for new installments on this line in upcoming blog entries. Also, I have updated my "What's New" page at www.alnbcollections.com with all of my upcoming shows. There are still a couple more shows I'm waiting to hear from. I will add those new dates to my site as the information becomes available.

Take care and Keep Creating!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Fifteen !!!!!

I Love Learning....

I love Free Classes and learning something new!!! At my wonderful job. ( I must say!) my coworker Mariah taught a class that showed us how to create this fun bracelet. She calls it the "Wagon Wheel" bracelet. I changed it up a little by using drops in my design. Mariah says I always try to go a step further and play with the designs she teaches. I feel that the things they teach us jump start our creative spark. This bracelet was fun to create. I love to weave beads together rather than just stringing. I love coming up with different ways to create new patterns with the different combination of beads I find. I just want to thank Mariah M. for sharing her knowledge. Hopefully we can all get some inspiration from her class. Enjoy!!!!

Take Care

Allison B

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Fourteen Has a

Purple Haze!

Well it's Week Fourteen and I have to start getting ready for upcoming shows. I have a show coming up this month at Mad Art Gallery here in St. Louis. It's called the Big A$$ Indie Art and Craft Show. I wanted to introduce some of my newer designs here at this show so I have to "Get the Cracking" on new designs.

At my place of employment there is always something new to learn. I would like to work with more seed beads in some of my designs and I love the look of adding "little loops of seed bead" to some of my bracelets so I thought I would give it a try. My boss calls this technique "loopy fringe". It's fun to do but it is a little time consuming. I will be working on a couple more for this upcoming show. I also have 2 (maybe 4) more shows coming up in September. I really need to buckle down and get to work. So Many Designs! So Little Time!!! Oh well I LOVE IT JUST THE SAME!!! Enjoy the week and Keep Creating!!!!!!!!

Take care

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Thirteen All Ready!!!

Week Thirteen All Ready!

Well Hello Everyone!

I must say that staying dedicated to creating is tougher than you think. For me, it is not finding new things to create. I have soooooooooo many ideas I want to work on that it is driving me crazy! It is more of the problem of FINDING THE TIME TO CREATE. I have taken on a second job as an art counselor and I still have my job at the bead store as well. And I have just found out that I have been accepted into two shows that I applied for.

Hooray!!!

Now I have to work on my inventory .

(This is the part I LOVE!)

Well I have started to play with more metal components for my bracelet designs and I really like working with these pieces. I love finding way to create the look I want. This is a great way to gear me up for the upcoming metal pieces I want to work on for these up coming shows. I will let you all know about the shows soon.

Take care Everyone and Keep Creating!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Twelve is on FIRE!!!

Welcome Summertime and

Week Twelve!!

Hello Summer!!

Hello Sun and Fun and hello to hot bracelets to heat up your summer fashions. I don't design a lot with Red as the main color but I must learn to get out of my comfort zone( which are greens, browns and aquas) and embrace the hot colors of summertime and summer fun. I know I have to try some pieces with orange and yellows next but at this time RED will be my "Fling with Summer Heat!!! Happy Summer , keep cool, and have a wonderful week!!!

Take care

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Eleven is like Heaven!!!

Hey I made it past Ten Weeks!!

Hooray!!!!!

Hello Everyone!

     I'm sorry I'm sending this blog entry on Monday instead of Sunday but I had to get ready for my new summer job as an Art Counselor at Laumeier Sculpture Park here in the St. Louis area. 

     Well it's Week Eleven and I have been working one a lot of bracelets lately to get ready to launch my new sell site for my bracelet line. It's always fun for me to work on these pieces. They're like little puzzles I get to to figure out and I enjoy creating these fun bits of art. Well I will show my progress in this area as I go along. 

Remember Take Care and be Creative!!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

New way to Display your Work!!!

Hi Everyone!

I always looking for new ways to display my work out there in the world. This might not be new to all of you but I thought I would share it with you all in the hopes it could help others with their marketing needs as well.

Take Care!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Well I made it to Week Ten !

Hi Everyone!

     I know I missed last sunday but I went home to Detroit to visit my family. We Need Family!  

     I did though still have a piece to show you all. It already has a home / sold but I wanted to share it with all of you anyway. This piece is called an "Window Box  with a View". I have to admit I love Working with Copper!!!! I love how the copper works wonderfully with patinas and how adding texture to the metal's surface really give character to the drawings and to the designs. It's Cool! 

     Well I have been working on more bracelets. I will show some of them soon! Take care everyone and have a GREAT WEEK!!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Nine ! So Fine!

Week Nine! So Fine!

Well week nine has been a "Learning Experience" Literally. I love taking classes and participating in workshops. I think that it truly helps me to expand my creative process which helps me to create original designs that are truly unique. If you don't try new techniques your creative process doesn't grow. 

Where I work we have a lot of classes and workshops. I thought I would partake in one called "Wire Wrapping a Tree" and I loved it! It was really fun. I wanted to give a shout out to Angie Stamper - my teacher who was Great ! Also I will be  taking two more classes this week and I will show you all how they went this Sunday. Well I hope you all enjoy " The Tree of Life" pendant.  Everyone have a great week and Keep Learning Something New !

Take care !!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Artist Profile: Allison Norfleet-Bruenger

Artist Profile: Allison Norfleet-Bruenger

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Week Eight goes "Bollywood"

Week Eight goes "Bollywood"

Well this piece was a lot of fun to create. Combining India's beauty, the warmth of brass, and the rich colors of red jasper into this little gem was labor of love. So welcome to the family "Bali Beauty". I have been working on some new sketches and as time goes on I hopefully will be able to work on those new pieces as well. I also have to make up some more bracelets so I can be ready for upcoming shows as well. Well that's all for now. Take care and have a great week!

Allison B

www.alnbcollections.com

alnbcollections2@yahoo.com

Week Seven of My "Weekly Creative Challenge"

Well Week Seven!

I have to admit it has been a rough couple of weeks, but I'm working at it. Welcome my new addition "Cherry Blossom." She made her public debut at the 4th Annual St. Charles Riverfront Spring Art Walk this weekend and she got a lot of GREAT feedback. I love working on new projects and this piece has been a labor of love for me. Well that's all for now. 

Take care and have a Great Week !

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

alnbcollections2@yahoo.com

Week Six of my "Weekly Creative Challenge"

It's "Art within Art" Time!

Week Six already. Whoa! I have had a lot of fun working on some of my new additions to my "Art within Art" line. I like to get the chance to work on drawings for my "art centered" jewelry designs. Well this week's addition is "Isabella's Aqua Fantasy". This is a combination of patina hand textured copper and a whole lot of wired wrapped aqua flower. This pieces definitely makes me "Think Spring". Well have a great week and enjoy!

Take care!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Five of my "Weekly Creative Challenge"

Week Five 

The Creative Bug stays "Alive"

This week was a join venture. I work at a bead shop here in St. Louis named "Lady Bug Beads". I work with some very creative people there and one of those creative people is a lady named Jo. Well, this time around I brought in my metal components into work to pick out some beads to enhance my design. Where I work there are just so many beads to choose from. This time there where so many great choices that I asked for some opinions on which beads to choose. Well Jo had spotted some new beads that just came in and she wanted to see these great marble Czech beads be utilized. After seeing those wonderful colors marbled within each bead,  I couldn't help but to use them with my fretwork design. My new addition is "Encircled Blossom"

So Jo... this ones for you!!

Enjoy and take care!

Allison B.

 www.alnbcollections.com

Welcome to Week Four of my "Weekly Creative Challenge"

Bracelets! Bracelets! Bracelets!

Hello to All! 

It is week four of my "Weekly Creative Challenge." So far I have worked on my metals and mixed media lines. This week I thought I would work on bracelets for my "Brace Yourself" bracelet line. It was fun working with "JUST BEADS." I have been working with more Lampwork beads this time around. I like how each beads is a "mini work of art" in its own right. Well I had fun putting these pieces together and I hope you will enjoy them as well.  Take Care and have a GREAT week!.

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Welcome to Week Three of my "Weekly Creative Challenge"

Wow!  Week Three!!!

The first thing I have to say is "Thank You". I have received a lot of great feed back. Thank you so much for the encouragement. I have been planning and working on several projects at the same time which requires a lot of multitasking. It can be overwhelming at times but it is a necessity that I'm embracing as a part of running a business.  I have been working on many new concepts and sometimes it becomes hard to focus on just one. This challenge helps me to do this. "Focus ".  So here the new addition. My new baby is the "Ginkgo Adorned" necklace.

Enjoy and Take Care !

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

Week Two has Arrived!

 

Well, it is week two of my "Weekly Creative Challenge". I have to admit, this is going to be a challenge.  I have so many things going on at one time. I have a meeting with my art counselor director and the art camp assistant to get all of our lesson plans together for the 4 to 6 year old art camp for Laumeier. Then I have to meet with some other artists to research upcoming events and possible selling venues. Oh, and  lets not forget my job and my family. Wow! I have to say though, it is exciting to see my drawings come to life. I truly enjoy creating new pieces. This new piece was a design I have been wanting to finish for a long time. I have books and books of drawings that I would say "Oh it will make this one soon!" Well I'm starting that quest now. Welcome the "Regal Dragonfly" to the collection. I'm working on a couple of wire wrap pieces for next weeks blog so take care and keep in touch 

Allison B.

Week One of the Challenge

Well Hi Everyone!

This is Week One of my Weekly Creative Challenge . I was able to create two pieces this week. The first one is called "Vines Within" This piece is a combination of brass,  pearls and cloisonne beads. The second piece is a combination of brass and copper wire, beads and original art for me. I've been wanting to learn more about and create with wire wrapping.  It's called "Milk and Honey". This is one of the lines I want to work on for 2009 and I'm happy with the outcome so far.  Look forward to more pieces in this line. Well it's time for me to get back to work. I will blog soon ! Next Sunday to be Exact!!!!!

Take Care

Allison  B.

www.alnbcollections.com