Week Thirty Seven of My Weekly Creative Challenge

"Hanging Off the Edge" in Week Thirty Seven of my Weekly Creative Challenge

Well I have been working on pieces for an upcoming show for about 4 weeks straight. I haven't gotten a chance to connect with you all for a long time( just about four weeks to be exact). Sometimes working on new concepts can be rewarding but it can definitely take over your waking hours and you can loose track of time. I was reminded of that fact from a very wonderful lady in the UK. Diane S. of ArtHobbyCraft.com blog sent me a little note to check on me to see if all was good here in Missouri. I felt cared for and "missed". Diane truly made my week and I just wanted to give her and all the great people on AHC blog a GREAT BIG SHOT OUT & THANK YOU!!!

Well this week's entry is a beauty with an India flair. This "Enchanted India Beauty" is the newest addition to my "Art within Art" line. I really enjoyed working with the brass this time. The drawing and the choice of beads for this design worked well with this metal. Well I hope you enjoy this new gem. I missed blogging and I'm glad to be Back!!!!

Take Care and Keep Creating!

Allison B

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

P.S. Please Check Out

http://arthobbycrafts.ning.com

It is a great site with a Wonderful Network of Wonderful Artists!!!!

Week Thirty Six of My Weekly Creative Challenge

A Small Break can do you some Good in Week Thirty Six !

Well I needed a little time to get more supplies and to work on this technique for this weeks entry. I have wanted to start playing around with adding color to my metal piece and this was my first creation in which I used a patina in my work. I sketched this series of pieces a while back and I have been working on getting the colors I wanted. As time goes on, I will be adding new pieces to the series I call my "Single Bud" series.

I also got to experiment with wire wrapping as well with this pendant. At my job they had a wonderful bracelet making class and I love the techniques so I used it as a decorative link in this pendant as a added source of texture and color. I love learning new techniques and merging them into my design style. I thank Mariah M. for the wire wrapping lesson and I look forward to showing more designs from this series very soon.

Take care and Keep Creating

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

alnbcollections2@yahoo.com

Week Thirty Five of My Weekly Creative Challenge

"Made to Order" for Week Thirty Five of My Weekly Creative Challenge!

It is time to give a "Hoot"! for my newest creation. This was the second part of a special order I was commissioned to do. My client wanted to have an owl as the main focus of her pendant and this was a first for me. I usually draw the female image as my main focus and this was a definite departure for me. I have to admit it was great fun to create this little "Woodland Creature." She also requested I design custom earrings to go along with her pendant as well. I truly enjoy new challenges and new opportunities. At the time I was designing this pendant, I also drew 3 other concepts for her to choose from, so in the future I might be adding to this series as well. I can't let a good design just sit there on paper only. Well it is my pleasure to introduce "Creature Comfort" to the ALNB Collections body of work. Enjoy!

Take Care and Keep Creating !

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Thirty Four of My Weekly Creative Challenge

Week Thirty Four is here &

"Love is in the Air"

Well hello to Everyone and Happy Valentines Day. These past few weeks have been a "labor of love". I have been working on special orders and one order was to create gifts that were to be given on this special day. I love the fact that someone wanted to give one of my creations to say "I care". These two new pieces let my client give " flowers" in a new way. Both of these new "Trinkets & Tokens" necklaces featured a floral motif. I guest you can say "Spring can't come fast enough for me." I also got to use one of my favorite finds from the past year. I love these lamp work beads because of the many colors that they came in and the texture of the bead itself. I think it went perfectly with the texture of my metal tag and gave the piece a very tactile feeling. Well I know I have to get on the ball and create more designs for the "Trinkets & Tokens" line. I've been working on the sketches and will be adding new pieces within this month into the beginning of March. Keep an eye on my new works on www.alnbcollections.com and on this blog.

Well have a "Love Filled Day", Wonderful Week and Keep Creating!!!

Take Care!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Thirty Three of My Weekly Creative Challenge

Starting from the Beginning in

Week Thirty Three!

Hi Everyone!

I have been asked how I come up with my designs and I let them know it all starts with "The Drawing". All of my metal jewelry designs start with a idea that I have put to paper. I love drawing out my designs because it helps me to visualize how the piece will be put together and in this stage I can work out most of the kinks of the design. While I was in school, both my jewelry teacher and my ceramics teacher always comment on how detailed my drawing were. They had me show my sketch books as part of my displays because of it gave the viewer a complete view point on how my works were thought out and completed. This design " Entangled Clusters" is part of a 4 part series. I designed this piece for the Chesterfield Arts "Art Feast." I was part of an silent auction last night. This is my second year participating in this event. I really appreciate the opportunity to be apart of this event and I love sharing my work with all of you, Have a great Week and Keeping Creating.

Take Care

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Thirty Two of My Weekly Creative Challenge

Week Thirty Two is a week of "Completed Thoughts!

I have enjoyed this week a lot. I predominately design necklaces and pendants. That has been my main focus in my metal work. I started working on bracelets after working at my current job as a sales associate at a bead shop. They have many classes that teach you basic string techniques and I just couldn't resist adding these fun little gems to my already existing metalsmith lines. Now I have had many of my customers ask about earrings to complete their look and this has open yet another venue for me to be creative. For the longest time I didn't venture towards designing earrings because many of my designs are made out of copper and some people have an allergy to certain metals such as copper, but I have found a line of "Nickle Free" earring findings that make it possible for me to complete the "look" my customers desire. I'm very happy about this move. As time goes on you will see many more earring designs added to my lines. Well, for now this is one of my first attempts in designing earrings for that "Completed Look"

Enjoy, Take Care and Keep Creating!!!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Week Thirty One of My Weekly Creative Challenge

New Year, New Decade, New Possibilities!!

Welcome Week Thirty One and Welcome Back!!!

Well I'm BACK and I sooooooo excited about the opportunity to create new works of wearable art for all to enjoy! This new year is full of new possibilities and new things to learn and I can't wait so start creating and learning. I have been looking into a variety of workshops and classes that will help me to develop some of the new concepts that I have in mind to add a new dimension to my designs. This year I really want to "push the envelope" when it comes to my designs. I love the thought of combining many techniques and mediums to create that special "one of a kind" piece of jewelry that really is a true "mixed media" creation. This soldering class and the ones I have signed up for for the next 3 months will hopefully put me on the path to creative freedom!!!! These samples are just the beginning. I love these pieces because I got to use my father's photography. Plus I love these photos of my mom and dad. Enjoy !

Take care and keep creating in 2010!!!!!!!!

Allison B.

www.alnbcollections.com

www.alnbcollections.blogspot.com