January | 2015 | Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations

Hi! I am Ingrid Anderson of Lilis Gems Artisan Jewelry. This is the first of three blog hop posts for the Create A Line Challenge from B’Sue Boutiques. The challenge is to create a cohesive and recognizable line of jewelry incorporating the lovely high quality findings from B’Sue Boutiques. The class will last three months! The photo above is what gave me the idea for this new line I am creating. I had made the earrings and ring a few months ago and received many compliments. I love the colors!

I have been designing and creating jewelry on and off since the fall of 2008. At the time I was a high school Biology instructor and would work on the jewelry in my free time. In Jan of 2009 I found out I was pregnant and took a break from creating. I was 41 when my daughter was born in Sept 2009. (yes a late bloomer!) My husband and I decided that I would stay home with her thus I became a stay at home mom! I have loved and still love every minute of being home. So in my free time I still create jewelry and run a small business.Next year she will be in school full time so we shall see what that brings for me.

I tend to do one of a kind vintage assemblage pieces. I then discovered Ice Resin and stamped solder and metal work. So my “line” became quite eclectic and varied. Which again is fine for some but not for everyone. Plus it can be a bit difficult to decide which medium to use when coming up with new creations!

Some examples of my eclectic style:

So you can see one of the reasons why I wanted to join this class/challenge! My jewelry tends to be eclectic and one of a kind. I love using vintage pieces in my designs. I love each and everyone of these pieces but many like to wear jewelry that “matches” or coordinate with other pieces. This is why I decided to join the challenge. I will probably still include a few one of a kind pieces but they will coordinate with the other pieces in the line.

As already stated the inspiration for the line was the ring and earrings shown above in the first picture. I then created a few collage pieces expanding on the color palette but keeping with the white, pink, blue and metallic gold coloring. These were my first collage pieces I ever created so it was a learning experience but fun. I wore them out and each time received several compliments.

Around the same time I completed these collage pieces B’Sue started talking about this three month build a line challenge and I thought to myself hmmm. perfect theme/color scheme! I am an avid gardener and nature lover which is why I have chosen to use birds, flowers, leaves, insects etc.

Here are a few pieces I have completed thus far. I am sure I will make changes and perhaps even rethink some of what I have done so far. I may go back an incorporate more of my vintage components as well! I am sure I will learn quite a bit over the next months on how to make this a cohesive and interesting line of jewelry.

I started with some earrings that I felt would coordinate with the collage pieces and then made a few simple necklaces.

In the photos I have tried to show how the earrings would coordinate with the other pieces.

Here are some of the earrings with a mini collage necklace.

So many ideas swirling around in my head that I have been having dreams about new design ideas! Perhaps the small collage pendant can be a brooch? Only time will tell so stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by and please go check out all of the other amazingly talented designers that have joined this challenge!

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