Build A Line Challenge from B'sue Boutiques, Sandra Ballard of Mama San's Mojo, Part One

Me as the Octopus - Ednalou (my step-mom) The Mermaid - My Dad on the top of the submarine

 Greetings Everyone! I am Sandra Ballard aka Sandie of Mama San's Mojo. I am thrilled to be a part of this challenge! This is the first installation of the Build a Line Challenge from B'sue Boutiques:.  Visit Brenda Sue's Shop!3 Hops over a 3 month period: Jan. 23rd, Feb. 20th and March 20th. All of us will be working diligently, creating a cohesive line of jewelry. At the end, we will reveal a complete line, with a minimum of five pieces, all in our selected style (we were all asked to select a theme for this challenge). I wanted to join in this challenge to learn focus. As, you may read, the information about who I am below, you will see I need discipline (as I'm all over the place with creating)!

Vist me at Mama San's Mojo (Shop)

Me & Booda (my feline friend) in our Studio

I've been creating since I was around 10. I'm the youngest, with two older brothers, and money was tight in our family. Ultimately, I got their hand me downs! In order to make their jeans, look like a girls pair, I would sew them into bell bottoms, elephant bottoms (the really wide bell bottom version) and mini and maxi skirts (you guessed it! I grew up in the 70's). I also did hand beading on the jeans. I didn't have a sewing machine, so it was done all by hand.

Me (Sandie), Scott & Steve (my older brothers) at the Mohawk Trail in MA.

Then in 1998, I was introduced to eBay. My son and I were guests on the FX Collectible Show in San Diego. I became friends with the caller, whom purchased a crystal necklace I was offering for sale; she later introduced me to eBay. I started selling her items for her on there, before I started my own shop. Back then my shop's name was Winter's Wicked Garden. And boy oh boy, did I love it!!! About a year or so later, I started selling in open markets in Solana Beach, Encinitas, California and Connecticut (moved back home). One day, my step-mom Ednalou, took me to a Gem Show in Meriden, CT. (I was hooked on creating jewelry)!

Here are a few pieces of my work:

I created a mold from a vintage brooch and then created this Genie with UTEE and mica powders.

Assemblage Angel (all pieces are wired)

 

Carpe Diem

 

Spring Flirtation with Sunflowers

Spanish Rose

Winter Solstice Ice Princess

Dancing the Night Away

In the past, I have made chocolates and candles. I also sew, embroider and knit. I love decoupaging old furniture with fabric, as well. When I had a spot (first crafter to be admitted to the farmers market in Collinsville, CT) I made and sold a lot of Handbags; I crafted from old books. Back in CA, I didn't sell any jewelry. I made candles, bath salts and soaps; from my brother's pure essential oils (he owns a company called Kobashi in Devon England). I like to research (often found day dreaming and drawing) new ideas to implement up-cycled items (don't throw me out I have more life) into my creations.

Drum roll please....................

Time for the Revealing of my Theme......... 

CAT'S !

My reason for choosing this theme is: My love for Cat's! All the photos above are of my sweet Booda Boy! He is a Ragdoll Seal Point Mitted Breed. I rescued him from a breeder that had him locked in a cage for over 2 months. He was matted, full of fleas and over-weight from no exercise!

Here's a little bit of what I'm working on: CAT'S In Hat's

At the finale there were be necklaces, earrings and charm bracelets (with different options and custom orders for folks to have photos of their cats in the jewelry line).

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Let's get this party started!

Blog Hop List:

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
Exotic Peru
Carole Carlson
Beadsophisticate
Lynn Stinten
Dragonzwench
Marica Zammit
Bead Lovelies
Catherine Shattuck
VRBrose
Michaele Collie
The Vintage Gem
Mary Craig
Jewelry Alchemy
Lee Koopman
Strega Jewelry
Erin Whitacre
Shattered Time Jewelry
Monica Casady
MJCasady Copper Works
Leila West
Leila Nicole Designs
Cindy Peterson
Howling Dog Jewelry
Leila Belcher
Leila Bee Designs
Gloria Allen
Wings and Beads
Pamela Anger
Novegatti Designs
Tammy Adams
Paisley Lizard
Lynda O'Mara
LOmara Creative
Elizabeth Hildreth
MadScientistsDesigns
Dana Hickey
Wind Dancer Studios
Janet Calardo
Jan Lea Designs
Maria Clark
Sweet Willow Designs
Lori Beekman
B. Accessorized
Jennifer Kroeger
Relic Charm
Amy Jorgensen
Hoarder's Corner
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
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
Jewelry by Denise
Renee Allen
Small Stuff Design
Autumn Adams
Autumn Dawns
Elizabeth Owens
1996 Shabby Lane
Kat BarronMiller
Midnight Kat Productions Art Jewelry
Sandra Ballard
Mama San's Mojo
Coral Law
ab:coraldesign


http://www.bsueboutiques.com/

Brick n Mortar

Once Upon a Time........

I had a Brick and Mortar Shop, it was called Winter's Wicked Garden.


This was my shop banner:

Below is a choker I created back then...................

PJ's & Coffee - pssst did I mention it's noon!

Yes, look at the clock it's noon, and I'm still in my PJ's sipping coffee! My usual schedule, as I am not a morning kinda gal!

The photo above was taken on my 48th birthday from a celebration bash, my family put together for me. The lady on the far right is my step-mother Ednalou. She recently passed on, this February; from a long battle with cancer. She is a large reason, I am creating jewelry today (see my other post introduction).

By afternoon, I start my role as office manager, for our family firm, Ballard Associates (Financial Planning), then by night and the wee hours of the morning; I am creator of fantastical things (unless the creative juices are all dried out)!!!

So, it's time to get out of my PJ's, and put on my dancing clothes!!! Have a Fantastical Creative Day Everyone!

Carpe Diem

Okay, Carpe Diem...hmmm wish I could create like this every day!

I created this necklace for the B'Sue's FUF (finish up Friday) project a few weeks ago.

I'm trying to brain storm for our Build a Line Challenge. I had lots of ideas that I scribbled into my "Design Ideas" book, but when I sat down to begin - squat! I ended up making a sympathy card for my daughter in law and son, whom recently lost their cat Shadow to cancer.

So, easy to say ~~~~~ Carpe Diem = but to act upon it ....not so easy.

Some days when I sit down to create, I can crank out creations; like rolls in a bakery. And then, there are those "other" days....oh the dreaded "other" days!

Now off to bed I go - I hope and pray sweet visions of necklaces, bracelets and earrings dance within my head!

My Daughter Chelsea Noelani ~*

B'sue Boutiques Build A Line Challenge

 B'sue Boutiques Build A Line Challenge

Hi Sandie..you're in!
Please be sure you have friended me at Facebook so that I can get you on the special group page which will be our classroom.
Thanks so much!

B'sue
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Greetings Everyone!
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(¸❉´ (¸.ƸӜƷ ´´¯`•.¸¸.❉ ƸӜƷ
❉• ❉
My email came this morning! Whoot Whoot! Thank you B'sue! So joyous to be included in this wondrous journey with all of you creative souls!

Some inside info on myself: I'm Sandie Ballard of Mama San's Mojo. I recently changed my business name from Winter's Wicked Garden (whom I was for many years - there are reasons but that's another story). Like my creations, I love to change my appearance.
I've been creating since I was a child (some of the story on my blog) and started creating jewelry seriously around 1999. I moved back to Connecticut from Carlsbad, CA (divorce) with my children and was briefly living with my parents. One day my step mother took me to a Gem Show in Meriden, CT. A nice lady (vendor) in the retail portion (whom I had met in a show near our town) told me after our conversation of how I wanted to create jewelry, to go in the wholesale room (all I needed was a business license from the State). I was so excited! Wow I didn't need to pay retail! So, after that me and Ednalou (my step mom - who recently passed in Feb.) started going to all the Gem and Jewelry Shows and I started creating. Folks took a shine to my creations, but I always wanted to take classes (for lack of funds) I wanted to cast sterling jewelry in my own molds. Now I just use UTee for molding. But in the past I have made chocolates, and candles in molds (love popping out the finished product).

I also sew, embroider and knit. I love decoupaging old furniture with fabric as well. When I had a spot (first crafter to be admitted to the farmers market in Collinsville CT) I made and sold a lot of Handbags; I crafted from old books. I was in heaven! I did out door market every weekend when I lived in CA (Encinitas and Solana Beach) and I missed it terribly! Back in CA I didn't sell any jewelry, I made candles and bath salts and soaps from my brother's pure essential oils (he owns a company called Kobashi in Devon England) and I also sold bell bottom jeans (I spoke of in a blog post).
Anyway, I just noticed that I'm writing War n Peace here, so I digress! Very happy and honored to be here! Bring the learning on!!!!!

Eclectic I am - I sure am...............

Unusual Wares Crafted by myself. Unique Jewelry, book markers, Jewelry Boxes, Knitted Hats/Scarves, Recycled Clothing Gypsy Fortune Teller Jackets/ Vests. Handbags created from up-cycled books, tables, and So Much More. I love to go Antiquing or Picking as they coined it now a days! I get bored very quickly, so I like to create as many new ideas that I am able!

I have been creating since I was around 10. We didn't have much money when I was growing up and I had 2 older brothers. Ultimately, I got their hand me downs and in order to make their jeans look like a girls pair, I would sew them into bell bottoms, elephant bottoms (the really wide bell bottom version) and mini and maxi skirts (you guessed it! I grew up in the 70's). I didn't have a sewing machine, so it was done all by hand.

Then in 1998, I was introduced to eBay. My son and I were guests on the FX Collectible Show in San Diego. I became friends with the caller, whom purchased a crystal necklace I was offering for sale and she introduced me to eBay. I started selling her items for her on there, before I started my own shop. Back then my shop's name was Winter's Wicked Garden (a whole other post - which I will blog about later). And boy oh boy, did I love it!!! Then, they went public and these huge over seas companies started flooding the market and selling their products for dirt cheap. Just couldn't compete any longer.

Then, I started selling in open markets in Solana Beach, Encinitas, California and Connecticut.

I like to research (often found day dreaming and drawing) new ideas and implement up-cycled items (don't throw me out I have more life) into my creations. I am currently working on assemblage jewelry pieces…