Photos by Amelia J Moore
Style by Kayla Henley

Kayla : I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many creatives! My life has been marked by different creatives colliding into it. They always blow me away, inspire, challenge, and encourage me and Amanda Conley is continually one of them. I met Amanda through an arts festival at our church a few years ago. She is a handmade artisan jeweler. She has a heart of gold, and a passion and a talent that is truly inspiring.  Her work is gorgeous, precious, unique, and each piece usually has a beautiful story behind it. Take a moment and let her inspire you and check out her stuff! These pieces make beautiful accessories to your wardrobe for an upcoming photo shoot. Here is a little of Amanda’s story and art:

Amanda : I live in Nashville, (as a native Nashvillian – rare, right?) with my husband and three little boys, that are really not so “little” anymore. My oldest son will be turning 14 in October and I also have a 9 year old and a 4 year old. Our house is chaotic, loud, messy (in a lived in way) and a lot of times stinky from all the various art projects we have going on and all the “boy” stuff laying around. Although it sounds like an unpredictable “artists” life, I think I’m pretty boring. I eat the same cereal along with blueberries every morning, exercise at the same time everyday, make dinner every night in order to eat at 5:30 and bedtime is always early. In between our home’s “system” there’s some disorderliness, but over all there’s a lot of structure in our house.

Despite being a mom of all boys and being completely outnumbered in that way, I am a very girly girl and I’ve somehow been able to hang on to my femininity through the last decade plus. But on the other hand, having a house of testosterone has probably helped my metal-smith business flourish, because I don’t know that I would have had the courage to try out all my various tools if it hadn’t been for some need to prove my macho-ness to my husband and boys (and also if I hadn’t had my husband to show me I wasn’t going to just out-right keel over and die, kill anyone else or burn down the house when I turned on my torch for the first time.)

Making jewelry all started in art school (where I met my husband, who is also a working artist.) I majored in fine art and had a special love for 3 dimensional design. I just wanted to do it on a small scale. Thus my love of jewelry making was born.  Turning my jewelry making into a business and adding to my skills have both been developing processes. A business isn’t created overnight – and neither is the skill. I gradually built up my studio and my collection of tools as my finances would allow (which was very, very s.l.o.w.l.y) and with each acquirement, I would learn what I needed to learn in order to use that tool. Same thing with my business, which to be truthful, had a much greater learning curve for me. My brain is not cut out for business, so I spent hours scanning marketing and branding articles trying to figure out the next step for me to take.

Eventually things clicked into place and I began to be able to sell.

One of the things I wrestled with for a while was how to reconcile my love of art and metal with my love for Jesus Christ. I wanted to be a successful small business owner, but even greater than that I wanted the work of my hands to give glory to God. I vividly remember, during a day of complete stress trying to get ready for a show, putting all my tools down and praying to God asking him to take this business from me and make it belong to Him. I know that was the only way it was going to work – if He made it work. And from that moment on I began having major jewelry brainstorms during worship services, sermons and in my quiet time, or during random times when I was reflecting a certain verse. I’m convinced that my ideas don’t blossom because God made me a creative person, but deeper than that, they aren’t my ideas at all. He’s just using my hands to make them.

On the lighter side of jewelry making, it’s nice to have multiple accessories! My style is pretty much putting together what I already have in my closet in a fashion forward way, and even sometimes deconstructing old items to make new ones. I’m a fashion lover on a budget. Actually on NO budget. You have to have a maximum you can spend when you’re on a budget and my maximum is usually a big fat “0″. So I’m thankful that I can borrow jewelry from myself! I love a good dress, but typically you’ll see me in ratty jeans and a tank top (and if it’s cold, with a cardigan.) I justify my casual attire with a pair of dangly earrings. Or sometimes I’m in the mood for a necklace. Lately I’ve been wearing long ones. Sometimes by themselves, and sometimes layered with a shorter necklace. My own personal rule is “a lot of necklace, then tiny earrings” and “big earrings, no necklace (but maybe a fat ring).” I’m not a “jewelry set” wearing person either. I’ll make a set if someone wants one, but I prefer to mix it up. I like to mix up metals too. Which is one of the reasons I make a lot of silver pieces with gold on it. That way you can wear it along side any color you already have.

To see the jewelry I have in stock, you can browse my shop: www.bijougirldesigns.etsy.com
To see new pieces and custom orders I’ve done, become a facebook fan at: www.facebook.com/bijougirldesigns
To commission a piece, email me at: amandaconley@live.com
and to learn more about me, visit my blog: www.amandaconley.blogspot.com

Amelia : Amanda, thank you for taking the time to share a little of your life and love of art with us. As a mom and business – owner, I am humbled and inspired by your art and your heart. THANK YOU!

Trendy Tuesday Tips with Kayla:

Well, it’s been AWHILE since we featured “Trendy Tuesdays.” Needless to say it’s been an extremely busy spring and summer! I’ve asked creative gal & stylist  Kayla  Penzien, to guest write a feature on the site: “Trendy Tuesdays.”  Kayla will share style & creative insight as it may relate in preparing for your photo session, but also to life in general. She has been my art friend for a number of years; in addition to assisting me during shoots, she also helps to plan session concepts and wardrobe consulting. Today’s post is about finding using toys as props:

As kids we all had toys that were our prizes possession….our little treasures. Mine was a stuffed monkey called Kiki (in the photo above). He slept with me every night and went on all my play dates.  The stuffing has literally been beat out of him, to say the least, he has seen his better days and is now retired to the shelf! But he’s still part of my life. Amelia had a tiny music box hanging over her bed and she remembers pull the string each night before bed (the last photo below). I know Amelia’s boys love their light sabers. I love watching them play, they take the stance of a warrior and for moment, they are invincible! Children are warriors, princesses, mothers, fairies, and kings with their toys in hand.

My favorite part about photography is capturing these “king of the world” moments that unfortunately dwindle as all of us get older. The moments that tell a story, their story.

So watch your kids, see what brightens their day….
What takes away the pain of a scraped knee? What gives them joy? What are the little outfits that they look so stinking cute in? I had a little bikini that my round tummy poked way out in…by the way, I think it is the only time that a belly and a bikini are acceptable. Do you like the “vintage” look?  Pull out your OWN old treasures (many of them are back in style)! Or your mom probably still has them.

Some of our favorite toys to use as props are: Bubbles, swords, cute shoes, big bows, dress-up clothes, stuffed animals, blankies AND candy (we save that one for last!). If they like it…..bring it to your photo shoot! We love the adventure of capturing these moments with children. We are all a bit intimidated by getting our picture taken, so a security blanket of some sort can be a great way to relax kids. While your kids play, we can capture moments of them with their treasures that define them in their moment.

Here are photos of some of our own families’ favorite toys (and candy) growing up…

- Kayla Penzien

I’ve asked creative gal & stylist  Kayla  Penzien, to guest write a new feature on the site: “Trendy Tuesdays.”  Kayla will be sharing style & creative insight as it may relate in preparing for your photo session, but also to life in general. She has been my art friend for a number of years; in addition to assisting me during shoots, she also helps to plan session concepts and wardrobe consulting. So come back for regular features from Kayla! Today’s post is about finding fashion in personal treasures:

I love finding little treasures; shiny buttons, shells, bottle caps, mix-matched jewelry pieces, thing-a-ma-gigs.  And even better … Love the adventure of finding a new home for a my little treasure.

Amelia gave me a little box of all these little treasures.  My eye was immediately drawn to this awesome old round white piece. I think that it was the base to a wall attachment (well, that is what my mom thinks).  I loved the character of it, the delicate pattern, the chipping paint, the rich brass color.  I felt like it had a story behind it. I wanted to showcase it and felt it would be an interesting accessory.  I have a beautiful gold chain from my great grandma that I added it too.  Now I have a new necklace, a new look and it goes with everything! Keep your eyes open for shiny little treasures that can add a fashion statement. Or sort through your jewelry case or drawers for treasures that need a new life. They are all around you. Pieces like this make a fun accessory for a photo shoot because it adds a subtle hint of interest. We featured this piece in Ericha’s college senior portraits. I layered dark colors behind the necklace to draw a little attention to the piece. We casually begun building on the circle theme: the sequence tank top, bracelets and circle gems on the ring. Amelia position Ericha in front of the dandelions to mimic the motif.

The other necklaces are from the GAP … for $5.00.  Who knew that GAP has cool jewelry?  I would not have paid $20.00 for a brass beaded necklace, but for $5.00 – any of us can do that. And a shopping tip:  keep your eye open for great deals, cheap deals. Always keep a list of your top 3 needs in the back of your mind so you can be on the look out! Amelia found this white piece feature here at the TN State Fairgrounds Flea Market. We LOVE to hunt for treasures at the flea market!

(Kayla’s Photo above was taken by Kerri Crutchfield. Thank you Kerri!)