Sunday, December 19, 2010

Congratulations to Triz - the December challenge winner


Etsy Beadweavers is proud to announce the winner of our Songs of Inspiration - Simon and Garfunkel Challenge. Triz created this gorgeous beaded bag inspired by the song "A Hazy Shade of Winter." Pleased visit her shop on Etsy to view her winning entry here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63068702/a-hazy-shade-of-winter-ooak-beaded-wrist

A touch of royality is the the first beadweavers challenge of 2011


In the first beadweavers challenge for 2011 (due 5th Feb 2011) Miriam of CeiloDesigns has challenged the Etsybeadweavers to bead a piece inspired by one specific royal figure. The royal figure can be from any time or any place. Just to give you a taste of what might be possible look at the wonderful inspiration offered by a bracelet of a queen (Queen Amanishaketo) from Ancient Egypt.Imagine what beadweavers could do with that.

Mind you there are many types of royals and each country has its own system of determining who is a royal. What is clear is that royality in all countries has bought responsibilities and privileges with it and at times when it is unpopular, it has been fraught with dangers. For a simple and accessible discussion of what royality is and how it works pop by:
http://history.howstuffworks.com/middle-ages/royality3.htm

To help beadweavers on their way with this wonderful challenge here are some starting points to find a royal figure who might inspire your creativity.

  • Royal families of the world: a list. This site includes royals from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and Intercontinental. Not many links so you need to follow through yourself.
  • List of royal houses. This site has a good range of links to information on specific royal houses.
  • Official page of the British Royal Family. A detailed list of specific members of the Royal Family and links to follow about them and also links to the Crown Jewels.
  • Google Images – If you use Royal Jewelry as a search phrase amazing wonders pop up. The first images I found were mainly from the UK Royal Family but when you add specific epochs (e.g Art Deco or Victorian), countries (e.g. Indian, Egyptian or Danish) or designers (e.g. Cartier) to the phrase ‘Royal Jewelry’ a wondrous array of dramatic and inspirational images emerge.
  • The UK Royal Records. This is a site where you can find information on the longest and shortest reigning queens, the youngest and the oldest monarchs, the monarchs who had the most marriages and the least and many other bits and bobs that could inspire your search.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Voting for the December Challenge Simon & Garfunkel "Songs of Inspiration"

This month's challenge theme "Simon and Garfunkel The Songs of Inspiration" was chosen by Olga of MadebyOlga winner of the October Challenge. Olga's challenge was.... "bead to the sound of silence or a bridge over troubled water, you can go look for America or visit the Scarborough fair, tell about your trouble with Cecilia or explain the meaning of life to Mrs Robinson". Mind though - all that should be told in beads! What is you favorite song of Simon and Garfunkel? I am very curious to see what can these two amazing artists inspire you to make!"
 
The voting starts at Midnight on Dec 9 and runs until midnight on Dec 15 so sing away and choose your favorite entry!
 
1. Scarborough Fair Necklace - beadn4fun
2. Feeling Groovy Seed Beadwoven Bracelet - SparrowsMeadow


Wednesday, December 1, 2010

The first challenge of 2011 is February "Royalty Throughout Time"

The first challenge of the new year (2011) was chosen by Miriam of CeiloDesigns winner of the November challenge "Holiday Treasures, Miriam has challenged our members to design for "Royalty throughout time - From the aristocrats of the French revolution to ancient kings and queens and modern day princesses, royalty has always inspired and set new trends in the jewelry world. This challenge should reflect and be inspired by one specific royal figure! Anything goes!"  You may start your entry today and list in your Etsy shop by midnight February 5th, 2011.

Any EBW member may create one new beadweaving of your own design (not from a kit, book, magazine, or class) in response to the challenge theme. You work should be entirely beadwoven, or have a substantially woven component, to feature and promote our art form. You may not renew an existing piece. Members are expected to participate in challenges when possible, and required to do so once each year. Start the weaving anytime after the theme is announced. Complete and list the work for sale on Etsy by the 5th of the month of the challenge, before midnight Etsy time. Your listing date is proof you entered by the deadline, so DO NOT RENEW your work until after the voting poll opens on the 9th. If your listing sells, you can still participate in the challenge, but please alert the moderators to the sale.

WHAT INFORMATION MUST BE IN MY LISTING?
Your listing must include the following four (4) things:
1) The theme of the challenge. For example, “This (describe your work) was created for the Etsy Beadweavers Team (insert the month) challenge on the theme (insert the title of the theme).”
2) An explanation of how your work relates to the theme.
3) The address of our team blog where the voting will take place and the voting dates. For example, “Please visit our team blog, www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com (http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com) between the 9th and 15th and vote for your favorite entry.”
4) Tag your entry EBWC but not before the current challenge has ended. This is how we find your entry. Remove the tag after the voting poll closes, so entries for the next month’s challenge can be feature

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Congratulations to Miriam of Cielo Designs Winner of the November Challenge "Holiday Treasures"

The November  challenge was another great success with 36 entries and 645 votes.The winning entry Wreath of Good Tidings necklace created by Miriam of Cielo Designs received 82 (12%) of the popular votes. Wreath of Good Tidings sold November 10. Our thanks to everyone who took the time to participate in this months challenge and for voting for their favorite entry
Congratulations are also due to the following runners up:
2nd place - #27. Christmas Office Party - crystalwonders with 63 votes (9% )
3rd place -#35. Precious moment - AnnetaValious with 53 votes (8%)
4th place - #16. Suzy Snowball bead woven bracelet - crownrosegems with 48  votes (7%)
5th place - #9. Poinsettia brooch - AnnaCohen with 40 votes (6%)
6th place - #15. Christmas star necklace - MacrameByMaja with 37 votes (5%)
7th place - #4. Poinsettia Holiday Treasure Corsage - AngelqueCreations with 33 votes (5%) also sold on November 10, 2010
8th place - #5. Frosted Rose- Annahatvani with 32 votes (4%)
9th place - #23. New Year's Eve Champagne Under Starry Skies - gypsyeyesjewelry with 22 votes (3%)
and
10th place - #33. Light From Heaven - SpringColors with 20 votes (3%)

Congratulations to all 36 entries and to Marsha for picking a great theme, look for next months challenge "Simon and Garfunkel"

Thanks again to Anne of FransescasFancy for pulling together the Mosaic and to Marsha for checking all the entries.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Songs of Inspiration: daunted by choice? Tactics to ‘de-daunt’ and get beading

December’s Etsy’s beadweaver’s challenge has a wonderful theme thanks to Olga of Made. She has challenged everyone to create a beadweaving pieced inspired by the theme: "Simon & Garfunkel - The Songs of Inspiration". We have lots of choice with this theme given how productive and prolific the USA song writing duo have been.

Simon and Garfunkel began writing songs together in 1955, recorded their first single in 1957 and between 1964 and 1970 recorded 5 studio albums. They have accumulated an impressive list of successes for this work - 16 of their singles made it to the US Billboard Hot 100 singles list, they gained Grammy Awards for their song Mrs Robinson, have a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and won a BRIT Award in 1977 for the best international album of the past 25 years (for Bridge Over Troubled Waters).

For EBWers who listened to Simon and Garfunkel music in the 1960s and 1970s choosing one of their songs to inspire their beadwork might come easily. On the other hand, it might be daunting because you have so many favourites. For EBWers not born when Simon and Garfunkel were at their height and/or for one reason or another are not familiar with their music Olga’s challenge might seem daunting for quite different reasons. If you feel a little daunted by this challenge, read on.

Tactics to ‘de-daunt’ and get beading

  • Choose a song alphabetically – what is the first letter of your name, your partner’s name or your pet? Look up the Simon and Garfunkel songs that started with this letter (see link to an Alphabetical listing below) and just choose the one that speaks most to you. Then try googling Google images using the song title. I have tried this with a couple and found some inspiring images emerge. I've included one in this blog that 'Bridge over troubled water' found.
  • Choose your favourite album cover – visit the image bank of their album covers (link below) and choose the one that you are most attracted to. Then you can click on it and be taken to the album tracks so that you can listen to them. Let the album art inspire you – what colours, shapes, style does it suggest? How might they come into your beadwork?
  • Choose one of their really hot singles from the USA Billboard Hot 100 singles list. That narrows your choice to just 16 songs. Then let your imagination run wild. What title intrigues you? Which one do you least know? Go with the unknown for a journey into creativity with your beading. Close your eyes when you listen to the song and see what shapes and colours flow.
  • Scan the track list for each album (link below) and choose one that has the most unusual word in it that you know. Maybe that word could be in your beadwork.
  • Scan the track list and think about the song that most reminds you of your favourite colour. Line up the beads you have in that colour, listen to the song and start beading.
  • Print out the track list and stick a pin it – agree with yourself to use whatever song your pin lands on. Serendipity sometimes brings the most creative moments in our work.
  • Take the Quiz below that tells you what Simon and Garfunkel song you are - it's fun and quick to do.
Do you have some good ‘de-daunting’ tactics you can share with others? Or, perhaps you are not daunted at all. Inspire others by sharing how you’ll choose.

However you make your choice good luck with and I look forward to see the inspirational work that flows from Olga's inspirational theme.

Links to resources sites

Monday, November 8, 2010

November Challenge "Holiday Treasures" Voting November 9 -15

This month's challenge theme "Holiday Treasures" was chosen by Marsha of HauteIceBeads winner of the September Challenge. Marsha's challenge was.... "Choose your favorite late fall or winter holiday and create a beadweaving to celebrate the occasion. It might be a menorah bracelet to wear to a Hanukkah party, or a Christmas poinsettia necklace, or ivy earrings for a Solstice afternoon tea. You could make napkin rings for a Thanksgiving table or a bead embroidered garment or handbag for a special New Year's Eve party. Let your own imagination find the perfect Holiday Treasure! Your listing should include an explanation of the event for which you have designed your entry"

The voting starts November 9 and runs until November 15, look for the voting poll to the right of this post.  To view the entries please click on the links below








Once again I want to thank Ann of FrancescasFancy for putting together the Mosaic and Marsha for reviewing each entry to ensure that it meets the requirements of the challenge.

Friday, October 29, 2010

December Challenge "Simon & Garfunkel - The Songs of Inspiration"

Olga of Made by Olga winner of last months "Falling of Leaves" has come up with a great theme for the December challenge.  Olga challenges us to "bead to the sound of silence or a bridge over troubled water, you can go look for America or visit the Scarborough fair, tell about your trouble with Cecilia or explain the meaning of life to Mrs Robinson". Mind though - all that should be told in beads!

What is you favorite song of Simon and Garfunkel? I am very curious to see what can these two amazing artists inspire you to make! 

Time to get your MOJO going for this great December theme  "Simon and Garfunkel - The Songs of Inspiration".  You may start your entry today and list in your Etsy shop by midnight December 5th, 2010.

Any EBW member may create one new beadweaving of your own design (not from a kit, book, magazine, or class) in response to the challenge theme. You work should be entirely beadwoven, or have a substantially woven component, to feature and promote our art form. You may not renew an existing piece. Members are expected to participate in challenges when possible, and required to do so once each year. Start the weaving anytime after the theme is announced. Complete and list the work for sale on Etsy by the 5th of the month of the challenge, before midnight Etsy time. Your listing date is proof you entered by the deadline, so DO NOT RENEW your work until after the voting poll opens on the 9th. If your listing sells, you can still participate in the challenge, but please alert the moderators to the sale.

WHAT INFORMATION MUST BE IN MY LISTING?
Your listing must include the following four (4) things:
1) The theme of the challenge. For example, “This (describe your work) was created for the Etsy Beadweavers Team (insert the month) challenge on the theme (insert the title of the theme).”
2) An explanation of how your work relates to the theme.
3) The address of our team blog where the voting will take place and the voting dates. For example, “Please visit our team blog, www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com (http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com) between the 9th and 15th and vote for your favorite entry.”
4) Tag your entry EBWC. This is how we find your entry. Remove the tag after the voting poll closes, so entries for the next month’s challenge can be feature


Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Holiday treasures: moving beyond the ordinary


The Etsy Beadweavers November challenge theme is ‘Holiday Treasures’ and what a treasure of a theme is it. There are literally hundreds of holidays around the world during November that could inspire jewelry to treasure. I have listed a site below that you can use to search public holidays around the world. It can be fun to see just who is holidaying for what reason in countries beyond our own.

Public holidays are days in which people are officially given permission not to work. The idea of ‘not working’ on a holiday has its history in the English language with the Christian church in medieval times. In those times workers were given time off work so that they could go to church to mark a special holy day for the church. It was a day out of the ordinary for the workers and for the church. Around the world, holidays are still associated with religious holy days but just as many holidays now are secular in origin and linked to events out of the ordinary that have local or national significance to a country or a region. In recent times the United Nations has established days of international observance that are used to commemorate special events and promote action on specific causes. Few very of these days are public holidays but they are opportunities to do something out of the ordinary to mark something that matters. So when you think of designing ‘Holiday Treasures’ perhaps you could design something for a day that you think should be a holiday but isn’t or for a holiday in a country you don’t live in. It’s easy to Google information about holidays in other countries and wonderful images exist to inspire us as beaders to move beyond the ordinary and beyond what we are familiar with. Imagine what holiday treasures might emerge if you think beyond what you know. To tempt you to think beyond the ordinary I have generated a list of possible holidays and days of observance from different parts of the world for November that offer lots of possibilities - some fun, some more serious. Imagine what you could make to treasure Sandwich Day in the USA or World Hello day internationally. Imagine if the International Day for Tolerance was a public holiday – what would you do to commemorate it in your jewelry?

What would you design to wear to Unity Day in Russia or for the women wearing this amazing red hat to the Melbourne Cup in Australia?

Possible points for inspiration

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Congratulations to Olga of Madeby Olga, winner of the October challenge "Autumn Falling of Leaves"

The October challenge was another great success with 59 entries and 900 votes.The winning entry Sigulda-ooak-necklace created by Olga of MadebyOga received 106 (11%) of the popular votes.  Our thanks to everyone who took the time to participate in this months challenge and for voting for their favorite entry.
Congratulations to the runners up and to all the wonderful entries
2nd place #29. Maple Autumn Falling of leaves Necklace - bead4me with 91 otes (10%)
3rd place #17. Falling Autumn Leaves Necklace - StickLizardDesigns with 89 votes (9%)
4th place #42. Autumn Splendor - BeadsAndI with 79 votes (8%)
5th place #23. Maple leaves bracelet - AnnaCohen with 58 votes (6%)
6th Place #45. Russian Leaves of Fall Woven Necklace - AngelqueCreations with 37 votes (4%)
7th place #49. Maple Medley Necklace - thistledew4u with 35 votes (3%)
8th Place #48. Autumn Breeze necklace - CieloDesign with 30 votes (3%)
9th place #40. Autumn's Falling Fire Necklace - FrancescasFancy with 24 votes (2%)
and
10th place #54. Canadian Autumn Colours Memory Crystal Beaded Bracelet - crystalwonders with 23 votes (2%)
Congratulations to all 59 entries, we are all winners

Look for the December challenge theme to be posted in the next couple of weeks.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

October Challenge "Autumn Falling of Leaves" - 59 Entries - Voting Oct 9 -15

This month's challenge theme "Autumn Falling of Leaves" was chosen by Isabella of Bead4me winner of the August Challenge. Isabella's challenge was.... ""Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~Albert Camus. We all enjoy the colors of autumn leaves, as the bright green fades away. We begin to see amazing colors such as bright reds and purples.  For me this is an inspiration for creating colorful jewelry"

I am amazed at our team as we have had another outstanding response to this month with 59 entries, outdoing last months 52 entries.  Every month it gets harder and harder to pick a favorite entry, but choose you must.  The voting will start on Oct 9 and run until Oct 15. To view the entries please click on the links below

Thanks to Ann of FrancescasFancy for putting together the Mosaic and to Marsha of HauteIceBeadwork for checking all the entries

Saturday, September 25, 2010

November Challenge Theme "Holiday Treasure"

This months challenge theme was chosen by Marsha of HauteIceBeadWork, winner of the September "Bollywood"challenge.  Marsha challenges us to "Choose your favorite late fall or winter holiday and create a beadweaving to celebrate the occasion. It might be a menorah bracelet to wear to a Hanukkah party, or a Christmas poinsettia necklace, or ivy earrings for a Solstice afternoon tea. You could make napkin rings for a Thanksgiving table or a bead embroidered garment or handbag for a special New Year's Eve party. Let your own imagination find the perfect Holiday Treasure! Your listing should include an explanation of the event for which you have designed your entry."

Any EBW member may create one new beadweaving of your own design (not from a kit, book, magazine, or class) in response to the challenge theme. You work should be entirely beadwoven, or have a substantially woven component, to feature and promote our art form. You may not renew an existing piece. Members are expected to participate in challenges when possible, and required to do so once each year. Start the weaving anytime after the theme is announced. Complete and list the work for sale on Etsy by the 5th of the month of the challenge, before midnight Etsy time. Your listing date is proof you entered by the deadline, so DO NOT RENEW your work until after the voting poll opens on the 9th. If your listing sells, you can still participate in the challenge, but please alert the moderators to the sale.

WHAT INFORMATION MUST BE IN MY LISTING?
Your listing must include the following four (4) things:
1) The theme of the challenge. For example, “This (describe your work) was created for the Etsy Beadweavers Team (insert the month) challenge on the theme (insert the title of the theme).”
2) An explanation of how your work relates to the theme.
3) The address of our team blog where the voting will take place and the voting dates. For example, “Please visit our team blog, www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com (http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com) between the 9th and 15th and vote for your favorite entry.”
4) Tag your entry EBWC. This is how we find your entry. Remove the tag after the voting poll closes, so entries for the next month’s challenge can be feature

You may start your entry today and list before midnight on the 5th of November.  Good Luck everyone.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

What are the colours of autumns leaves in your world?

I live in a part of the world (the coast of south eastern Australia) where the trees I see from my window in my autumn (March, April, May) are the silvery green leaves of the non-deciduous Australian Eucalyptus trees. Like most of the trees in the Australian forests (or what we call the bush) they don’t show seasonal changes in the dramatic ways that the softer deciduous trees and other plants of Europe and northern America do. There is one very notable exception – the leaves of a tree in the middle of the Tasmanian bush in the autumn does change colour from gold, to orange to red. Ironically, it is one of the oldest trees in the world to do this and it’s called the Deciduous Beech Nothofagus gunnii. Of course in most tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world, including the north of Australia, there is no autumn – often there are just two seasons – the wet and the dry season.
So, this month’s challenge theme has me wondering what are the colours of autumn in different parts of the world? How might that difference bring different points of inspiration to your beading? In Lapland the colours of yellows, reds and browns sit aside the vivid colours of the northern lights, in Kyoto (Japan) the wonderful shifting and brilliant red colours of autumnal maple leaves attest to autumn and in Abruzzo (Italy) it’s the yellowing leaves of grapes vines, deep browns of ploughed fields and the purples and blacks of ripening olives on the trees that give autumn it’s special colours. As you think about this month’s challenge of the colours of autumn leaves falling maybe worlds outside your own could hold the key to your inspiration. I have included some suggested starting points below. Would love to hear from you about what the colours of autumn in your world are and if autumn is not in your world what might inspire you for this great challenge theme.

Sources
Some sources of inspiration:

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Congratulations to Marsha of Haute Ice Beadwork, winner of the Bollywood Challenge

The results are in and Marsha of Haute Ice Beadwork is our September Winner for the "Bollywood" challenge with her entry Bollywood Beauty.  We had another great challenge with 52 of our members participating and a responce for 857 people who voted for their favorite entry. Marsha's winning entry received 133 (15%) of the popular vote, so congratulatios to Marsha and all of the entries this month. 
Congratulations to the following runner's up and to all who entered this months challenge.  A great turnout and some amazing entries all worthy of note.
2nd place - 39. Tears Of Shiva Necklace - zaziebeads with 123 votes (14%)
3rd place - 52. Bollywood glamour necklace - grakowsky with 75 votes (8%)
4th place - 46. Maharani - ballroomchic with 72 (8%)
5th place -  11. Lakshmi's Necklace - CieloDesign witn 30 votes (3%)
6th place - 21. Bollywood bracelet. The Indian dance. - snivli witn 27 votes (2%)
We have 3 ties for the following places
 8th place - 33. Mumbai Masala - SmadarsTreasure and 40. AISHA Treasury - bead4me with 22 votes (2%)
and

Congratulations to everyone who entered we are all winners and this challenge was well received with 4 sales before the voting even began

Monday, September 6, 2010

September "Bollywood" Challenge Voting Sept 9 15

This month's challenge theme "Bollywood" was chosen by Anna of Teasebeads winner of the July Challenge. Anna's challenge was.... "We all have seen Bollywood movies and I think that you will agree with me that it is a world of colors, music, beautiful women and shining jewelry. Lets fantasize on the subject of Indian jewelry as we see them !"

 We have had another outstanding response to this month with 52 entries, and it will be difficult to decide which is your favorite, please look at each entry by clicking on their links below the image. You can vote on your favorite from September 9th to September 15th

  
Thanks to Ann of FrancescasFancy for putting together the Mosaic and to Marsha of HauteIceBeadwork for checking all the entries