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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.
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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
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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.
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