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.

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

3. Flowers Never Bend With the Rainfall necklace set - RareSpecimens

4. Sound of Silence brooch - Jewelrybyjane29

5. Quite the thing - AnnaCohen

6. Please Come Back - redphoenixjewelry

7. Bridge Over Troubled Water Beadwoven Necklace - MaryTDesigns

8. Angels in the Architecture - randomcreative

9. Cecilia - MacrameByMaja

10. Leaves That Are Green - snivli

11. Mrs Robinson - Black and silver beadwoven bracelet - Kankou

12. A Hazy Shade of Winter - Beaded Wrist Bag - triz

13. At the Zoo - sedonaskye

14. I am an Island - 4uidzne

15. Dangling Conversations Necklace - crystalwonders

16. Medley - Annahatvani

17. The Sounds of Silence - BeadsForBeauty

18. A Hazy Shade of Winter Necklace - HauteIceBeadwork

19. A Church is Burning - WhiteRabbitJewels

20. Shadow - Beaded Bracelet Bangle - beaglebeads

21. Cecilia Bracelet - njdesigns1

22. Black/Black Peyote Woven Cuff Bracelet - KRDesigns11

23. Sound of Silence Necklace - LaPerLaA

24. Hazy Shade of Winter - 1BeadAtATime

25. Byzantine Golden Thyme Neckace - daxdesigns

26. Scarborough Faire - Netted Rope Necklace - BeadEnCounter

27. Rosemary Flowerbed - SpringColors

28. The Lamplight Fingerless Glove Cuff - FrancescasFancy

29. Patterns Sophisticated Black and White Earrings - AsteropeBC

30. Rosemary and Thyme Necklace - CieloDesign

31. Mrs. Robinson - Stellaltinaan

32. Scarborough Fair Peyote-Weave Cuff Bracelet - CircesHouse

33. Patterns Beaded ATC - jess2bead

34. Hazy Shade of Winter - heartinhawaii

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