Spring Around the Corner - inspirations beyond our corner for the next EBW challenge

Isabella challenges us to bead "Spring Around the Corner" as our April theme.

For some of us that corner might be days or weeks away for others, such as people like me who live in the Southern Hemisphere it might be many months away or if I lived near the Tropics it might never arrive. In some cultures seasons do not link to the European traditions of Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter at all. If you were in India you might be challenged to bead something inspired by the Festival of Colours (Holi) which is also known as the Festival of Spring. Look at the wonderful images for this Festival on Google images - its hard not to be inspired.

So, it seems that what corner Spring is around depends on which corner of the globe you are in and who you are. There is a really helpful discussion on how to define Spring and when Spring is in different parts of the world on Wikipedia (links below). I really encourage you to visit it for some surprising thoughts on Spring.

For some inspirations on Spring that challenge you to think about beading beyond the corner nearest to you try exploring the Festivals that spring brings in different parts of the world where Spring exists. In Vietnam where late Jan or early Feb means Spring is just around the corner so is the New Year and celebrations with firecrackers. In Australia, Spring brings horse racing fever for many as well as hay fever as the national flower – the golden wattle – often blooms but it also brings an amazing celebration of spring blooms in Canberra (our capital) called Floriade. In ancient Mesopotania Spring marked the sowing of the barley and great festivities. For over 17 pages about spring festivals in different cultures and times visit the Wiki link below. Amongst them are wonderful Springtime inspirations.

Current trends being discussed on the web for Spring jewelry include eco themes and flora and fauna themes and use of natural materials that capture the idea that we need to care for our planet if the wonderful natural things that spring bring in different parts of the world are to survive.

Greeting cards that celebrate spring from different parts of the world also offer points of inspiration – I have included two here. One from India (Happy Holi above) and one from Vietnam. Perhaps Spring from a corner far away from you could be your beading inspiration.
Remember whatever your source of inspiration make sure you tell us all about it when you do your challenge listing.

Sources and inspirations

• Wikipedia on Spring - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring
• Wikipedia on Spring Festivals - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Spring_festivals

May challenge theme: Lord of the Rings

"LORD OF THE RINGS" Sharayah challenges us to find inspiration in the J.R. Tolkien "Lord of the Rings" Trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, Two Towers, & Return of the King. Your design should be based on, or created for a character, creature, prop, or location in the story. You must specifically state your choice, and explain how your work represents that aspect of the trilogy in your listing.

Here is a Wikipedia article to get you started: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings

You may start your entry today and list in your Etsy shop after the April challenge has ended and by midnight May 5th, 2011.

THE CHALLENGE RULES

Any EBW member may create one new beadweaving of your own design and not a tutorial (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 or list a tutorial of your design as an entry. 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.

Congratulations to Sharayah of 4uidzne winner of the March challenge "Fashion Through the Ages"

Congratulations Sharayah and her Flapper barrette winner of rthe March Challenge "Fashion through the Ages" with a landslide of 248 votes (26%) of the record 942 votes. 

A big round of applause also goes to the following runners up and to all 38 entries.

2nd place - #5 Dragonfly Diva - Annahatvani - 167 votes (17%)

3rd place - #1 The Baroque Baroness - GinaParisJewelry - 68 votes (7%)

4th place - #20 Victoria's Secret - HauteIceBeadwork.- 59 votes (6%)

5th place - #19 Art Deco - TapestryBeadwork - 47 votes (6%)

6th place - #15 Pucci Fashion Inspired Bib Necklace - beadn4fun - 43 votes (4%)

7th place -  #8 Art nouveau Necklace - MacrameByMaja - 34 votes (3%.)

8th place - #17 Fuchsia, Purple and Bronze Textured Bracelet - SmadarsTreasure - 30 votes (3%)

9th place - #24 Black and White Art Nouveau Flower Necklace - notsoplainbyjane. - 27 votes ( 2%)

and 10th place - #36 Romantic Vibes - enchantedbeads - 25 votes (2%)

Congratulations to everyone who entered the challenge, beautiful entries everyone!

Voting for March challenge - Fashion Through the Ages- begins 8th March midnight

The March 2011 challenge chosen by Patrizia of Triz Designs challenges our members to chose a fashion style from any period of fashion and design a piece to fit that chosen style/period. Voting for the challenge opens midnight 8 March 2011 until midnight 15 March 2011.

Entries

1. The Baroque Baroness - GinaParisJewelry. http://www.etsy.com/listing/67930822/the-baroque-baroness-baroque-jewelry-of
2. Victorian Romance Necklace - BettyStephanBeadwork. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68370801/victorian-romance-necklace
3. Beadwoven quartz necklace - Khadija - Kank http://www.etsy.com/listing/68500379/beadwoven-quartz-necklace-khadija
4. Flower Power Beadwoven Necklace - beadsandblooms http://www.etsy.com/listing/68546716/flower-power-beadwoven-necklace
5. Dragonfly Diva - Annahatvani http://www.etsy.com/listing/68547649/dragonfly-diva-black-and-turquoise-art
6. A Material Girl's True Colors - randomcreative. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68749379/beaded-bangle-bracelet-a-material-girls
7. Cuff TSARINE Tribute to Alexander Mc Queen - beadsofaquarius. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68765282/cuff-tsarine-tribute-to-alexander-mc
8. Art nouveau Necklace - MacrameByMaja. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68767763/art-nouveau-necklace
9. Gabrielle Necklace - MoreThanSomewhat. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68848141/gabrielle-necklace
10. Flapper - 4uidzne. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68873925/flapper-march-ebwc
11. Lady of Pompeii Necklace - RareSpecimens. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68876364/lady-of-pompeii-necklace-ebwc
12. Boop Boop A Doop Peyote Beaded Cuff Bracelet - crystalwonders. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68945413/boop-boop-a-doop-peyote-beaded-cuff
13. Mary Quant Bracelet - Starwaves. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68963414/mary-quant-bracelet-ebwc
14. Pucci Fashion Inspired Bib Necklace - beadn4fun. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68975876/pucci-fashion-inspired-bib-necklace-ebwc
15. Blue Beaded Amulet Bag Necklace - jess2bead. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68983731/1920s-flapper-blue-beaded-amulet-bag
16. Swim Little Fish Bracelet - DogmawGlass. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69078327/swim-little-fish-bracelet
17. Fuchsia, Purple and Bronze Textured Bracelet - SmadarsTreasure. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69116643/fuchsia-purple-and-bronze-textured
18. The Black Orchid Beadwork Earrings - chrysanthemumveil. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69122537/the-black-orchid-beadwork-earrings
19. Art Deco - TapestryBeadwork. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69150712/etsy-beadweavers-march-challenge-fashion
20. Victoria's Secret - HauteIceBeadwork. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69180058/victorias-secret
21. Baby Pink Glass Necklace - Jewelrybyjane29. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69204780/50s-early-60s-baby-pink-glass-necklace
22. Renaissance Elegance - ArtfulAr. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69244943/renaissance-elegance-ebwc
23. Madness and Methods - MyOrcaDreams. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69245319/madness-and-methods-a-hand-woven-bead
24. Black and White Art Nouveau Flower Necklace - notsoplainbyjane. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69261480/black-and-white-art-nouveau-flower
25. 1920's Flapper Glass Bead Headband - Fivefootfury13. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69324965/1920s-flapper-inspired-hand-woven-glass
26. Sea and Spring Reversible Beadwoven Bracelet - littlestonedesign. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69328377/sea-and-spring-reversible-beadwoven
27. Victorian Mourning Necklace - MaryTDesigns. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69358525/victorian-mourning-necklace
28. Piano Hammer Necklace - vanishingpearl. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69360359/piano-hammer-necklace-inspired-by-henry
29. Rivoli Beadwoven Blue Necklace - SpringColors. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69398006/rivoli-beadwoven-blue-necklace-unique
30. From my heart ... pendant - BeadsForBeauty. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69400353/from-my-heart-pendant
31. Art Deco Feathered Collar - kuzmadesign. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69402749/art-deco-feathered-collar-ebwc
32. Metropolis Handbeaded Necklace - ambrosianbeads. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69417285/ebwc-metropolis-handbeaded-necklace
33. Victorian Violet Rose Choker - FrancescasFancy. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69422870/victorian-violet-rose-choker
34. Medieval Cross Pendant - BeadCatcher. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69429124/medieval-cross-pendant
35. Silver grunge/punk bracelet/keychain - SparrowsMeadow. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69429703/silver-grungepunk-braceletkeychain
36. Romantic Vibes - enchantedbeads. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69430959/romantic-vibes-victorian-brooch-with
37. 80's Triangle Bracelet - roseworksjewelry. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69439416/80s-triangle-bracelet-ebwc-march-2011
38. Lady Herbenton's New Vintage Fashion - creationsbyana. http://www.etsy.com/listing/68792210/lady-herbentons-new-vintage-fashion-bead

The March challenge - inspiring fashioning designs beyond what we know

The March 2011 challenge chosen by Patrizia of Triz Designs challenges our members to chose a fashion style from any period of fashion and design a piece to fit that chosen style/period. She gave a beginning link to help out: http://www.fashion-era.com/fashion_eras.htm

If you are needing some more inspiration, wanting to think outside the box a little or just plain interested in fashion in different places and times here are some other resources you might enjoy.

The Fashion Encyclopedia - http://angelasancartier.net/all-articles. An amazing A-Z of fashion language and trends to expand your focus. Just browse a letter and be amazed. In ”H” you can read about trends in Hawaiian shirts, helmets, Halloween wear and Headdresses just for starters. I’d love to see more colour images to go alongside the text but a fascinating resource for exploring fashion trends from a different angle.

History of Western Fashion Design http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Western_fashion. If you want to delve a little more into a specific Fashion era imagine any era in Western fashion from 1100 onwards and then check out what Wikipedia’s History of Western Fashion Design can tell you.

Fashion from 1860 – 1960 http://www.1860-1960.com/cloth.html. Quite a few images as this is a site that sells vintage fashions including what it calls ‘ ethnic’ fashions. A great place to see the colour and textiles used in different eras in different places. It inspired me to search Google images for specific types of fashion images for different countries and decades. For instance, I searched for 1930s Chinese wedding fashion - what a wonderful array of images for inspiration.

As you plunder and pause over the amazing world of fashion expand your thinking by considering the unconventional fashion eras (e.g. communist party fashion in the USSR or Suffgratte fashions - see the Suffgratte brooch in the image with this post), fashion eras in different parts of the globe (India, Ancient Thailand or Kenya). Ask questions about what were the trends for men and women did people of different status have different fashions, did people have special fashion for special occasions or times of the year, how was colour used, what accessories were popular? You can then use this to design a piece that challenges us all to think beyond our own fashion worlds. For instance, what would it be like to have a piece designed for a Royal male for his wedding in Thailand? Or, for the Indian Bride in the photo above?

Looking forward to seeing how much we can design beyond what we know.

.(Suffragette brooch)