November 2016 Challenge Entries for "November Guest"

Here are the entries for this month's "November Guest" challenge!  VOTING WILL BE OPEN FROM NOVEMBER 9TH UNTIL NOVEMBER 15.  Please choose your favorite entry from the images or links below, then select your choice in the blog poll that will appear on the right sidebar during the days that voting is open.


Click on the image mosaic or links below to learn more about each entry and see larger, detailed images of each piece. 

PLEASE VOTE ONLY ONCE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ENTRY.

1. My November Guest - Rudasbeading

2. Fossil Coral Ammonite Necklace  - beadn4fun

3. Foggy Colors Collar - Vicus

4. November guest- zviagil

5. November Pendant Necklace - SarahCryerBeadwork

6. Rolling Sea Fog - AngelqueCreations

7. Rope Necklace with Moonstone Pendant - STARARTjewelry

8. Natural Baltic Amber Rope Necklace - Daidija

9. Romantic November Clouds - SpringColors

10. White Frost Bloom Earrings - FrancescasFancy

September 2016 Challenge Entries for "Our Wonderful World"

Here are the entries for this month's "Our Wonderful World" challenge!  VOTING WILL BE OPEN FROM SEPTEMBER 9TH UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15.  Please choose your favorite entry from the images or links below, then select your choice in the blog poll that will appear on the right sidebar during the days that voting is open.


Click on the image mosaic or links below to learn more about each entry and see larger, detailed images of each piece. 

PLEASE VOTE ONLY ONCE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ENTRY.

 

1. Globe Art Bead on Kumihimo Necklace - STARARTjewelry

2. Garnet and Ruby in Ziosite Necklace - HannahRachel

3. Ledenica Cave  - NinaSavovaArt

4. Beaded Purse Evening Bag - beadn4fun

5. Canyon - DaynaMilesDesigns

6. My World in Stones - Beadditz

7. Maria Necklace - LuckyDesignCrafts

8. Wildwood  - BlissWorksStudio

9. Tribute to Jane Goodall - SamohtaC

10. Crystal Statement Necklace - SpringColors

11. Tranquility - RoseBluBeads

12. Treasures from the Sea - PaintedTreeStudio

June 2016 'Cats' Challenge Results

Congratulations to the winner of both the team and public votes for the second challenge in a row, SunShine Sturtz!

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TEAM VOTE RESULTS:

Black Cat Silhouette Pendant- OfYourLove - 11 votes (23.9%)

Cat in the Handbag - STARARTjewelry – 6 votes (13%)
 

Tiger necklace – AnnaCohen – 5 votes (10.9%)

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PUBLIC VOTE RESULTS:
 

Black Cat Silhouette Pendant – OfYourLove – 30 votes (21.6%)
.

Black Cats Bracelet – Daidija – 29 votes (20.9%)
.

Tiger necklace – AnnaCohen – 19 votes (13.7%)


Well done to the winners and all who participated and thanks to everyone who voted!

Favorite Things: Beading Mats

As beaders, we each develop little habits, or even manias, around our hobby. Products are created for us, some better than others, and practice has led us to see the flaws in them. Most of us have learned ways of modifying or adapting the use of these products to get a ‘just right’ beading experience that suits our particular styles. This time around, I asked team members what they preferred as beading surfaces. There are no ‘right’ methods to beading, we all simply prefer different things!
Patrice Thomas (https://www.etsy.com/shop/MsBusyHands) shared that her favorite beading surface was a small, round metal sewing can with a hinged lid and that she has been using it for 15 years! “I have never beaded on a mat. I store my current project along with the beads, needles and threads inside the can and when I'm ready to work the lid of the can becomes my work surface. The can is well worn and really needs to be replaced. I will admit that sometimes I'm embarrassed to take it out in public. I have not replaced it because I have not been able to find a suitable replacement. This is my favorite thing because it works for me, it allows me to do what I love anywhere I am. When I teach beading classes I bead on the lid while my students bead on a mat. It fits in my purse and travels with me, even on vacations. It makes my beading portable, me productive and when I'm beading in public, it often sparks conversations which gives me an opportunity to tell my story about the can and share my love of beading!”

Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (https://www.etsy.com/shop/scarboro) responded with a conflicting comment pinning Bead-On-It boards versus vellux blanket scraps. Bead-On-It boards were invented and are made by Dee Pyatte (http://www.beadonitboards.com/index.html) and consist of a circular vellux sheet sown to a thicker velvet border, which unlike with just a piece of the material, keeps beads from rolling away too far when there is movement. Elizabeth had previously attempted to stick her vellux scrap piece inside a cookie thin, but had an issue when the beads would roll to the edges and hide underneath with movement. She much preferred the Bead-On-It board.

Her opinion was the same as Pamela E. Troutman’s (https://www.etsy.com/shop/STARARTjewelry) who believes a Bead-On-It board is only comparable to a Swarovski mat, which comes with a printed ruler- so useful!

Christine  Boyer, team captain, (https://www.etsy.com/shop/beadn4fun) uses a homemade system: “I gather all the beads for each project into a cigar box (only about a dollar from local cigar shops) lined with a $1 velour bead mat. It's easy to keep everything together and even take along with me. My other favorite thing is that little souvenir state spoon. I bought a couple at a yard sale once and find it perfect for spooning out beads and putting them back. And speaking of bargains, my favorite needles are Beadalon's size 12 hard beading needles (from Michaels). They are perfect for going through size 11 & 15 seed beads, last a long time, and cost only about $4 for a dozen! I'd rather spend the big money on beads, everything else is a bargain for me!” Who knew a little spoon bought at a yard sale could become so essential to a beading routine!

Lastly remains my own favorite things (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HumdrumAuguries). I use my oh-so-special beading “plate” for laying out the beads I need without having them roll away. I came upon the following beading tray long before my beading years. As a baby, I used to eat out of it this, now it serves me a completely new purpose. As I am still a Winnie-The-Pooh fan, I cherish the memories in this favorite thing, every time I bead.
 

I am personally addicted to the Tulip Beading Needles, in the incredibly small yet sturdy size 13. As I work mostly with 15/0 seed beads, these needles allow me to pass through a bead many times without breaking the bead with needle pressure. I keep my needles in their little vial in my travel beading set up that I have organized myself. I can keep all the beading tubes I need for a project as well as a small vellux mat, rolled up to the right. This travel kit was given to me by my sweetheart. It originally contained wire jewelry tools, but he knew I would be clever enough to repurpose each little elastic holster for beadweaving supplies!

Thank you everyone who has participated in giving me your input. Comment below on or facebook! Do you share these members’ favorite things? Use something else? We want to know!

July 2016 Challenge "Mystical, Mythical and Magical Creatures"

Thanks to Shine Sturtz for our Challenge theme for July ... 

 

Thanks to skeeze; https://pixabay.com/en/users/skeeze-272447/

 

“Mystical, Mythical and Magical Creatures” - take inspiration from folklore and fairy tales, witches and wizards, spells and potions, basilisks, dragons, griffins, pixies, fairies, elves, boggarts and more.

 

Important Note: Please keep copyright issues in mind if creating an entry using a movie, book, etc. as inspiration. Do not make copies of copyrighted creatures or use copyrighted images in your listings. Please note that even names may be copyrighted so be sure to check before starting your entry!

 

Please be sure to have your entry listed in your Etsy shop by July 5, 2016 23:59 EST and remember to include EBWC in the title and tags of your entry.

 

 

Kindly refer to the Challenge Rules in link below for details on what is allowed in Challenge entries to ensure that your entry is compliant.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/etsy-beadweavers-team/ebw-challenge-rules/935876293168291

 Some inspiration!
 

Thanks to terimakasih0;
https://pixabay.com/en/users/terimakasih0-624267/

Thanks to terimakasih0;
https://pixabay.com/en/users/terimakasih0-624267/

Thanks to PgmJanssen;
https://pixabay.com/en/users/PgmJanssen-52185/

Entries for April's "Pompeii" Challenge

Here are the entries for this month's "Pompeii" challenge!  VOTING WILL BE OPEN FROM APRIL 9TH UNTIL APRIL 15.  Please choose your favorite entry from the images or links below, then select your choice in the blog poll that will appear on the right sidebar during the days that voting is open.


Click on the image mosaic or links below to learn more about each entry and see larger, detailed images of each piece. 

PLEASE VOTE ONLY ONCE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ENTRY.

 

1. Violet Lampwork Glass Amphora Necklace  - beadn4fun

2. Vesuvius Descending Necklace - luskstudio

3. Colors of Pompeii Cuff Bracelet - BetsysBeadworks

4. Pompeii Inspired Coil Bracelets - EsmerldasStudio

5. Pompeii Necklace - HannahRachel

6. Lava Neck Piece - RebelSoulEK

7. River of Lava onto Roman Greatness - SabinaJewel

8. Gemstone Statement Necklace - HumdrumAuguries

9. Victorian Cameo Necklace - enchantedbeads

10. Pompeii Soutache Necklace - CiraDesign

11. Pompeii Fresco - SpringColors

 

How to Avoid Crafter's Winter Blues

I'm pleased to introduce you to the Etsy Beadweavers Team's new Blog Editor and Moderator, Elyse Turcotte of HumdrumAuguries.  Elyse is committed to making our blog more active with announcements, interviews, and interesting articles about beading and art in general.  We hope you return often to see what's new! 

Here we are, the long winter months. When the weather, especially this year, frigid and sometimes dangerous, makes our world seemingly slow down.
As sellers, we notice that less shopping seems to be happening generally. People tend to keep their budget tight during these cold months, and the wait for sales to pick up again can feel like an endless struggle. 
When your regular tricks no longer feel as effective, don’t get the winter blues! Here are some things to remember to stay motivated, and keep your own personal streak of sunshine.


Don’t Hibernate! 
Crafters in past epochs typically couldn’t wait for these boring winter times! The promise of no farm work to do, with peace and quiet to do needlework by the fire as the snow storms roared outside...what a heavenly period of the year for those who itched to work with their hands!
These winter months are the best time to get working your shop in new ways, whether it’s using the quiet to multiply your inventory, or taking some time to rework your shop SEO. It’s hard to believe it, but spring really is just around the corner! Don't let the lull of falling snow put you to sleep, stay busy!

Had you made a new year resolution for your beading business back in Janurary? How is that coming along? It’s not too late! Make a plan and list what you still need to do to make it happen.

Learn Something New
Always wanted to take the time to teach yourself a new technique? Now is the time to get out of your comfort zone! Challenge yourself to master something completely different and see how this new knowledge influences your art!
Always stuck to peyote stitch? Try the never dull soustache style! More of a bead embroidery expert? Try an obscure double needle weaving pattern! :p

Stash Dive
When was the last time you perused through the depths of your bead collection? Now is a great time to explore and get revitalized with old inspiration flames.
Pick something in your stash you’ve never or rarely used and create something completely new with it. Ended up with strange pendants from a local bazaar years ago? Bought some amazing art beads you’ve never been sure what to do with? Got a weird bag of broken jewelry you’ve never properly taken apart? Even the tidiest of us have a bag of unfinished beading projects somewhere…

How about an inventory of your beading materials? Winter can also be a good time to update your logs, or if you do not keep one, to start! Inventory keeping can greatly help designers as it keeps all possibilities at your fingertips. 

Take a Break
If your beading business is driving you a little crazy, why not step away for a while? Branch out into a completely different hobby as a way to balance out your creative intuition and clear your mind.
As artistic makers, it is said we use mostly our right brain. The best way to stay fresh is to give this cranial hemisphere a break with left-brained activities. Try puzzle games, take time for reading and writing, start playing or learning a musical instrument, or play strategic board games with friends and family. 
A little bit of time away is bound to rejuvenate your business and beading trends. 

Enjoy it too!
The cold isn’t particularly terrible everywhere; though this year has been unique for some! Don’t let the snow falls and frost discourage you and venture outside to enjoy the season. Exercise is an important asset to creativity and can become a great source of inspiration. Invite some friends and family for a fun outdoor outing; don’t worry, the beading table will be waiting for your eager return!

--
*Image published  with CC0 Public Domain Free for commercial use-No attribution required 
See Brigitte Werner's images at https://pixabay.com/en/users/werner22brigitte-5337/

Entries for July 2015 - "Architecture" Challenge

Here are the entries for this month's "Architecture" challenge!  VOTING WILL BE OPEN UNTIL JULY 15.  Please choose your favorite entry from the images or links below, then select your choice in the blog poll on the right sidebar.



Click on the image mosaic or links below to learn more about each entry and see larger, detailed images of each piece. 

PLEASE VOTE ONLY ONCE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ENTRY.

 

1. Ode to a Pink Palace of India - Beadditz

2. Mackintosh Stained Glass inspired Necklace - TheGreatOrnate

3. Mini Greek Temple Keepsake Box - FrancescasFancy

4. Rose Window Bead Embroidered Brooch - beadn4fun

5. The Big Apple - enchantedbeads

6. Colorful Romantic Gift Necklace - SpringColors

7. Bauhaus - PlumidiaCollection

8. Geometric Necklace - BeautyGlamourLuba

9. FASSADE bracelet - KrisDesignFSP

10. Stained Glass Window Pendant Necklace - MaryTDesigns

11. Beige Necklace - MsBusyHands

March 2015 Challenge Winner

Congratulations to Karen Parker from WizardIslandDesigns who won both the team and public votes with her fantastic "Monarch Migration" necklace!

TEAM VOTE RESULTS

1st place: Karen Parker from WizardIslandDesigns - 32 votes (36%)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/225089994/monarch-migration

2nd place: Dayna Miles from DaynaMilesDesigns - 10 votes (11%)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/225134186/the-bluebird-bead-embroidery-cuff

3rd place: Barbra and Meredith from bjswearableart - 9 votes (10%)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/223893851/a-spring-garden-in-soutache-ebwc


PUBLIC VOTE RESULTS

1st place: Karen Parker from WizardIslandDesigns - 49 votes (25%)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/225089994/monarch-migration

2nd place: Mariya Zhalnina from BeadCatcher - 31 votes (16%)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/208589567/welcome-spring-beadwoven-necklace-ebwc

3rd place: Angel McIlwain from PaintedTreeStudio - 24 votes (12%)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/224863961/flight-of-the-bluebirds-or-spring


Congratulations everyone!

Thanks to all who participated in the March 2015 “Spring Migration” Challenge and to everyone who voted.

Voting for November "The Perfect Present" Challenge

Choose your favorite "The Perfect Present" entry from the images or links below, selecting your choice in the blog poll on the right sidebar.

Click on the images or links below to learn more about each entry and see larger, detailed images of each piece.

PLEASE VOTE ONLY ONCE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ENTRY.

1. 12 Months 12 Hours, Holiday Beadwork - enchantedbeads

2. Shibori Bracelet - RedTulipDesign

3. Beadwoven Flower Brooch - MaryTDesigns

4. Evil Eye - SamohtaC

5. Necklace Gold and Olive - TrinketsBeadwork

6. Bead embroidered necklace in neutral tones with pearls - JudesArt

7. Art-Glass Lampwork Beads Necklace - Svetush

8. Venetian Bead Woven Necklace - AngelqueCreations

9. Kabbalah Pendant Necklace Good Luck charm - SpringColors

10. Earthy Red Jade and Aventurine Necklace - BeadedTreasuresByFi

11. Rose Quartz Crystal Love Stone Necklace - beadn4fun

12. Malaysia Deja vu bracelet - LeelaBeads

13. Melinda Necklace - LJewelryDesign

14. Frothy Beaded Cuff - Beadditz

15. Leaf Pendant Bead Embroidery - BlingJewelryDesigns

16. Butterfly Collection Necklace - HauteIceBeadwork

17. Bead Embroidery Necklace Pendant and Earrings - BenitaStyleBG

18. Pretty in Purple Necklace and Earrings Set - TheBeadedWebBeadweav

19. Set of 3 Super Colorful Mirco Bangle Bracelets - tattooedraven

20. Holiday Earrings - TheBeadedBead

21. Pink and Black Leaf Gift Set - OfYourLove

22. Drawstring Beadwoven Bag in Citrus and Melon - ArtMasquerading

23. Long Black & Gold Lariat Necklace - BeadCatcher

24. XXl Finger Jewelry - BeadworkAndCoe

25. Snow Shadows - DaynaMilesDesigns

26. Blue-Purple Rainbow Necklace  - ABeadedWorld

27. Cool Wintery Hues Necklace - AmyKanarekDesigns

28. Beaded Pendant - Stellaltinaan

29. Purple Ebony Star Necklace - FrancescasFancy

Voting for September "Children's Book" Challenge

Choose your favorite "Children's Book" entry from the images or links below, selecting your choice in the blog poll on the right sidebar.

Click on the images or links below to learn more about each entry and see larger, detailed images of each piece.

PLEASE VOTE ONLY ONCE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ENTRY.

 

1. Scheherazade - enchantedbeads

2. Baucis and Philemon Pendant - EsmerldasStudio

3. Frozen - MaryTDesigns

4. Peter Rabbit Glam Pin - StudioNKM

5. Apple Harvest Necklace and Earrings Set - HauteIceBeadwork

6. Tribal Island Necklace (Guardians of Ga'Hoole) - BlueStarArts

 7. The Little Mermaid Necklace - BenitaStyleBG

8. Ferdinand The Bull - OfYourLove 

9. Crystal Necklace - SpringColors

Voting for April's "Inspired by Kandinsky" Challenge

Choose your favorite "Inspired by Kandinsky" entry from the images and links below, and vote for it on the blog poll on the right sidebar. Voting will occur from April 9th through the 15th.

Click on the images or links below to learn more about each entry and see larger, detailed images of each piece.

PLEASE VOTE ONLY ONCE FOR YOUR FAVORITE ENTRY.

1. Abstract Art Cuff Bracelet - EsmerldasStudio

2. Abstract Beadwoven Bangle - MaryTDesigns

3. Coral Red Pendant Abstraction - Reginao

4. Colorful Abstract Butterfly Necklace - enchantedbeads

5. Balance Abstract Brooch - beadn4fun

6. Rustic Kandinsky Circles Cuff Bracelet - cigarboxbeads

7. Bracelet, Rings, Watches - AZJOLEEBEADWEAVER

8. Kandinsky Glam Brooches - StudioNKM

9. Kandinsky Meadow Necklace - DesigningRoseStore

10. Ode to Kandinsky - TheVerdantEdge

11. Inspired by Kandinsky Circles Necklace - WizardIslandDesigns

12. Circles On Black Necklace - Svetush

13. Kandinsky Inspired Brooch - Lirigal

14. Improvisation - AnnetaValious

15. Square Shape Geometrical Bracelet - SpringColors

16. Circles in Colors Necklace - BeadCatcher

17. Circles Bracelet - jess2bead

May 2014 "How Unusual!" Challenge Theme Announced

Evi (Vicus), and Dani (DDeli), the winners of our March Challenge, have set our new theme for us! The theme for May 2014 is:

HOW UNUSUAL!

Let's use the most unusual items this month! Besides your normal beading items (seed beads, crystals, gemstones, etc.), your entry for May must have at least one unconventional item. Look around you - on the street, in nature, in your kid's room (dolls, dice, playing cards, etc.) or in a man's world (screws, tools, bolts, bullets, animal eyes or teeth, etc.), or anything else you have not thought so far could be part of your beaded projects. Just think Out of the Beading Box and be innovative!

THE CHALLENGE RULES

Any EBW member may create one new beadweaving of your own design (not from a tutorial, kit, book, magazine, or class) in response to the challenge theme. Your 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 or made-to-order item 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 (Eastern Standard) time. Your listing date is proof you entered by the deadline, and also determines your placement in the mosaic, so DO NOT RENEW your work until after the voting poll opens on the 9th.

Your listing must be for sale for the duration of the challenge (not made to order), unless it sells from your shop. If that happens, please alert the moderators to your sale, and you can still participate. If you must reserve your listing for purchase, please follow Etsy's recommendations and edit both your title and your description to begin with: "RESERVED FOR (buyer's Etsy username, or designation of buyer's choice) ONLY." Etsy does not allow the listing of items not for sale, so reserving your entry to sell elsewhere or keep for yourself is not permitted. Please do not put your shop on vacation mode when you have an item entered in the challenge, or deactivate your entry from the time you list, until the close of the challenge. If you must be away from your shop, please leave your challenge entry active, with a message explaining the date the item will shipped if purchased."

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, 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. Please test this tag by searching "handmade" and "EBWC" on Etsy. If your entry does not appear in this search within an hour after listing and tagging it, please contact a moderator for assistance. Please do not apply this tag until after the previous challenge poll closes on the 15th, and remove the tag after the voting poll closes, so entries for the next month’s challenge can be featured.

About Promoting the Public Voting Poll

The purpose of the public poll is to bring as many viewers to our team blog as possible, increasing awareness of Etsy Beadweavers and our art form. The winner of the public poll should be the work that the most viewers liked the best. PLEASE DO NOT request that your friends vote for your work, or that of another member. Please let them make up their own minds about which entry they like the best. Promote the challenge by inviting as many friends, acquaintances, co-workers and family members as you like to vote for their favorite entry. Please use your blog, Facebook, Twitter and any other resources you have to drive traffic to our blog during the challenge. Feel free to say which entry is yours. Many friends will choose to support you with a vote. Let’s play fair with each other, and keep our challenges fun for all.