November Challenge Winner

There were 480 votes (up again from the last month's number!) this month and fewer entries so we have a resounding winner with 140 votes (29% of the total). Congratulations to triz of who won with her Let My People Go Collar ! Triz says about this piece:

The inspiration behind “Let My People Go” came from the story of Pesach (Passover). Pesach commemorates the departure of the nation of Israel from Egypt. It marks the birth of the Jewish people as a nation led by Moses over 3000 years ago. It is as much a celebration of our spiritual freedom as it is the physical liberation from slavery.

Second: 14. The Hoshen - a Breastplate - beadshead

Third: 4. hands against time cuff - thebeadedlily

Fourth: 6. The Greek Key - BeadsAndI

Fifth: was a tie between 9. ONE WORLD Bead Woven Embroidered Cuff Bracelet - caraway and 15. Plaid Pride Bracelet - FrancescasFancy

Sixth: 12. Proud to be an American - dreambeadweaver

Seventh: Another tie: 16. Patchwork Cuff - playnwithbeads and 1. Catching A Dream Bracelet - myfairladyvt4

Eighth: 5. Celtic North American Native - SilkenLariat

Ninth: The third tie! 3. Beaded Ancestral Expressions Petroglyph Totem Cane - SalamanderHouse and 8. DNA in Violet and Blue - Wide Beadwoven Peyote Cuff - time2cre8

Tenth: 7. Hungarian meets French - beaddiddy

And now, it's time to start watching for the entries for the December Challenge. You can be sure that many of our EBW members have been working on their entries for the 'Snow Queen' theme. As you know, our winner's prize is the opportunity to choose the theme for the next challenge. So watch for the announcement of the January/February Challenge theme at the end of November.

Many thanks to all of the amazing beaders who entered the November Challenge. And many thanks as well to everyone who took the time to vote! We appreciate your participation! If you haven't participated in our challenge before, it's time to get your thinking cap on and get beading!

Meet EBW Member Patrizia Tager

1. How did you get started with beadweaving?

As a little girl I was taught by one of our babysitter to make my own loom out of a shoe box and to weave beaded bracelets on it. I remember loving it but somehow it was pushed aside and forgotten. As I grew up I pursued different artistic avenues. I graduated with a B.A. Hons. In Fashion Design and went on to study photography, but eventually I became a desktop publisher. About 3 years ago, when my son turned one and started day care a few times a week, in desperate need to do something creative I took the opportunity of a few free hours a week to enrol myself in 4 basic beading classes at the local bead shop. That was the beginning of my obsession. The classes weren't enough, so I started buying beadweaving books and magazines and found myself discovering a whole new world that I did not even know existed.

2. What is your favorite part of beadweaving?

My favourite part of beadweaving... I don't have a favourite part, I love it all!!! From buying the beads, to choosing the colour scheme, to learning new techniques, to sitting for hours in complete solitude with my work which I find very meditative, to finally seeing my vision realised in front of me.

3. Please tell us one little known or unknown fact about yourself?

My other "obsession" is tattoos, I have 20 and would love more but am scared of running out of skin!

4. What inspires you?

I really get inspired by everything. I find myself drawn to ancient civilizations and their arts but I am equally moved by modern design and nature. Colours that fit my mood at a given time are also where I draw my inspiration from. I often design a piece simply because I feel like using a particular colour to recreate a particular mood. And last but not least, I get inspired by the beads themselves and the opportunity for freedom of creativity that this medium allows.

5. Do you have a favourite piece you created?

My favourite piece is almost always the one I'm working on. I have to fall in love with the piece as I'm making it, otherwise it would never get finished, but if I had to pick just one it would be the Eye of the Storm necklace which was my entry for the EBW Stormy Whether Challenge.



Triz was recently published for the first time in Flatwork by Nicole Campanella.



Nicole, says about the book:

"FlatWork" is a beautiful beading projects book. Full of inspirational gallery pieces of flatwork created by artists from around the world. You will be completely inspired to create all of the projects in this amazing book. Traditional projects such as, Rosette necklaces, Bolo with a surprise, Three Ring wristband, and Appliqué flower. Contemporary tiered, shelved, and textured Flatwork. I have also included my wire flatwork projects, to mention just a few. I show systematically how to work basic Flatwork to create amazing pieces of art.

Read what Triz has to say about Flatwork. You can see more beautiful art jewelry pieces by Triz at Triz Designs on Etsy.

Congratulations to our April Challenge Winner!

Flower of Fire's Heart


was chosen as the winner of the Etsy Beadweaver's April Challenge - Fire and Flowers!


Wolf, aka DantesSpirit, is a seasoned veteran of the Beadweaver's team and actually chose this theme for the Fire and Flowers challenge. She will also have the honor of choosing the theme for our June challenge so stay tuned for that announcement before the end of the month.





The runners up in this month's challenge were:

2nd Place - 24. Blazing Flowers by Triz

3rd Place - 21. Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire by jstinson

4th Place - 22. Petals of Flame by AmethystRavenstar

5th Place - 4. Flames and Flowers by enchantedbeads

6th Place - 15. Firewheel by SweetFreedom

7th Place - 30. Summer Flame by SandFibers

8th Place - 14. Tattoo Flames Bracelet by PinkPoochDesigns

9th Place - 18. Huang by SilverDragon

10th Place - 19. Flamboyant Flower Brooch by enchantedbeads

Thanks to everyone that participated in the challenge and that voted!!

Praying for Rain
won the hearts of the voters in the Etsy BeadWeavers Stormy Weather challenge.

Erin, aka ThePreciousBeads, is a relative newcomer to the Etsy BeadWeavers Team; but she's already showing off her artistic talents and beadweaving skills with her entry into the March challenge. Erin will have the privilege of choosing the theme for the May challenge, so keep your eyes peeled for the announcement of her chosen theme sometime before the end of the month.

The runners up in this month's challenge are:

11. Eye of the Storm Necklace, by triz

22. Lightning Storm, by PinkPoochDesigns

12. Ice Storm - Peyote Freeform Necklace, by totallytwisted

5. Storm Necklace, by nemeton

26. The Purple Eye of a Summer Storm, by enchantedbeads

32. Dragonfly After the Storm Beaded Choker, by dawnchastain

4. Stormy Weather, Necklace and Bracelet Set, by TulipsTreasureBox

27. After the Storm, Here Comes the Sun, by enchantedbeads

25. Storm at the Iceberg, by enchantedbeads

We had 32 beautiful entries this month, from 22 of our members; and thanks to a few of our members who kept the forum posts alive, posted in their blogs and other sites, and created Treasuries filled with these beauties, we had a whopping 736 votes!!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the challenge and to everyone who voted!