Warmth
As the wind blows the snow around outside, and ice covers the world, humans retreat into warm places by their fires, under blankets made of wool, while animals outside use fallen leaves as blankets. Some hibernate in groups, their breathing slowing down huddled together in a furry pile, and as for us humans, we grab a cup of tea or hot chocolate with marshmallows, put on wool socks or sheepskin slippers, comfy sweaters and blankets, and enjoy the feeling of warmth, coziness, that is the sweetest when you know there is bone chilling cold outside.
Think flames, ember and ashes, think wool, fleece and fur, warm things for the tummy and warm things for the soul.
Think of whatever it is that makes you feel warm on a long February night, and turn it into a cozy warm beaded piece.
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.
