April Challenge Theme

Mariya of BeadCatcher won our January/February Challenge "Tropical Holiday and has come up with a theme for our April Challenge. It's going to be a very interesting Challenge. Put your most creative thinking cap on and start stitching you impression of....

"Time Machine"

Here's what Mariya had to say:

I guess everybody once in a while has had that thought "What if?" Yes, what if you were given a once in a life time chance to travel through time and space; to travel into past or future; to travel into a real or imagined world? Where would you go? What would you see there? Just think about it. Take the trip and share it with us in the form of beading art with its unlimited possibilities!

The Challenge has been issued! What are you going to come up with?

You can start today, February 28, 2009 and complete and list it by midnight Etsy time, April 5, 2009!

Rules:
Any style, any technique with a majority of beadweaving is welcome.
ONE only entry allowed per person.
The piece MUST be created between February 28, 2009 and April 5, 2009

See our FAQ here for all of the details on the rules of our challenges.

Tropical Holiday Challenge Winner

With 47 entries from the members of the Etsy Beadweavers team, this challenge had more participants than ever before! Maybe it's the cold weather, but our members really seemed to enjoy the Tropical Holiday challenge theme, pulling out their brightest beads and creating some of the most elaborate pieces seen to date.

Although choosing among the 47 beautiful entries was difficult, almost 700 people took on the task and chose the Tropical Treasures necklace created by Mariya of BeadCatcher.


Of her piece, Mariya says:

Ocean, weaves, shells on the beach... Yes, the necklace will remind you your Tropical Paradise! The center piece of the necklace is beaded deep blue glass cabochon with a diver! Was it you searching for the lost treasures on the ocean bottom? Curious tropical fish, open shell with real pearls, seaweed, anemones, beadwoven starfish and even beadwoven jellyfish (no worry, just glass beads!). Jellyfish fringe-like tentacles are hiding two small teal and blue glass fish.

The runners up in the Tropical Holiday challenge are:

Second: Tropical Garden by: SpringColors

Third: Tropical Holiday by: veroque

Fourth: Tropical Paradise Necklace by: CieloDesign

Fifth: Tropical Nights by: SmadarsTreasure

Sixth: Pink Flamingo Fantasy Necklace by: gypsyeyesjewelry

Seventh: Island Treasure Chest by: BeadazzledofOregon

Eighth: Tropical Rainforest Getaway by: Bead4you

Ninth: What if I'm a Mermaid by: ThesePreciousThings

Tenth: Blue lagoon necklace N961 by: FleurDeIrk

The Etsy Beadweavers are already busy working on their entries for the next theme, Temptation. Read more about the March challenge here.

Etsy BeadWeavers January/February Challenge - Tropical Holiday

The entries for the challenge are in and yet again, they are simply beautiful, creative and amazing! Imagine that all of these entrants took the time and talent to create these inspiring challenge pieces!

You can click on the item in the text list below the mosaic which links to the Etsy Shop listing of each entrant where you will see more detail of each piece! Be sure to come back on the 9th when the poll will be available for you to cast your vote, February 9th thru the 15th!

1. Caribbean Surf Collar by: nemeton


2. Scorpion Fish by: njema


3. Dreaming of Hawaii by: randomcreative


4. A Walk on the Beach by: beadsandblooms


5. Peace on the beach by: PFordCustomJewelry


6. Orchid Beauty by: ArtfulAr


7. Rainforest Necklace by: charmingthings


8. Blue lagoon necklace N961 by: FleurDeIrk


9. Paradise by: beadsforever


10.Pink Flamingo Fantasy Necklace by: gypsyeyesjewelry


11. Sultry Salty Sand and Surf by: janetkemp88


12. hawaii '09 necklace by: thebeadedlily

13. Tropical Sunset Garden Necklace (1384) by: clairecreations


14. The Lively Sea by: farfrumplainjane


15. Tropical Holiday bracelet by: 6Carmen6


16. Beachcombing the Sea of Cortez - A Tropical Holiday by: dreambeadweaver


17. What if I'm a Mermaid by: ThesePreciousThings


18. Tropical Breezes by: RegalBeads


19. Tropical Chic - Choker by: Triz


20. Spinny Girl on the Beach by: BeadArtbyShari


21. Tropical Garden by: SpringColors


22. Tropical Paradise Necklace by: CieloDesign


23. Coral Reef Cuff Bracelet by: FrancescasFancy


24. TORTUGA by: caraway


25. CRYSTAL LEI by: fashionsfrome


26. Tropical Nights by: SmadarsTreasure


27. Tropical Flower Brooch by: enchantedbeads


28. Tropical Dream Cuff by: arosebyname


29. Calypso Necklace by: DeepSeaBeads


30. Tropical Whale Tails Bracelet by: SalamanderHouse


31. Tropical Holiday by: veroque


32. Caribbean Sunset by: totallytwisted


33. Bougainvillea Bouquet by: KerrieSlade


34. Tropical greenwood by: beadshead


35. Beachcomber by: vanishingpearl


36. Island Treasure Chest by: BeadazzledofOregon


37. Mayan Sun by: ThreeFatesDesign


38. Girlie Drinks and Sunsets by: HannahRachel


39. MAUI WEDDING by: Chrisbeads


40. Strelitzia by: MadeByOlga


41. ti leaf and orchid lei by: beadwoman3


42. Sunset in the Islands by: 1965angelika


43. Tropical Treasures by: BeadCatcher


44. On The Beach by: SilverDragon


45. Loopy Lei Necklace by: beadworkbyamanda


46. Tropical Rainforest Getaway by: Bead4you


47. Sea and Sand Necklace by: Beadmatrix


Voting begins on Monday, February 9th and ends midnight February 15th. The best way to show your appreciation for the efforts of these amazing artists is by taking on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. This month there are so many exquisite entries it will be even more difficult to choose just one! (The ballot will appear on the side bar at right on February 9th.) Again, the individual pieces are listed below the mosaic where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link. Thank you, enjoy and be sure to come back to vote between February 9th and 15th!

Many thanks to Ann of Francesca's Fancy for compiling the information and creating the Mosaic.

March Challenge Theme

Our last challenge winner was Karin of Gypsy Eyes Jewelry and as always, her prize is choosing the next theme.

Karin and I exchanged a few emails about her theme "Temptation" and here is what she says about it:

This past weekend I was listening to some Tom Waits whilst sitting at my workbench..... beading, of course. The song "Temptation" came on. Temptation? Hmmmm.......

We could safely bead representations of our guilty pleasures perhaps: No more bon-bons on my lips and hips! Draping around my neck or dangling from my ears instead.

Or make something so beautifully bejeweled as to tempt all who lay eyes upon it.

Or we could give in to the temptation to attempt that great masterpiece that requires stepping out and trying something totally new to us.

I hope that the individual interpretation of the theme allows us to learn something new about each other and ourselves. Too deep? Okay, let's just have fun with this!

Sounds to me like a Tempting theme!

You can start today, January 31, 2009 and complete and list it by midnight Etsy time, March 5, 2009!

Rules:
Any style, any technique with a majority of beadweaving is welcome.
ONE only entry allowed per person.
The piece must be created between January 31, 2009 and March 5, 2009

See our FAQ here here for all of the details on the rules of our challenges.

Beadwoven Jewelry Care Instructions

After much discussion among Etsy BeadWeavers Team Members, the following care instructions were assembled.

Dear Customer,

Thank you for purchasing from an Etsy BeadWeavers (EBW) Team member’s shop.
Following are some instructions regarding your purchase. These guidelines will ensure your beadwoven jewelry piece will remain as beautiful in the future as on the day you bought it.

Jewelry bought from the shops of EBW Team members is hand-made from tiny glass beads and thread or cord. As any other piece of valued jewelry it requires special care.

Please store your beadwoven items in the original package in a dry place that is protected from direct sunlight. EBW Team members use only high quality materials in their creations; however, many types of seed beads can tarnish, change, or even loose their color if stored in high moisture, heat or sunlight. Those conditions may also damage the thread, making it brittle. A soft pouch will prevent seed beads, crystals and gems in your woven items from chipping and scratching. Avoid dropping or tossing your beadwoven jewelry onto hard surfaces.

Never expose beadwoven jewelry to water, perfume or any other chemicals (including soap and other detergents, crèmes, lotions, disinfectants, etc.). Do not wear it when doing dishes, taking showers or swimming. Make sure to take it off before going to bed.

If these recommendations for care are not followed, we cannot guarantee your complete satisfaction with our products, nor their durability. When properly cared for beadwoven jewelry will serve you for many years to come and may even stay in your family for generations.

Sincerely,



Proud Member of Etsy BeadWeavers Team

This document was edited by Olga Vinnere Pettersson. Many thanks.

December Challenge Winner

There were 658 votes (hugely up again from the last month's number!) this month and with 31 gorgeous entries so we have a resounding winner with 133 votes (20% of the total number of votes). Congratulations to Karin of Gypsy Eyes Jewelry who won with her Queen of the Frozen Tundra necklace. Karin says about this piece:

The Queen is an exquisite hand sculpted and painted porcelain pendant by the fabulous artist Pat Swyler. The patina of her complexion is a lovely icy blue. The crown jewels of her woven head-dress are a shimmering raw silver-gray diamond and magical boulder opals, their brilliant flashes of color reminiscent of the Northern Lights.

The necklace represents her kingdom: frost covered branches, snowflakes and icicles - all lovingly hand-beaded/ woven with tiny glass delica beads, opal, aquamarine, rainbow moonstone, pink kunzite, blue topaz and freshwater pearls.

Second: 27. Queen of the Snow - savoystudio

Third: 18. Yuki Onna - Japanese Snow Woman - SmadarsTreasure

Fourth: 11. Frozen Waters - Cuff - triz

Fifth: 7. Snow Queen necklace - CieloDesign

Sixth: 4. A Royal Affair - beadsforever

Seventh: 19. Anastasia choker - MCDdesigns

Eighth: 1. mirka collar - thebeadedlily

Ninth: 23. Snow princess necklace - FleurDeIrk

Tenth: 21. Snowflake Fairy - BeadazzledofOregon

And now, BeadWeavers, it's time to take a break and enjoy the holidays before you start working on the entries for the January/February Challenge. Don't forget that you have some extra time. Entries are not due until midnight Etsy Time, February 5th. As you know, our current winner's prize is the opportunity to choose the theme for the next challenge. So watch for the announcement of the March Challenge theme at the end of January.

Many thanks to all of the amazing beaders who participated in the November Challenge. And many thanks as well to everyone who took the time to vote! We appreciate your participation!

If you haven't entered in our challenge before, it's time to get your thinking cap on and get beading on the January/February Challenge - Tropical Holiday!

Etsy Beadweavers' December Challenge - Snow Queen

The entries for the challenge are in and yet again, they are simply beautiful, creative and amazing! Imagine that all of these entrants took the time and talent to create these inspiring challenge pieces!

You can click on the item in the text list below the mosaic which links to the Etsy Shop listing of each entrant where you will see more detail of each piece! Be sure to come back on the 9th when the poll will be available for you to cast your vote, December 9th thru the 15th!

1. mirka collar - thebeadedlily

2. Snow Queen Musical Box - enchanted beads

3. winter's court necklace - AmethystRavenstar

4. A Royal Affair - beadsforever

5. Snow Blind - artzilla

6. Ice Crystals Holiday Bracelet - arosebyname

7. Snow Queen necklace - CieloDesign

8. Jadis , Beadwoven Cuff - RegalBeads

9. The Snow Queen's Dandelion - divina

10. Snow Queen Choker - njema

11. Frozen Waters - Cuff - triz

12. Queen of Ice and Snow Necklace - HannahRachel

13. Snowdrop - ErtheFae

14. Ice Dream - nemeton

15. Queen of the Frozen Tundra - gypsyeyesjewelry

16. Snow Queen Beaded Cuff - celestialfoundations

17. Snowflake - ArtfulAr

18. Yuki Onna - Japanese Snow Woman - SmadarsTreasure

19. Anastasia choker - MCDdesigns

20. For the White Witch of Narnia - ThesePreciousThings

21. Snowflake Fairy - BeadazzledofOregon

22. Snow Queen - cigarboxbeads

23. Snow princess necklace - FleurDeIrk

24. Snow Queen Collar - LiciaBeads

25. Royal Crystal Necklace - SpringColors

26. Snowfall - beadsandblooms

27. Queen of the Snow - savoystudio

28. Snow Queen amulet bag - PFordCustomJewelry

29. Snow Queen Paisley Bracelet - myfairladyvt4

30. Victorian Icicles Necklace - FrancescasFancy

31. Snow Queen Icicle Cascade Necklace - Emarah

Voting begins on Tuesday, December 9th and ends midnight December 15th. The best way to show your appreciation for the efforts of these amazing artists is by taking on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. (The ballot will appear on the side bar at right on December 9th.) Again, the individual pieces are listed below the mosaic where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link. Thank you, enjoy and be sure to come back to vote between December 9th and 15th!