May 2017 "My Favorite Dessert" Challenge

Here are the entries for this month's "My Favorite Dessert" challenge!  VOTING WILL BE OPEN FROM MAY 9TH UNTIL MAY 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. Tropical Smoothie Beauty - 4uidzne

 2. Slice - BlissWorksStudio

3. Strawberry Cream - CraftNicheDili

4. Fuchsia Necklace - WizardIslandDesigns

5. Sugar Skull Sugar Cookie - tattooedraven

6. Pavlova - SpringColors

January 2017 Challenge Entries for "Colors of Love"

Here are the entries for this month's "Colors of Love" challenge!  VOTING WILL BE OPEN FROM FEBRUARY 9TH UNTIL FEBRUARY 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. All you Need is Love! - SheWalksinCrystal

2. Rose Quartz Pink Necklace - beadn4fun

3. The Colors of Love-Amethyst bead embroidered bracelet - JudesArt

4. Romantic Heart - enchantedbeads

5. Valentine's Day Necklace - Svetush

6. Bead Embroidery Brooch - BenitaStyleBG

7. Color of Love Heart Brooch - MaryTDesigns

8. Bracelet with Roses - SpringColors

9. My Beaded Heart - WizardIslandDesigns

10. I love YOU, Ocean - BeadCatcher

11. Simply Pink Love Garland Necklace - FrancescasFancy

Interview with November 2016 Challenge Winner Évi Csizmadia Lajosné of Vicus

Évi Csizmadia Lajosné of Vicus is the winner of both the public and team votes for the November 2016 Challenge 'November Guest'

Check out all the fantastic entries! 

Check out Évi's shop!

What initially attracted you to beads as a medium?
Several years ago, I was about 8-9 years old when I began to explore the world of beads.

And, more specifically, how was your imagination drawn to bead weaving?
At the time, cross stitch embroideries were being made. It was a favorite magazine subject, where I saw at first bead jewelry making. I really liked one design and thought that I could make it. The first attempt was very well done and then on I liked the world of beads.

What was your route to becoming an artist?
I began simpler pieces, I always made jewelry that was complex and time-consuming. I learned on the Internet, bought samples, attended forums. I was looking for beaded groups on the Internet. I learned a lot, including new techniques.



Tell us a bit about your favorite techniques.

A new technique suddenly appeared in the bead embroidery magazine I read. I loved it, I knew right away that this is my thing. Hatvani Annie was the first one who displayed embroidered bead jewelry. His knowledge about using more about the bead embroidery spoke to me.
Using the Internet has opened the world of beading to me. I recognized all over the world various bead artists. I saw fantastic jewelry. Both inspired me to create my jewelry that is similar, but according to their my own plans.

Do you design the piece before starting? If not, what prep work do you do?
A small piece of jewelry does not always need a plan in advance. For a ring, pendant or something less, in the central part, I choose and find out on the fly how to include more beads. The bracelets and necklaces are planned more in advance, drawn on paper.

What currently inspires you?
I enjoy the diversity of new beads which have coming out lately. I love to try them. They offer a lot of new possibilities. But my big love is Swarovski stones and gemstones. I make a lot of jewelry that combines the two.

Who have been your major influences, and why?
Nowadays there are Russian artists with pieces that have a great impact on me.
I love it when my jewelry can be worn either in formal settings or on weekdays as well. I love the elegant, unique jewelry, or what was once seen that unique. I love it when the owner of the jewelry turns even more beautiful thanks to my pieces

What is your favorite thing about working with beads?

Not so long ago since I made pattern samples. A request was made at first by a beading magazine. There are also simpler designs that even beginners can feel free to make, but I make more complicated, more complex samples. The ease of patterns and beauty of the jewelry are equally important.

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

Interview with September Challenge Winner Nina Savova of NinaSavovaArt

Nina Savova is the winner of the September Challenge 'Our Wonderful World'. We asked her to tell us a bit about herself.

See all the beautiful original submissions!

Check out Nina's Shop

Hello Ms. Savova,

Congratulations on your winning entry for the September challenge, Ledenica Cave. It is a beautiful vision of Our Wonderful World.

Where in Bulgaria are you from, and is that where you currently live?
Is there a someplace you would like to visit or even live some day?

I live in Sofia, Bulgaria.
There are many beautiful places in the world, but I'm fine at home.

Do you have a background in the arts?
What type of work do you do for a living?

I was an expert in telecommunications, but now I'm retired.

How long have you been working with beads?
What is your favorite technique?

I have worked with beads since 2011.
I love all bead techniques.



Your piece, Ledenika Cave, is lovely. I see it is inspired by a famous place in Bulgaria. The center stone evokes images of a pool of water deep in a cave. Can you tell us a little more about the place, and perhaps more about the materials in your necklace?

Ledenika Cave is just one of the many beautiful places in Bulgaria. Come and see them!
The semiprecious stone in the necklace is agate. Agate is my favorite stone; it is always different and always beautiful.

Are there any beaders you admire?
Which artists or bead workers do you feel have had an influence on your beadwork?

I have learned from all the known masters. I try to have my own style. I would like people to recognize me when they see my work, but it is slow. I hope I have time for that.

-Interview by Patti Parker

January 2017 "Rising Star"

January 2017 will be our 5th "Rising Star" Challenge.  Only new members and members who have not won a Challenge (Team or Blog winner) in the past 3 years are welcome to submit an entry for this Challenge.  A list of Challenge Winners from January 2014 to date is included below.


Note to team members:
There is no theme so let your imagination run free and show us your best, your signature style if you wish, or something you would simply love to do for the fun of it. Make sure to have your entry listed in your Etsy shop by January 5, 201
6 23:59 EST. Please refer to the Challenge Rules for details on what is allowed in Challenge entries and don't forget to include EBWC in the title and tags of your entry.

List of Challenge Winners 2014-2016

2016

Nov 2016 - "November Guest"
TBA

Oct 2016- "Shades of Shadows"
Team Winner/s: Milda Snaige of NetootiaJewelry
Public Winner/s: Milda Snaige of NetootiaJewelry

Sep 2016 - "Our Wonderful World"
Team Winner/s: Nina Savova of NinaSavovaArt and Angel McIlwain of PaintedTreeStudio
Public Winner/s: BlissWorksStudio
 
Aug 2016 -"Rainbows"
Team Winner/s: Ann of Francescas Fancy
Public Winner/s: Daiva Karsokienė of Daidija

Jul 2016 - "Mythical, Mystical and Magical Creatures"
Team Winner/s: Svetoslava Todorova of LuckyDesignCrafts
Public Winner/s: Svetoslava Todorova of LuckyDesignCrafts

Jun 2016 - "Cats"
Team Winner/s: SunShine Sturtz of OfYourLove
Public Winner/s: SunShine Sturtz of OfYourLove

May 2016 - "Four Elements"
Team Winner/s: SunShine Sturtz of OfYourLove
Public Winner/s:SunShine Sturtz of OfYourLove

Apr 2016- "Pompeii"
Team Winner/s: Sabina Vladimirova from SabinaJewel
Public Winner/s:Sabina Vladimirova from SabinaJewel

Mar 2016- "Masquerade"
Team Winner/s: Sabina Vladimirova from SabinaJewel
Public Winner/s:Sabina Vladimirova from SabinaJewel
 
Feb 2016 - "The Solar System"
Team Winner/s: Cira Troilo of CiraDesign
Public Winner/s: Sabina Vladimirova of SabinaJewel

Jan 2016 - “Rising Star” Special Challenge
Team Winner/s:  Anna Cohen of AnnaCohen
Public Winner/s: Anna Cohen of AnnaCohen


2015

Nov 2015 - "Landscape"
Team Winner/s:  Lisa Savoy – savoystudio
Public Winner/s: AngelqueCreations

Oct 2015 - "Abstract Painting"
Team Winner/s: Sarah Cryer – SarahCryerBeadwork
Public Winner/s: Sharayah Sheldon - 4uidzne

Sep 2015 - "Black, White, and One"
Team Winner/s: Lisa Savoy – savoystudio
Public Winner/s: Sharayah Sheldon - 4uidzne

Aug 2015 - "Lost Civilizations"
Team Winner/s: Laurie Moravec – WearableArtByLaurie
Public Winner/s: Sharayah Sheldon - 4uidzne

Jul 2015 - "Architecture"
Team Winner/s: Kris Empting-Obenland – KrisDesignFSP
Public Winner/s: Kris Empting-Obenland – KrisDesignFSP

Jun 2015 - “Game Of Thrones”
Team Winner/s: Edita Kricenaite – RebelSoulEK
Public Winner/s: Edita Kricenaite – RebelSoulEK

May 2015 - “Inspired By Chihuly”
Team Winner/s: Chris Maj - beadn4fun, Sarah Cryer - SarahCryerBeadwork and Hannah Rosner – HannahRachel
Public Winner/s: Edita Kricenaite – RebelSoulEK

Apr 2015 - “Hardware”
Team Winner/s: Edita Kricenaite – RebelSoulEK
Public Winner/s: Edita Kricenaite – RebelSoulEK

Mar 2015 - “Spring Migration”
Team Winner/s: Karen Parker – WizardIslandDesigns
Public Winner/s: Karen Parker – WizardIslandDesigns

Feb 2015 - “Let The Show Begin!”
Team Winner/s: Kris Empting-Obenland – KrisDesignFSP
Public Winner/s: Kris Empting-Obenland - KrisDesignFSP & Mariya Zhalnina – BeadCatcher 

Jan 2015 - “Rising Star” Special Challenge
Team Winner/s: Diana Coe - BeadworkAndCoe & Joanne Zammit – JoanneZammit
Public Winner/s: Ileana Munteanu – enchantedbeads


2014

Dec 2014 - “Warm and Fuzzy”
Team Winner/s: Chris Maj - beadn4fun
Public Winner/s: Chris Maj - beadn4fun

Nov 2014 “The Perfect Present”
Team Winner/s: Sandra Scholte - TrinketsBeadwork & Angie Mézes – RedTulipDesign
Public Winner/s: Shine Shurtz – OfYourLove

Oct 2014 - “Owl Totem”
Team Winner/s: Shine Shurtz – OfYourLove
Public Winner/s: Raven Pena – tatooedraven

Sep 2014 - “Your Favorite Children’s Book”
Team Winner/s: Marsha Wiest-Hines – HauteIceBeadwork
Public Winner/s: Albena Petkova – BenitaStyleBG

Aug 2014 - “Scotland The Brave”
Team Winner/s: Mariya Zhalnina – BeadCatcher
Public Winner/s: Mariya Zhalnina – BeadCatcher

Jul 2014 - “The Most Colorful Animals”
Team Winner/s: Shine Shurtz – OfYourLove
Public Winner/s: Shine Shurtz – OfYourLove

Jun 2014 - “Steampunk Style”
Team Winner/s: Dayna Miles – DaynaMilesDesigns
Public Winner/s: Cath Thomas – SamohtaC

May 2014 - “How Unusual!”
Team Winner/s: Ewa Machnik - Maewa Design
Public Winner/s: Ewa Machnik - Maewa Design & Raven Pena – tatooedraven

Apr 2014 - “Inspired By Kandinsky”
Team Winner/s: Chris Maj - beadn4fun
Public Winner/s: Laura Leupke – TheVerdantEdge

Mar 2014 - “Am I Blue?”
Team Winner/s: Évi Csizmadia Lajosné - Vicus & Dani Deli from dDeli
Public Winner/s: Raven Pena – tatooedraven

Feb 2014 - “Warmth”
Team Winner/s: Karen Parker – WizardIslandDesigns
Public Winner/s: Évi Csizmadia Lajosné – Vicus

Jan 2014 - “Rising Star” Special Challenge 

Team Winner/s: Cira Troilo – mysweetcrochet
Public Winner/s: Laurie Moravec – WearableArtByLaurie

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

September 2016 Challenge: “Our Wonderful World”

A great theme for September chosen by Svetoslava Todorova from LuckyDesignCrafts:

"Our wonderful world" - all that surround us, inspires us and make us feel the unique beauty of the Planet. I wish to all members of the Team, inspiration and creativity."

 

This is a very vast Challenge that will surely inspire many of our members in different ways. Your inspiration could be a place, a season (or all four!), scenery, life on land or sea, etc. Please include details in your listing.

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Remember to have your entry listed in your Etsy shop by September 5, 2016 23:59 EST and include EBWC in the title and tags of your entry.
_

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

Image by Buddy_Nath via Pixabay, published under CC0.

July 2016 'Mystical, Mythical and Magical Creatures' Challenge Results

Congratulations to the winner of both the team and public votes Svetoslava Todorova of LuckyDesignCrafts!

TEAM VOTE RESULTS:


Legend of the Unicorn Necklace - LuckyDesignCrafts - 12 votes (19.4%)

Hippogriff Eagle – OfYourLove – 9 votes (14.5%)
 

Dragon on a Wire – Beadditz – 8 votes (12.9%)

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PUBLIC VOTE RESULTS:
 

Legend of the Unicorn Necklace– LuckyDesignCrafts – 64 votes (27.7%)
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In Honor of Argus The Watcher – tattooedraven – 45 votes (19.5%)
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Hippogriff Eagle – OfYourLove – 27 votes (11.7%)

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

Entries for July's "Mystical, Mythical and Magical Creatures" Challenge

Here are the entries for this month's "Mystical, Mythical and Magical Creatures" challenge!  VOTING WILL BE OPEN FROM JULY 9TH UNTIL JUNE 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. Fae's Garden Necklace - HannahRachel

2. The Witches Circle - MarinaBeads06

3. Forest Nymph Necklace - STARARTjewelry

4. Unicorn Necklace - ArtfulAr

5. Dragon on a Wire - Beadditz

6. Forest Dryad Diadem - HumdrumAuguries

7. Legend of The Unicorn Necklace - LuckyDesignCrafts

8. Egyptian Scarab - enchantedbeads

9. Dragon Scales Necklace - GrainesDeSable

10. Clockwork Gears Steampunk Chronos Necklace - beadn4fun

11. Goddess Bee - PlumidiaCollection

12. In Honor of Argus The Watcher - tattooedraven

13. Arthur Pendantdragon - scarboro

14. Dragon Necklace - MegansBeadedDesigns

15. The White Witch's Necklace - WizardIslandDesigns

16. Snake in the Garden - SpringColors

17. Hippogriff Eagle - OfYourLove

August 2016 Challenge: Rainbows

Thanks once again to Shine Sturz for our August Challenge theme. She says:

“There was a massive storm here last week and as it moved east there was the most incredible bright set of double rainbows stretching the full arc from one side of the horizon to the other! Designs should have every color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.”

https://pixabay.com/en/users/wjgomes-547207/

Please be sure to have your entry listed in your Etsy shop by August 5, 2016 23:59 EST and remember to include EBWC in the title and tags of your entry. Kindly refer to the Challenge Rules for details on what is allowed in Challenge entries to ensure that your entry is compliant.

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!