EBW July Challenge: The Most Colorful Animals

Yes, I am alive! And, hear hear, I am finally partecipating to the monthly EBW challenge!
This month the theme is The Most Colorful Animals, and my mind couldn't stop thinking about this creature:

Source: Pinterest

I discovered the Mantis Shrimp thanks to The Oatmeal, and I suggest you all jump to his amazing website and read this infographic he created.
Stunning, isn't it?!
This little, amazing creature can break glass. Can you imagine that?!
So playing with CRAW I attempted to make a tiny Mantis Shrimp

and I came up with a wrap bracelet

I love how the tummy came out, even though this part is a work of fantasy

I promise better pics in the morning, in the meanwhile it's already dark in here and I had to rush to post this last minute creation.
Don't forget to jump on out team blog http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.co.at/ to vote for your favourite colored animal from the 5th July until the 16th!!!

An unusual challenge

May challenge theme from the Esty Beadweavers Team 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 Maymust 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!"

You can visit the team blog and vote for your favorite piece until the 16th, please try to take the time to singularly visit each entry and I promise you will be amazed by the details and the unusuality!!!

Are you blue?

This is not definitely the time to be blue with this amazing spring weather, but what we mean here is, of course, the colour blue.
Yes, march challenge arrived and the Etsy Beadweavers members did their best to honor the theme

Looks like blue is everybody's favorite! 46 entries which will put you in a very difficult situation when the time to choose will come!
Head to our team blog to vote for your favorite blue creation, you have time until the 16th!

Warmth

This month has been so cold and full of weather alerts all around the world, so the Etsy Beadweavers Team decided to warm you up with its latest challenge:

"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."

As usual there is time until the 16th to vote for your favorite on our team's blog!

EBW december challenge: "Out of this World"

This month we have a very sci-fi challenge from the Etsy Beadweavers Team.

Out of this World:
"In this theme, I ask you to be inspired by things that are “out of this world”. Whether you choose to explore elements of science fiction/fantasy or real world celestial bodies, the only requirement is that you let your imagination run wild and “aim for the stars”.

Extremely cool, right?!!
Go on our team blog and cast your vote, you have time to think about it and spread the word until the 16th as usual!

EBW October challenge: The Art of Geometry

Haven't been much around lately, but I couldn't miss the appointment with the Etsy Beadweavers team monthly challenge.
The October theme is "The Art of Geometry":

 "Artists have used geometry for centuries to create aesthetically pleasing works, whether it was a matter of determining proportions or using geometric shapes to create abstract designs. This challenge is an opportunity to participate in this grand artistic tradition. Geometry's concern with shape, size, area, and volume make it a resonant field for many forms of beadweaving, most notably those techniques for creating geometric shapes and structures out of beads.
Think broadly with your interpretation of this challenge theme - consider probing geometric issues of two- or three-dimensional beadwork, play with lines, angles, and shapes. Experiment with symmetry, explore the possibilities of repetition with tessellations, work with the geometric forms found in nature, or draw inspiration from classic works of art such as Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man."

Vote for your favorite until October 15th on our team blog!!!

EBW challenge Sea Adventures

This month couldn't have a more proper theme for the Etsy Beadweavers challenge:

"...thinking of hot summer days, vacations, and traveling by the sea or under the sea, whatever inspires you..."

Amazing creations ready to be admired one by one and voted until the 15th, as usual, on our team blog.
Don't waste time!

EBW July challenge: "Beautiful Summer Flowers"

This month the Etsy Beadweavers members are dealing with beaded flowers:

"The summertime with the sunny days and all beautiful flowers is full of energy like an engine for coming autumn and winter. It would be nice to create something new thinking about warm days. I live in wet Normandy so this kind of project keeps me warmer." 

There is always so much to learn from my fellow beaders, I am never tired to look at these beauties and try to understand how they made each detail of their item.

Voting was hard, but I did had my 2 favorites since the beginning.

Remember to stop by on our team blog and vote for your favorite, as usual you have time until the 16th!

Voting for June 2013 EBW challenge

The poll will be up in a few hours on the Etsy Beadweavers Team Blog, but you can start looking at these beauties to choose your favorite:

You have time untile the 15th of June to vote and spread the word!

June Bride EBW challenge

This month theme for the Etsy Beadweavers challenge is "June Bride":
"June has traditionally been the most popular month for weddings for centuries around the world. That is where the term "June bride" comes from. Historically, there are several reasons for that. The month of June derives its name from Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage. In ancient times it was thought that couples who married in June would be blessed with prosperity and happiness. There were also many logistical reasons for brides to consider June weddings. Brides married in June were likely to give birth to a first child in spring (also thought to bring good luck) and recover in time for the fall harvest. During medieval times a person's annual bath usually fell in May or June, meaning that June brides still smelled relatively fresh. 

In modern times those things are not so important, but weddings still take place in June more than any other month. It’s the month that summer begins (northern hemisphere), the flowers are all in bloom and the weather is warm without being too hot. So for this month’s challenge, channel your inner bride to create the perfect wedding accessory for a June Bride. Perhaps a decorative barrette for her hair, a cuff to set off her new wedding ring, a beaded sash for her dress or the quintessential necklace full of luster and sparkle. There’s nothing as stunning as a Bride decked out in white, but also think about the red silks of a Chinese Bride, the Henna Mehndi of the Indian Bride, or the bright colors of the Moroccan Bride. "

I couldn't resist the temptation to use my white Swarovski stash, even though I would usually go with something colored. I think I made something unusual though since I decided to go with a relaxed style

I just made a bunch of donuts and knotted them together with waxed cotton thread, like in my Cherry blossom necklace.

I imagined a beach wedding with a barefoot bride or a country style ceremony

(even though this pic looks like a Renaissance painting)

Maybe it's just I don't like stiff, traditional weddings and love those relaxed ceremonies where everybody feels comfortable and actually has fun! I'm not really a wedding girl, if you hadn't got it, but I certainly appreciate the beauty and fascination of a bride as anybody else.

As usual you can vote for your favorite entry fron the 9th to 15th of June on our team blog. 

Don't miss it!

Hungarian Folk Art for the May EBW challenge

This month another amazing theme has been chosen  for the Etsy Beadweavers Team challenge:

"Growing up in a Hungarian home, my Mother and Grandmother were so very talented in all the arts. Embroidery was one art they excelled in; doilies, napkins, tablecloths, etc. This theme is special to me and brings back wonderful memories. The beautiful rich colors and designs are a delight to the eye. Create your own art from the inspirational designs [form an image search], or any reference for Hungarian Folk Art of your choosing."

If you're not familiar with Hungarian folk art, you can take a peek at this board I had made as inspiration right for this challenge. I am making one each month and I'm so pissed I couldn't take part in this month's.

I have been out of town twice and then had some issues that made it impossible to make something on time. I had a beautiful idea so I plan to make it anyway later, in the meanwhile I have voted for my favorite and you can too until may 16th!

April 2013 challenge: Shades of Scheherazade

The Etsy Beadweavers team has come up with another amazing theme for our monthly challenge:

"Find your inspiration in mysterious, undulating arms, swaying hips, and the beautiful, smooth curves of bodies in Middle Eastern Dance. Modern Oriental dance is a mixture of many styles, from places like Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey. Veiled faces can add to the mystique, and lavishly decorated costumes fascinate the viewer. Your beadwork should capture for the wearer the feeling of Eastern beauty. You might be designing for the heroine of the fairy tale "One Thousand and One Nights."

Harder than usual to find a favorite among such beauties, but when you have please head to our team blog and vote for it!

You have 6 days left! Hurry up and share!

BSBP 2nd reveal postponed

The 2nd and third reveal of the Bead Soup Blog Party have been postponed of one week.
I'm sorry for the main reason, but glad we can all have some more time to enjoy last week reveal and have 7 more days to make stuff!
In the meanwhile I took this pic

Not good yet, but better. My model failed me, so I used my old seamstress dummy.
Get ready to vote for the EBW challenge in 1 week!

Scheherazade wardrobe

The Etsy Beadweavers April 2013 challenge theme is...(((drumroll)))... “Shades of Scheherazade”: Find your inspiration in mysterious, undulating arms, swaying hips, and the beautiful, smooth curves of bodies in Middle Eastern Dance. Modern Oriental dance is a mixture of many styles, from places like Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey. Veiled faces can add to the mystique, and lavishly decorated costumes fascinate the viewer. Your beadwork should capture for the wearer the feeling of Eastern beauty. You might be designing for the heroine of the fairy tale "One Thousand and One Nights." My main thought when reading this was Rachel Brice.

Source: Pinterest

Rachel is an amazing tribal bellydancer and I love her style, which combines a bit of steampunk with some 20's details and tribal jewelry. Her dancing style is also amazing and she's my favorite among the Indigo bellydance group, to which she belongs. My desire was to create something she might wear to dance, not the classic beaded bellydance item, but also something that anyone could wear on a shirt or tank top anytime.

This top was really fun to make, I thought about making it with can tabs only when I was already started, so maybe I'll make another one.

I need to take better pics but it's raining hard these days and the sky is so grey, plus I need a mannequin to make it look decent. I'll upload better pics in a couple of days!

Can't show you.

What are doing today? Oh well...finishing one of the many pieces for the Bead Soup Blog Party. But I can't show you until April 6th. And also, making an amazing piece for next Etsy Beadweavers challenge, the theme is so exciting: “Shades of Scheherazade”. You can't see it until I finish it though...and it's going to take a while. Oh, and I'm participating in the annual spring swap too, but the reveal will be after April 30th, so I can't show this piece either. A bit frustrating! The thing is, I'm going to finish them all within tuesday because I don't want to pack my ever-growing collection of beads in my suitcase. I would like to be able to bring something from the south this time, to make the coming back to Milan less sour.

Source: Pinterest

And this is never possible with half my bag full of bead supplies. So everything must be finished, photographed, packed and eventually sent within tuesday.AND (I should add) the house must be cleaned, laundry must be made and suitcases must be packed and... I'm going back to beading.

March Challenge: Faberge eggs

Faberge was a Russian jeweller and we mostly know him for his jeweled eggs, amazing pieces of art.
The Etsy Beadweavers Team has chosen these eggs as inspiration for the March 2013 challenge!

You have time until the 16th to vote for your favorite creation!

To bead is to be challenged

The main reason why I love EBW monthly challenge is because it's not just a challenge with other beaders, but with your own brain.
An "easy" theme is sometimes harder to translate into a beadwoven item because interpretations are endless and your mind keeps jumping from one possibility to another, unless you have a striking idea from the beginning and are able to stick to it until the end (which is pretty impossible for me).

For this last piece I have received a lot of heart-warming compliments from fellow beaders, was it for the craftmanship or the message it holds; I was in disbelief for the kind words of artists that make much more amazing works than I do.
I want to thank everybody because your messages have really made my day more than you might think!

Source: Pinterest

When I opened my etsy shop I wanted to be different from everybody, easier said than done since there are thousands of beaders out there and many of them come up with new designs every single day!
I'm happy I'm sometimes able to do it and I also thank the Etsy Beadweavers team for pushing my creativity and taking care of challenges, website and forum with such a huge passion.

February EBW challenge: Japan

It's finally time to vote for this month Etsy Beadweavers Challenge! Theme: Japan!!!

"Japan has a most exciting culture. There is a distinct division between past and future: ancient traditional values with their strong rituals, art forms and language on one side, versus the crazy dazzling fashion modernity, neon colors, and plastic kitsch on the other side. Pick ONE of these two styles to create a piece of jewelry that shows the important criteria needed to convey either the traditional or the modern Japan. OR: combine both styles into one piece accentuating the contrasts!"

Vote for your favorite piece of art from today until the 16th on our team blog!

EBW February challenge: Japan

Progress is necessary for a country to move on and improve, but tradition is indispensable.
Traditions give roots to people so they can always have their feet firmly on the ground and start again whenever they fall down.

Having experienced many differences moving from one place to another, all in the north of Italy -so very different from the south in a million ways- I know for sure that whenever I'm feeling down, or just don't know how to behave, traditions from my family and my town are what really cheer me up and make me feel confident again.
Can be a conforting recipe from my grandma; a saying in my town slang, full of wisdom; a festivity we try to celebrate even though it is not known where we live now.

Japan is a country which has endured a lot of tough situations, and I think it owes that to its people strong faith in tradition.
Bombs, earthquakes, tsunami, just to name some.
Everytime they fall, they always stand up again, more fierce and determined than before.
Fall down seven times, stand up eight.

My piece for this challenge wants to celebrate some typical, traditional Japanese symbols.

Its cooking tradition (sushi); the famous cherry blossoms; a kokeshi doll; a koi, the symbol of perseverance in adversity and strength of purpose; national pride, with the country flag and the rising sun;

mount Fuji, or Fuji-san, the (almost)sacred volcano;

the Daruma doll, symbolizing the ability of recovering from troubles and stand up again.

And I swear, it's really comfortable to wear!
I'm so happy with this bracelet. I really made something out of my comfort zone and love the result.
Can't wait to see all of them all together in the mosaic!

Japan beaded beads

My piece for the Etsy Beadweavers challenge of february is almost ready.
I wanted to show you what I've been doing today...since most of my piece is made of beaded beads, which is virgin territory for me, I tried to make a bead with a landscape of the mount Fuji.
To make you understand better, here's a rough graph I used

The result is...well...weird.

Pictures don't really make you understand, but I'm quite happy with it, although it realy needs a bit of imagination to be interpreted!
Tomorrow I'll make the last beads and shoot some decent pictures.