Voting for the November EBW Challenge

I'll be honest: I have been torn about promoting this challenge and future EBW challenges all month. I have a very minor leadership role on the team and get to participate in the discussions about moderating entries. Lately this has nearly set me over the edge. I don't know if people get some sort of power trip out of denying entries in a beading contest through Etsy or criticizing people who did win whose entries "stretched" the theme, but I sure don't. Most people on the team don't even participate in the voting process, let alone promoting the challenge for the sake of the team. I'm hanging in there for the remainder of 2012, but I think that my patience will be gone by 2013. This saddens me because the team has been a huge asset for my beadwork since I got serious about my beading in 2008, and there are a lot of talented people there. But I think that my priorities are better spent elsewhere.

With that being said, there are still many gorgeous entries for the November theme, Circles and Squares. With all of the drama going on this month and the crazy limitations that got set within this theme, I wasn't very inspired to create anything myself even though I'm a huge fan of geometric shapes.

Voting takes place on the EBW blog through November 15. Please check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite. If you can't see the clickable mosaic, click here.

Here are just a few of my favorite pieces for this challenge.

Retro chunky rainbow geometric bead embroidered statement bracelet by MoonsafariBeads

Cowboy Geometry Necklace by thistledew4u

Circles and Squares Geometric Modern Beaded Bracelet in Red White and Black by MegansBeadedDesigns

Voting for the October EBW Challenge

Voting is up and running for the October EBW Challenge Misty Winter's Dawn!  Voting takes place on the EBW blog through October 15.

I got an entry into the challenge this time.

The challenge for myself with this piece is that I created it entirely from my current bead inventory. I didn't purchase anything new to make this piece. I started with gray cube beads and built from there to include touches of yellow, blue, and cream. I hadn't worked up this design in quite a while and am very happy with the result.

This piece is available for purchase right here. If you're a beader who would like to make this pattern yourself, it is also available over here.

As always, there are so many stunning entries. Here are just a few of my favorites. Please make sure to check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite.

Green Moss Bead Embroidered Necklace EBWC by ConniqueJewelry

Misty Winter's Dawn EBWC by SashaSi

EBWC Misty Morning Walk Bead Embroidered Cuff OOAK, "Misty Winter's Dawn" challenge by AngelqueCreations

 

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Voting for the September EBW Challenge

Voting is up and running for the September EBW Challenge A Lunar Obsession!  Voting takes place on the EBW blog through September 15.  If you can't see all of the entries, head over here.  The mosaic is clickable.  Please check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite.

I've been focusing on a lot of different projects this past month, and participating in this challenge didn't even make my radar. It wasn't for a lack of inspiration or anything because this is an awesome theme. I'm hoping to get back in the game and participate in at least one or two more in 2012. For now, here are some of my favorite lunar entries. As always, there are so many stunning pieces.

BLUE MOON, You saw me standing alone, Without a dream in my heart, Without a love of my own.... by ArtMasquerading

Bella Luna Lyric Cuff by thistledew4u

Princess Luna Necklace EBWC by jess2bead

Eclipse Bracelet and Ring EBWC by DebgerDesigns

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voting for the August EBW challenge

Voting is up and running for the August EBW Challenge Hot Hot Hot!  Voting takes place on the EBW blog through August 15.  If you can't see all of the entries, head over here.  The mosaic is clickable.  Please check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite.

Some of you may remember that the July Challenge was Tangerine Tango.  I participated with this bright orange bangle.  It was amazing to create this vivid piece, but I wasn't feeling inspired to work with this palette again so shortly.  This is the first challenge I've skipped in months, and it's a little surreal, but I'll be back to participate in another challenge this year I'm sure.

Of course there are still lots of amazing entries for Hot Hot Hot.  If they won't inspire you for the end of summer, I don't know what will.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

Hot Hot Hot - EBWC August 2012 Challenge by zviagil

One Coot HOT Peacock Bead Embroidery Bracelet EBWC Reserved for CAT by 4uidzne

Hot herringbone necklace - transformer with red art-glass bead by Svetush

Hanging Chili Peppers Necklace - EBWC - Real HOT August 2012 Midwest Drought by ArtMasquerading

Has the hot summer weather inspired your art lately?

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voting for the July EBW challenge

Voting is up and running for the July EBW Challenge Tangerine Tango!  Voting takes place on the EBW blog through July 15.  If you can't see all of the entries, head over here.  We do have a clickable mosaic again.  Please check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite.

Here is my entry for this challenge.

It is still available for sale.  If you missed my original post about this piece and want to learn more about it, check it out here.

Before I get to my favorite picks for the tangerine tango, I have to give a big thank you to everyone who cast a vote for me for last month's mystery challenge!  I broke the top 10 list for the most votes with this piece.  I got that honor because of many of you.  Thank you!

As always, there are a lot of great entries for this challenge.  You know how much I love color.  It's been a lot of fun to see all of the vivid tangerine pieces.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

Rivoli Crystal Beadwoven Necklace Orange Tangerine Tango Unique Beaded Beadwork Beadweaving Jewelry by SpringColors

Tangerine Spice Bead Embroidered Cuff Bracelet by beadsandblooms

Tangerine Zest Crystal Bracelet EBWC by beadn4fun

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Get It Together With Tangerine Orange

I'm sharing my latest EBW Challenge piece in a slightly different format than usual.  I'm participating in Janet's Get It Together link up and sharing some other accessories and fashion picks that coordinate with my new piece.

The July EBW Challenge is Tangerine Tango for the 2012 Pantone Color of the Year.  This is such an inspired choice!  You can read more about it here.  I'm sure that many of you know how much I love orange.  I put together a bangle design similar to my 80's inspired A Material Girl's True Colors bangle that I created last year.

The sandals pick up on the orange without creating too much of a "matchy" look.  I love the deep red and the unique style.  You can dress these up or down for anything.

I picked a more casual skirt for summer that you can throw on without even thinking about it.  Isn't the little bird cute?

I try to branch out in my features and not pick the same sellers over and over again.  But I had to return to Madelynn's shop and select a set of stacking rings.  The orange bangle is so vivid that you don't need to overwhelm everyone with more orange jewelry.  Instead pair it with some other bright colors.

You have to click through to the listing to see all of the ways that you can style this versatile black wrap.

I continued to mix up the colors for this outfit with a purple necklace from one of my newest favorite shops.


The skirt and wrap will match so many different types of summer tops.  I have a hard time finding tank tops on Etsy that aren't really skimpy so I opted for a simple blue tree t-shirt instead.

I finished this outfit off with a rich green leather messenger bag.  Isn't that a unique piece?

My tangerine bangle is available on Etsy right here.  As always, if you'd like something similar in a different size or color palette, don't hesitate to ask.  Voting for the July EBW challenge starts on July 9.  Check back here then for more details.

Have you ever worked with tangerine materials?  What have you been creating lately?

I included this post in Michelle's Delicately Constructed Friday 6/29/12.

voting for the June EBW challenge

Voting is up and running for the June EBW Challenge Mystery!  Voting takes place on the EBW blog through June 15.  If you can't see all of the entries, head over here.  We do have a clickable mosaic again.

Here is my entry for this challenge.

It is still available for sale.  If you missed my original post about this piece and want to learn more about it, check it out here.

As always, there are a lot of beautiful, creative entries for this challenge.  Here are just a few of my favorites.  Usually I try to mix up my features with different types of jewelry, but I was really drawn to the cuffs this time.

Mysterious Maze Bracelet in Black and White Seed Beads by SierraBeader

Green Embroidered Mandala Bracelet by SpiralDesignJewelry

Eye Witness by MegansBeadedDesigns

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a mystery unveiled

The distinctive camouflage markings are barely visible through the thick underbrush.  Most people pass right by them without even stopping for a second look.  The person who is meant to find them is the only one combing every square inch for a tiny glint of metal or sun reflection off of the glass.  The thin camouflage piece has a silver key and a bottle with a message attached to it.  The bottle holds a seemingly meaningless scrap of paper.  Only the intended recipient will be able to decipher its message.  This message will lead the recipient to the door that requires the key and that is hiding away the treasuries just beyond it.

The June EBW Challenge is Mystery.  You can read more about it here.  I love mysteries and was excited about the narrative element that this challenge could include.  It took me a couple weeks to put together this concept and then a couple more weeks to create the piece.  Putting together the concept was the real challenge for me for this piece.  And yes, it does include one of my new bottle charms!  I'm excited about that.

Like all of my wrap bracelet/necklace pieces, this can be worn as a bracelet or necklace.  Both charms are detachable, giving you the option to wear it with both charms, one charm, no charms, or any other charms of your choosing.  While the charms add a substantial presence to the piece, they are extremely light weight.

This piece is available for sale here.  As always, if you're interested in something similar but with different colors, charms, size, etc., don't hesitate to contact me.  Voting for the June EBW challenge will take place the beginning of June.  I will post all of the information about it then.  To get a sneak peek at the current entries, search EBWC on Etsy.

What have you been working on lately?  Have you taken on any new challenges?

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voting for the May EBW Challenge

Voting for the May EBW Challenge Nautical Inspired is up and running!  You can vote on the blog today through May 15.  Voting is on the right side of the page.  You'll have to scroll down a little bit to see all of the entries.  We do have a clickable mosaic again!  If you have problems with the main page, click here.  Check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite.

Here's my entry.

It's still available for sale here.  If you missed the blog post about it last month, read more about it right here.

As always, there are lots of stunning entries in this challenge.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

How sweet is this design?  This is so whimsical.
Sailing summer seas peyote stitched pendant for May EBW by BoonieBeads

Even though computer programs make the task much simpler, I'm still in awe at the intricate beadwoven cuff designs that people create.
Nautical Beadwoven Cuff Bracelet... EBWC May Challenge... EBW Team... Shells... Starfish... Seahorse... Blue by MaryTDesigns

This is perfect for anyone who loves maps and/or compasses.
Antique map adventure necklace by BeadCatcher

I really want to attempt bezeled rivolis sometime.  They are so beautiful!
Portholes Nautical Beadwoven Bracelet by SallyGoRoundTheMoon

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Going Nautical

The May 2012 Etsy Beadweavers theme is Nautical Inspired.  This is a pretty straight forward theme, but you can read more about it here.  While April's Seed Beads Only challenge was a lot more fun than originally anticipated, I am glad that this challenge and the next one are much more open ended.

As many of you know, I frequently find inspiration from color.  I did a little nautical color palette hunting online to help me figure out where I was going with this theme.

Nautical Colors of Port Jefferson, Long Island

This post has several great palettes, but I've always liked light houses, so I went right for the one with the rich red.

I went for blues and grays that were a little lighter than the original palette, but I didn't add any other colors.

I loved adding the lampwork discs to my skinny wrapped design for my nest piece and decided to use this technique again for my nautical piece.  They don't represent anything nautical in a literal sense, but the colors tied together so well.

I got these beads from Jen of blueseraphim a while back during a big pre-holiday sale.  I try not to purchase in one of a kind beads like this without a project in mind, but Jen's beads are so versatile that I always find a use for them pretty quickly.

I love this embellished addition to my wrapped bracelets and will most likely make more in the future.  As always, if there are any color combinations that you're like to see, let me know.

This piece is available for sale in my Etsy shop right here.  Voting will take place on the EBW blog in early May.  Check back on my blog the week of May 9 for all of the voting details.  To get a sneak peek at the other entries already up and running, search EBWC on Etsy.

Has anyone else created nautical items?  Share your listings and blog posts!

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voting for April EBW Challenge

Voting for the April EBW Challenge Seed Beads Only is up and running!  You can vote on the blog today through April 15.  Voting is on the right side of the page.  You'll have to scroll down a little bit to see all of the entries.  If you have problems with the main page, click here.  Check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite.

Here's my entry.

It's still available for sale here.  If you missed the blog post about it last month, read more about it right here.

As always, there are lots of stunning entries in this challenge.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

This is such an original design.
EBWC April Challenge Bow Bracelet by Fandefanfan

I love the fringe work here.  I need to try making a herringbone rope with Czech class beads like this one sometime.
Spring Bouquet Beadwoven Necklace...EBWC April 2012 Challenge...EBW Team by MaryTDesigns

This has been one of my favorites since the beginning of this challenge.  It reminds me of an Impressionism painting.
Wildflowers in the Sage Seed Bead Bracelet by SierraBeader

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