Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

LisaKwaj wrote

on Jun 15, 2009 2:58 AM

OK, then, let's move out the due date to July 18th.  That gives everyone 4 more weeks, and hopefully will allow summer travelers to e-mail their entries before/after their vacation.  I know I promised to post the guidelines tonight, but I want to run them by Michelle before posting, so please bear with me.  The basics are: 

1. Create anything you like using beads that's inspired by flowers
2. You may enter up to 3 pieces
3. By July 18, you'll e-mail up to two (2) photos per entry to an e-mail address Michelle has set up (the address will be included when I post the guidelines).  It's suggested that your two photos include one showing the entire piece and one showing an interesting detail.
4. You'll enter one of two categories:  Beginning Bead Artist and Experienced Bead Artist.
5. On August 1, anonymous voting will commence online.
6. On August 8, votes will be tallied and the winner in each category will be announced.  In addition to a prize, the two category winners will receive the privilege of proposing challenge topics, from which participants will choose the topic for the next challenge.

I'll post the e-mail address for entries as soon after Michelle reviews the guidelines.  Hope you've had a wonderful weekend!

wrote

on Jun 15, 2009 4:43 AM

I just finished my piece yesterday, but now I might have time to do another.   I'll have to think about that.

LisaKwaj wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 11:13 PM

Hi, everyone!  Michelle has OK’ed the guidelines below, so here they are:

You are hereby challenged to create something out of beads or create beads themselves that are inspired by flowers.  Some participants plan to actually create a flower out of seed beads, but the intent isn’t to limit you to any particular medium or technique.  Guidelines for this challenge:

(1)     Your creation must include beads.

(2)     Your creation must be in some way inspired by flowers.

(3)     You may enter up to three (3) pieces.

(4)     You are not limited to creating jewelry; feel free to let nature’s beautiful blooms inspire you to create anything you wish.

(5)     Entries must have been created between April 26 and July 18, 2009.

(6)     By midnight on July 18, e-mail a maximum of two (2) photos per entry to bdsubmissions@interweave.com with “Flower Challenge” in the subject line.  Include your name, title of your work(s), category entered, and e-mail address.  It has been suggested that your two photos include one of the entire piece and one a close-up of an interesting detail.  You may submit your entry any time between now and July 18^th.

(7)     There are two categories:  Beginning Bead Artist and Experienced Bead Artist.  Use your own judgment in selecting the category in which you should enter; however, as a very rough guideline, those who have been beading for less than a year should enter the Beginning category and those who have been beading longer than a year should enter the Experienced category.  With that said, a bead artist who has been immersed in beads every day for six months and has polished their skills in multiple techniques should enter the Experienced category, whereas an artist who has only occasionally worked with beads for two years would probably choose the Beginning category.  The intent is that a relative beginner would enter the Beginning category, while everyone else would enter the Experienced category.

(8)     On August 1 the entry photos will be available online without any indication of the name of the artist.  Anyone who is interested may anonymously vote for their favorite in each of the two categories, as well as providing constructive feedback on any of the designs.  In the spirit of fairness, we ask that each person vote only once for each category.

(9)     On August 8 the votes will be tallied and the winner in each category announced.  The winner in the Beginning Bead Artist category will receive a packet of coordinating Swarovski crystal and handmade lampwork beads.  The winner in the Experienced Bead Artist category will receive a copy of Diane Fitzgerald’s beautiful book, The Beaded Garden.  The two category winners will also receive the privilege of proposing two (2) challenge topics each; the participants in the flower-inspired challenge will vote for their favorite, which will become the topic for the next challenge.

So that’s it, please let me know if you have any questions.  And happy beading!

Michelle Mach wrote

on Jun 17, 2009 7:47 AM

Hi everyone,

I can't wait to see your entries on this challenge!  It sounds like everyone is excited about this challenge, but if you need a little bit more motivation, here's a look at the prizes:

For the Beginning Bead Artist, a set of beads that include 13 lampwork beads; 30 Swarovski 3mm bicones in Crystal AB; 30 Swarovski 4mm bicones in each of Light Sapphire Satin, Siam, and Olivine; and 12 Swarovski 10mm Marguerites in Crystal AB.

For the experienced bead artist, a copy of The Beaded Garden by Diane Fitzgerald:

Thanks to Lisa and everyone else who has helped get this challenge off the ground.  You don't know how happy it makes me to see you take this forum and really make it your own.  Happy Beading!

MelindaB@14 wrote

on Jun 17, 2009 7:49 AM

Thanks Michelle ~ That does inspire me to maybe try for the beginner category

wrote

on Jun 17, 2009 8:48 AM

Sweet!  I've looked at that book several times but haven't purchased it yet.  Sure would be nice to have...thanks Lisa & Michelle for your coordination on this!  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's projects.

LisaKwaj wrote

on Jun 18, 2009 4:12 AM

Jeni, I LOVE that book!  It's so pretty, awesome eye candy!  Someday I'd like to make a vase full of beaded flowers... 

rgenovese wrote

on Jun 19, 2009 3:11 PM

Darn! If I had noticed this sooner, I would have entered for sure! Unfortunately between work and family I wouldn't have time to finish a new arrangement before the deadline (they take a really long time!!).

But if any of you would like a little floral inspiration, I have pictures of some of my beaded flowers here:

http://making-jewelry.ning.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=2ru9c0xkl6bl9

Rachel :)

MelindaB@14 wrote

on Jun 19, 2009 3:50 PM

I guess I'm just a bit confused or maybe alot  I thought that we could submit photos of our projects if we wanted to take part, I guess I didn't realize we needed to sign up[:'(]  I was going to try to make something but I guess I didn't understand correctly.... oh well the prizes are still very nice

LoisB@23 wrote

on Jun 19, 2009 9:02 PM

 Melinda-- I don't think you have to sign up, you just have to email photos of a finished piece! Thats all you need to do to enter, right Lisa?

I gotta get good photos of my piece..... *sigh* I hate that part!

Lois

MelindaB@14 wrote

on Jun 22, 2009 7:59 AM

Thank you Lois ~ I may try this yet

LisaKwaj wrote

on Jun 23, 2009 4:22 AM

LoisB:

I don't think you have to sign up, you just have to email photos of a finished piece! Thats all you need to do to enter, right Lisa?

LoisB:

I gotta get good photos of my piece..... *sigh* I hate that part!

Yeah, me, too.  Sherri gave me some really good tips that have helped a lot, though.

LisaKwaj wrote

on Jun 23, 2009 3:29 PM

Rachel, wow, thank you for sharing those gorgeous French beaded flowers with us!  I usually go for the bright and colorful, but I think I like the pretty dogwood the best.  I really miss the change of seasons!  (I live in the tropics.)  You know, you don't have to enter an entire vaseful of flowers in the challenge, you could just focus on one blossom...  And you don't have to commit to anything!  Just e-mail your photos once the bloom is finished.  Hope you find a bit of extra time to play!

LisaKwaj wrote

on Jun 23, 2009 3:38 PM

MelindaB:

I may try this yet

MelindaB@14 wrote

on Jun 23, 2009 4:17 PM

Lisa ~ I'm going to try my best but I think that is the same deadline as Scarlett's Muse #2 & I bought a kit to try again.  It would be lots of fun & I love flowers