Bead Chat

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

Kokopelli Design — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:29:22 GMT

Ladies and Gentlemen,

don't forget to vote as today is the last day! I'm excited who won, as it was sooooo hard to choose!

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

CrystalCubeBead. — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:25:26 GMT

I'd be more likely to say, "Then why don't you?" or "Do you?" or. "I hope that isn't one of yours!" if I was really upset.

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

JSmaz — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:17:24 GMT

Christina, what a rotten thing for that woman to say right in front of you! I'm appalled. I see jewelry I don't like nearly every day, but I'm not about to say something mean like that. I don't think you should let that stop you from wearing your jewelry. It really irks me when people look at my jewelry at a show and make snide remarks, or the ever present, "oh I could make that". I try not to let it get to me, but sometimes it's tough.

I'd have had a hard time not saying "Why thanks, it's my favorite piece and I just finished making it" right back at her. Sometimes a crass remark really deserves a comeback.

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

Cat — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:21:36 GMT

Oh Lisa, it's just everyone has such different styles that there really is never a right or wrong design, just what suits our own tastes and hopefully someone likes it as well!

Have a good time back here in the states! Check in when you can!

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

Lisa — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:57:24 GMT

Cat, you make some very good points. Of course, now that I think about it, I realize that I'm liable to suggest making a component larger, while someone else recommeds making the same component smaller. How confusing that would be!

I really like your suggestion that anyone who'd like feedback on their design can post it to the reader's showcase asking for comments. I think I might just do that after the voting is finished.

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

Kokopelli Design — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:11:42 GMT

Oh WOW! I just returned form a camping weekend in the Lake Constance area (visited the wine festival and enjoyed swimming) and saw the flower entries! Such great and beautiful entries! And to all beginners: you got so much talent, please keep on beading! I can't choose favorites.

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

Cat — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:55:34 GMT

Lisa:
Would you like to receive honest, sincere feedback (and even criticism) of your work?

I honestly think if people want it they will ask on their own. I really think this is completely unnecessary, what one person thinks something will make a piece better, differs completely from another.

Case in point- when I asked for some help out with the paua bracelet I was making nearly every opinion I received was different. Change the color of this, change the size... One of the crystals I was using in it is what I was having a problem with, I didn't like the size of it and I wanted the shells themself to be the main focus.

After all the wonderful opinions I received (and truly appreciate) I still went with my own thing and used twist and round hematite beads. I still think people liked it and hey maybe they still would have done what they suggested to me, but the fact is, EVERYBODY has their own personal style. So what one might think will look better, it may not to the designer of the piece.

I think if people want to do this, after voting has ended they can post their piece in the readers showcase and ask for opinions to make it better. Otherwise you are going to have yes and no's, obviously someone else has already said they don't like the idea so it wouldn't be fair to go ahead with this. Just my little bit.

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

ChristinaH — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:17:02 GMT

I'm not sure how I would feel about that.....I get discouraged easily enough as it is. It's one reason why I stopped wearing my stuff....I got tired of the comments(the not nice ones, the worst was some lady that points at me and tells her daughter? " If you came home wearing something as cheap as that, I would make you take it back and take your allowance away it looks like something from Walmart") Shudder. It happened to be my favorite necklace at the time.

So Lisa I would say no.

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

Lisa — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:03:35 GMT

Sue B:
Wow I was amazed by some in the under 1 year beading. I wish I had as much talent as some of these entries shows.

Sue, I totally agree! I'm still completely wow'ed by the entries. And hey, ya'll, those who think maybe you should have entered in the "Beginner" category... Don't you be thinkin' that way! Even the simpler designs are oh, so elegant -- well-balanced, colors very effective, plenty of texture. Just because you maybe were inspired to create a simpler piece, doesn't mean your entry is any "less" that the others! Your experience shows very well in your flower-inspired designs. And besides, this was meant to be fun, a way to express the joy we find in nature's flora. The prizes were just a little bonus.

I have a question for everyone who participated... Would you like to receive honest, sincere feedback (and even criticism) of your work? Seems like we always point out how great our friends' designs are, but we don't offer suggestions for improvement very often because we're worried about hurting someone's feelings. But that's how we grow as jewelry artists. Personally, I've got thick skin, and would really, really appreciate suggestions for ways I could improve on my entry's design. How do you feel about this issue? What if we agreed to do something like offering one suggestion for improvement and one thing we particularly like about each design???

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

CrystalCubeBead. — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:39:58 GMT

There was no way I could choose!!! And am I glad I didn't even consider entering .... those are ALL way beyond my skill level !

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

Sue B — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:46:43 GMT

I got an e-mail two days ago. Got a sneak preview, and I still can't decide. I am just awe struck by all the talent here. Wow I was amazed by some in the under 1 year beading. I wish I had as much talent as some of these entries shows.

Good luck all. It surely is hard to vote for only one.

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

ChristinaH — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:11:56 GMT

I didn't get an email either....but I found the Gallery. WOW! Voting was soooo hard!I think everything is fantastic!

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

CourtneyB — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:22:44 GMT

Thank you Jeni -

Some truly amazing pieces - there is so much talent here!!!!

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

Pam — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:02:11 GMT

Wow, beautiful work everybody!!! There's some unbelievable talent here.

Pam

Re: Flower-Inspired Beading Challenge

JSmaz — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:33:32 GMT

If you go to the Gallery page it's at the top.