2012 Battle of the BeadSmith Tournament

I LOVE the online beading community; it's such a supportive and hugely talented group of bead artists that encourage and inspire one another.  I'm constantly challenged to push the limits of my own beading abilities while being astonished by the artistry of others.  You might think that with so many beaders there would be a lot of competition and jockeying for position, but I've found quite the opposite.  Well, OK, maybe a little competition, but in a wonderfully good natured way.  In the words of The Beadsmith's Steven Weiss, "There are no losers, but there is only one winner!"
I was thrilled to have been invited to join The Beadsmith in the "Heavy Metal Jewelry Challenge" earlier this year.  To promote their line of metal seed beads a group of beaders were offered seed beads of their choice to create some heavy metal jewelry. 

"Heavy Metal" Copper Cellini Spiral

Inspired in part by college basketball's "March Madness, the Beadsmith has invited 80 seed bead artists from all over the globe to participate in an elimination tournament to determine which piece of their original beadwork best captures the imagination of their fellow designers, specialty bead shop owners, and members of various beading magazine editorial staffs.  I can't describe what an honor it is to be considered among so many of the "Bead Gods/Goddesses".


UPDATE: I have been paired with the incredible Christina Neit of GoodQuillHunting!  I have long considered her to be among my favorite bead goddesses, so I'm honored, inspired and perspiring!


On May 14th random artist pairings will be created establishing a first round of competition consisting of 40 artists vs. artist "contests".  Artists will then have seven weeks from the announcement of the first round pairings to create a single piece of original beadwork, and submit four photos best highlighting the works most important elements. The competitors not involved in a particular round plus invited judges will vote for the piece that best captures their imagination. A majority of total voters will determine a winner. All necklaces, bracelets, earring, brooches, headpieces, belts, handbags, or any other wearable adornments are acceptable for submission. The deadline for all of the submissions is July 10th.


Stay tuned to this blog and on facebook for updates and check out the incredible work of the participants on Facebook: Battle of the Beadsmith: https://www.facebook.com/thebeadsmith

Participants:
Australia:
Patrick Duggan
Melissa Ingram
Joanne Browne
Neva Brown
Lauren Macgregor
Maryanne Villalba
Karyn Healey-White
Noel Wyres

Belgium:
Laurence Dethier

Belgrade/Serbia:
Ella Des

Canada:
Jacquie Champion

Czech Republic:
Lea Palickova
Katka Vaclavikova
Marta Koudelova
Denisa Kangas
Iva Jar

Dominican Republic:
Edgar Lopez Disenos

France:
Anneta Valious
Mouna Marini

Georgia:
Tamuna Lezhava

Germany:
Elke Leonhardt Rath
Olga Haserodt

Hungary:
Annie Hatvani
Eva Dobos
Orsolya Füzesi
Ibolya Ingesné Barkóczi
Éva Csizmadia Lajosné
Katalin Budainé Nagy

Ireland:
Anastasia O'sarantseva

Israel:
Ann Braginsky
Miriam Cielo Shimon

Italy:
Eliana Maniero

Japan:
Guzialia Reed

Mexico:
Sigifredo Contreras

Netherlands:
Sandra Dokter van Esveld

Russia:
Irina Chikineva
Nella Moskvichjova
Julia Turova
Alla Maslennikova
Olga Shumilova
Ekaterina Kalinina
Marina Nosova

Sweden:
Olga Petterson
Misan Tejre
Nausikaa Dahllof
Anna Lindell

Singapore:
Helena Tang

Ukraine:
Alla Vizir
Katherine Gezey
Anna Bystryk

United Kingdom:
Heather Kingsley Heath
Jill Thomas
Lynn Davy

USA:
Linda Roberts
Sharayah Sheldon
Nancy Dale
Cynthia Newcomer Daniel
Marsha Wiest Hines
Carol Dean Sharpe
Christina Neit
Sue Horine
Alexandra Sydorenko
Betty Stephan
Callie Mitchell
Christian Rodriguez
Kinga Nichols
Mikki Ferrugiaro
Amy Katz
Kassie Inman
Dini Alves
Jennifer Chasalow VanBenschoten
Rosita Pisarchick
Roxan O'brien
Christine Boyer Maj
Kathy King
Susan Brackett
Hannah Rosner
Terri Richards
ARachel Nelson Smith
Ulyana Rakcheyeva Seryankina-USA

Vote for your favorite entry through April 15!

http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

Seed Beads Only: EBW April Challenge

Seed beads...the primary tool of every beadweaver.  Oh, how I love the tiny little creatures and their myriad colors, shapes and sizes.  A tube of seed beads carries within it a hundred possibilities just waiting to be realized by the beadweaver.  OK, so maybe I don't need to wax poetic about them, but have I mentioned how happy seed beads make me?! 

Our EBW team's April Challenge is "seed beads only".  Hey, I'm there!  I'm all about the seed beads!  Oh, wait, no crystals, no cabochons, no gemstones, no pearls.  Hmmm, maybe not so easy.  One of the things I love about seed beads is creating a structure to feature a favorite clay focal or gemstone cabochon.  I love to take inspiration from a great focal piece and choose the seed beads to best accent the colors or texture of the piece. 

This spring, I've been inspired by the color palette of the Pantone Spring 2012 color report.  Pretty much all my favorite colors all together.  I wanted to try and highlight as many colors as possible and the perfect way to do that would be with a cellini spiral necklace!  You know I love doing a cellini spiral.  You can feature a rainbow of colors or a variety of monochromatic hues in an array of sizes.  So I dove into my bead stash and found the colors and sizes I needed and created "Spring Carnival" using 8 of the pantone colors and 4 sizes of seed beads.

For more beautiful beadwoven jewelry, search EBW Team on Etsy. And for more great entries in the April Challenge, search EBWC on Etsy. Please stop by our blog http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ and vote for your favorite entry April 9-15.

EBW February Challenge "Nest"

Bird Nest Loop Fringe Necklace

I've created this one-of-a-kind beadwoven necklace for the Etsy Beadweavers Team February Challenge "Nest". Just about all creatures on earth are hardwired to seek and build their own nest for themselves and those they love. A Nest conjures feelings of warmth, comfort, care and home. My husband and I love to birdwatch especially the nesting activities that begin in the spring. A bird will find bits and pieces of any and all suitable materials to build and then line their nest. From grasses, twigs, leaves, feathers to yarn, string, ribbon or other manmade substances that might catch their eye. I love to watch the hummingbirds gather spiderwebs for their nests.

I started this necklace with a base rope of cubic right angle weave with purple/brown matte rainbow beads and then embellished it with a loopy fringe using a variety of purple seed beads and some amethyst, cat's eye, crystal and dagger beads as accents. Nestled into the center of the necklace is a sweet raku pottery bird surrounded by gold luster purple and copper bead embroidery and attached to the base rope. The 24" necklace has a vintage matte lilac Czech glass button as a closure. The bird is about 3" wide by 2" high and the center of the necklace with fringe is about 3.5" high.

Perfect for the bird lover and those who just love a lot of funky fringe!
Please visit our team blog, www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com (http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com) between the 9th and 15th and vote for your favorite entry. Search EBWC to find more incredible entries.

One of my very favorite element designers is Olivia of ODDDesigns.  She just happens to be a resident of the Triad in NC as well.  Her raku pottery pieces are irresistible!  Featured in this necklace is a beautiful raku bird by Olivia at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Odddesignsnc.

Lumi ~ the first EBEG Challenge Winter Wonderland

Lumi Bead Embroidered Bib Collar Necklace

I've created this one-of-a-kind bead embroidered bib collar necklace for the Etsy Bead Embroidery Guild's challenge "Winter Wonderland". Growing up in upstate NY we saw many mornings like the one I describe below and this incredible statement necklace represents that for me. Lumi is the name of the Snow Queen in Fables. "Lumi" is Finnish and actually is the most common word in the language for "snow".

My inspiration:
As you fall asleep to the sound of snowflakes gently falling, you dream of a wonderland blanketed in snow. In the morning when you awake, you can barely open your eyes with the blinding white light coming through your windows. You rub the sleep out of your eyes and go to the window and for just a second you're not sure if you are still dreaming. The world is covered in a shimmering blanket of pure white snow! The bare trees and muddy ground are now masked with pristine beauty and It looks as if each individual snowflake is winking at you. The brilliance of the scene and briskness in the air takes your breath away.

Back Closure "snowflake" with peyote toggles

To see more incredible bead embroidered wearable art from the Etsy Bead Embroidery Team, Click Here!

Arabesque Style EBW December Challenge

Etsy Beadweavers December Challenge

This month's challenge really had us thinking outside the box!  Arabesque is an ornamental design style consisting of interwoven vines, flowers, leaves and geometric forms, often combined with other motifs. Motifs in Persian art can be a paisley, a geometric shape, a horse, lion, or flower. Western art motif examples include acanthus, egg and dart, and fleur de lis. Arabesque patterning is used in Persian rugs, tilework, medieval manuscripts, embroidery patterns and architecture.

Obviously, I took the Paisley theme and ran with it!  At the heart of this bold brooch is a twining vine embossed clay tile captured by a peyote beaded bezel. Surrounding the tile is a circle of tiny bronze Swarovski pearls, gold rainbow seed beads and some maroon czech glass pearls scalloped with tiny size 15 seed beads in olive green, gold luster ruby and iris bronze. An olivine crystal rivoli winks from the center of the brooch flanked by some czech glass bronze leaves. A row of olivine Swarovski marquerite and little Swarvoski crystal bicones punctuate the rest of the paisley design. Metallic copper seed beads and a delicate picot edge finishes the brooch to perfection. The brooch is 5" long and 3" across and is backed with tan ultrasuede and a gold plated 1.5" pin.

I love bead embroidery and have only been doing it for less than two years.  It's an incredibly free-form medium compaired to bead weaving.  I will usually start with an idea for either a cuff, a collar or a brooch.  Then I find at least one focal piece and gather up as many bits and pieces of pearls, czech glass, crystal and coordinating seed beads as I have.  Once I bezel the main focal I just start adding elements.  I know it sounds kinda woo~woo but I really just let the piece speak to me and show me the direction it wants to go.  Bead by bead a design takes shape.  I recently joined the new Etsy Bead Embroidery Guild and am working hard on a piece for their challenge "Winter Wonderland", so stay tuned! 

So stop by http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/2011/12/voting-for-december-challenge-arabesque_08.html and take a look at all the stunning creations submitted for this theme and vote for your favorite!

Totally Twisted - The many varieties of spiral beadweaving.

Galaxy Twist Pendant

Here is my latest challenge entry for the EBW Team's November challenge "Totally Twisted".  I call it Galaxy Twist!  I am absolutely in love with twisted and spiral stitches.  They allow for fantastic color and texture play in a design and are seriously fun to work.  Fully half of the items I have in my Etsy shop right now have either a twisted or spiral rope element.  So when this month's theme was announced, oh yeah, I was IN!  The real challenge was to try and do something a little different.  Here are some of the examples of the many different spirals I use in most of my creations:

Fall Hues Cellini Spiral

I love the texture of the cellini spiral.  This stitch is a type of sculptural peyote that produces an elegant helix in the form of a self-supporting beadwoven tube.  I've been trying to find the the correct origin of the term Cellini Spiral and have come up with this explanation.  (if you know of another origin for the term, please share!!)  Benvenuto Cellini was among a group of artists in the Renaissance Mannerism period who utilized the figura serpentina, an upward snakelike spiral movement to be equally admired from all sides.

I've made many of these and they are one of my most popular pieces.  It's basically a tubular peyote stitch, but you use a variety of sized of seed beads to create the corkscrew effect.  In this case I used a green and matte orange size 15 bead, green and orange size 11 seed beads, light sage green and matte topaz size 8 seed beads and size 6 iris bronze seed beads as the spine. 

Olive Jade Leaf Pendant Spiral rope

One of the first and easiest of the spiral stitches I learned is simply called a spiral rope.  I guess it most likely falls into the catagory of netting stitches.  It uses a core bead that is visible throughout the rope and the spiral beads that spiral around that core.  I often use two colors of seed beads for the spiral for a nice contrast.  Another one of my favorite tricks is to use a "spine" color in the middle of each spiral stitch either to match or contrast the core.  The gives the piece lots of movement.

Seastorm Twisted Herringbone Rope

Here is a more traditional twisted tubular herringbone rope.  In contrast to a tubular peyote spiral rope, the herringbone looks more twisted than spiraled.  I learned this stitch earlier in the year and it quickly became one of my favorite go-to ropes for my necklaces.  It works up very fast and offers many design options from color combination to width.  This one is 6 beads around. 

Coral Snake Tubular Peyote Spiral

I created this sweet necklace with size 13/0 charlotte (one cut) czech beads.  The tiny size of the beads makes this a very delicate necklace.  Tubular peyote lends itself perfectly to a spiral design.  The stitch is pure peyote, it's just a matter of where you place the beads.  Hard to believe it's the exact same technique as the funky chunky cellini spiral. 

Blue & Copper Russian Spiral

One last example of a spiral that I've done is this Russian Spiral rope.  I had been wanting to try this stitch for quite some time but for some reason I have a hard time wrapping my head around written directions.  I finally found directions that were simple enough for me to follow and I created this piece as my first try.  It's kinda hard to see the spiral effect the way I did it, but it's there.  It's a variation of a netting stitch.  There are two other similar stitches that I have not been brave enough to tackle, Dutch Spiral and African Helix.  Maybe someday!

And that brings my to my Totally Twisted challenge entry "Galaxy Twist".  From the twisted rope to the twisted spiral and edging on the pendant, this piece is totally twisted!  The pendant focal is a fabulous raku pottery piece by http://www.etsy.com/shop/Odddesignsnc. This blue and green galaxy design on a background of stars is captured in bead embroidery with a peyote bezel and a twisted edge. The necklace rope is a fun and funky twisted herringbone. I've used two different size beads to create the great corkscrew effect in the rope. The seed beads throughout are these fantastic Picasso firepolished czech seed beads in navy and turquoise that have a beautifully marbled finish. To add more twist I used Miyuki 10/0 twisted hex beads in metallic bronze with a sassy sparkle.  The pendant measures 2.5" across and is backed with white felt. The necklace is 22" long and is finished with a peyote spiral toggle and loop.

Please visit our team blog, www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com between the 9th and 15th and vote for your favorite entry.