Saturday, August 21, 2010

October Challenge theme "Autumn Falling of leaves"

The October theme was selected by the winner of the August challenge Isabella of Bead4me, her theme is this Autumn Falling of leaves
 "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~Albert Camus.
 We all enjoy the colors of autumn leaves, as the bright green fades away. We begin to see amazing colors such as bright reds and purples.
For me this is an inspiration for creating colorful jewelry.
You may start your entry today and must complete and list it by midnight Etsy time, October 5, 2010!

Rules:
Any style, any technique with a majority of bead weaving is welcome. Pieces submitted for the challenges should be newly-created (by you - not from a pattern) between the date the challenge theme is announced and the 5th of the month when it is due. Do not renew an existing or expired listings for the challenge.

ONE only entry allowed per EBW Member.

The piece MUST be created and listed between now and October 5, 2010.

See our Challenge FAQ here for all of the details on the rules of our challenges

Friday, August 20, 2010

What’s your inner Bollywood as a beadweaver?

Bollywood is Etsy Beadweaver’s Monthly Challenge Theme for September. September is also when Bolly Basics dance lessons start at my local performing arts centre (Geelong, Victoria, Australia) and only last night I watched a fascinating documentary on the beginnings of the Bollywood Film Industry. It seems Bollywood is in the air and it’s time for me to discover my inner Bollywood.

With over 1000 films per year made by the Mumbai based film industry (known as Bollywood) it’s stories full of love triangles, sacrifice, corrupt politicians, kidnappers, murder and intrigue have captured the imaginations of millions of people in India and beyond. For beadweavers, the incredibly intense, colourful and rich costumes of it’s leading ladies, leading men and the sets themselves offer exciting and diverse sources of inspiration to find their inner Bollywood (see for example, the hand crafted Bollywood Ethnic Polki Gold Bridal Earring in the image). The sets and costumes are alive with colour that each has its meanings for the audience. Often hues of red and gold are used in wedding scenes (as in the earring image), bright yellows and magentas signify the courtship, blacks and edgy reds are seen in fight scenes and scenes where danger lurks and greens and luscious purples found in scenes full of lust and seduction.

Of course, there is not just one Bollywood style when it comes to sets and costumes, but many. However, I find myself drawn to the sensational Bollywood that uses intense, vibrant colours that dance across the screen, that unashamedly layers gold and silver through it’s designs so that they have no choice but to sparkle from every angle and that celebrates the body by adorning every part of it - arms, wrists, ankles, foreheads, necks, waists, ears and hair – with jewelry that is magical, romantic, dramatic and above all made to seen. I call my inner Bollywood – vibrant bling.
What is your inner Bollywood? Not sure? Try these suggestions to find out:
  • Pop by a couple of the Bollywood jewelry stores online (links below) to explore a diverse array of jewelry designs.
  • Search online using the names of some current Bollywood leading ladies. For example, Kareena Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee, Kajol, Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra, Neha Dhupiya, Madhuri Dixit, Karishma Kapoor, Ameesha Patel, Raveena Tandon, Amrita Rao.
  • Search using Google images for Bollywood fashions and Bollywood costumes. You can’t help but be inspired by the intensity and diversity of colour, shape and form that emerges.
  • See how other artists internationally have used Bollywood imagery to inspire in enterprises as diverse as cupcake design to handmade glass beads (links below).
  • Play some clips from Youtube – one full of the intense colours and traditional jewelry is Aishwarya Rai Hindi Bollywood Dance but there is lots there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vewp4vJojac
Some beginning links:
Happy Bollywood beading
Glenda of Dax Designs, for the EBW Group.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Congratulation to the Winner of the August Challenge "Gold & Silver" - Isabella of Bead4me

The voting is now finished, we had an outstanding 50 entries and 745 votes. Congratulations to Isabella of Bead4me  winner of this months theme "Gold & Silver with 108 (14%).  Isabella challenged the team to create a hollywood style Gold and Silver piece and her entry "GO-SI OOAK Gold and Silver Bead Woven Necklace" was chosen as the favorite. 


Congratulations to the runner's up
4th place #35 Goldfish - ballroomchic (34 - 4%)
5th place #3 Golden flower lariat - AnnaCohen (32 - 4%)
6th place #25 Golden Galaxy - triz (30 -4%)
7th place #47 Queens Ransom - beadifuljewelry (29 - 3%)
9th place #10 Angelica - MadebyOlga (25 -3%)

Congratulations to all the other beautiful entries, this was such a fun theme that I cannot wait to see what our membership presents for "Bollywood" next month

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Voting for the August Challenge "Gold and Silver"

This month's challenge theme "Gold and Silver" was chosen by Isabella of Bead4me winner of the June Challenge. Isabella challenged us to "... bring the chic to your look without having to spend thousands. You can shine as bright as the stars in the sky with gold and silver beaded jewelry, so your heart will skip a beat. You can enjoy creating dazzling jewelry without breaking the bank. If you are not sure where to find inspiration from, you can start with Hollywood style!"
We have had an outstanding response to this theme with 50 entries, and it will be difficult to decide which is your favorite,  please look at each entry by clicking on their links below the image.
 You can vote on your favorite from August 9th to August 15th.
50. SILVER and GOLD Beaded Pendant Necklace - CindyCaraway

Thanks to Ann of FrancescasFancy for putting together the Mosaic and to Marsha of HauteIceBeadwork for checking all the entries

Monday, August 2, 2010

September Challenge Theme "BollyWood"

Congrats to Anna of TeaseBeads for winning last month's challenge and for being able to pick the September theme! She writes:

"We all have seen Bollywood movies and I think that you will agree with me that it is a world of colors, music, beautiful women and shining jewelry. Lets fantasize on the subject of Indian jewelry as we see them."

You may start your entry today and must complete and list it by midnight Etsy time, September 5, 2010!
Rules:
Any style, any technique with a majority of bead weaving is welcome. Pieces submitted for the challenges should be newly-created (by you - not from a pattern) between the date the challenge theme is announced and the 5th of the month when it is due. Do not renew an existing or expired listing for the challenge.

ONE only entry allowed per EBW Member.
The piece MUST be created between now and September 5, 2010.
See our Challenge FAQ here for all of the details on the rules of our challenges.