Let The Competition Begin!

It's taken me three intense weeks to complete my competition piece. During this time I've learned a tremendous amount about how to plan, and execute, a design. I've mentioned before that I don't like to start with a plan. I like the element of surprise at the end, where I look at the final results of my labors and say, "Well, I didn't see THAT coming!".

In this case, however, stakes are high, and I wanted to be sure of my results. The careful planning paid off, Big Time.

Even Marble Man looked at it and said it was amazing, and the best piece I've done to date. High praise, indeed.

With this project, I used up a significant portion of my bead stash - beads I liked but didn't have a plan to use when I bought them - I just liked them at the time. They've remained in their drawers, waiting to be counted each year at tax time. Those troublesome beads went together quite beautifully, and I'm so happy with the results.

I have so much time left until the entry deadline that I'm thinking now I'll make a presentation box for it, something lined with velvet for the potential owner to store the necklace. Now that my work is done with this project, it's up to the judges to decide if it's good enough for the auction. *crossing fingers*

BTW, if you are interested in what my inspiration for this piece was, I found some images online of Afghani kuchi tribal bellydancer jewelry:

It was great fun to translate the silver work into colorful beading.

copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

Royalty Throughout Time Challenge

As promised, here is the link for voting on this month's Etsy Beadweavers Challenge: Royalty Throughout Time. There are SO MANY beautiful entries, I don't know how I'm going to choose one as my favorite.

I hope you'll go and vote for your favorite piece, too. Don't feel you have to vote for mine, just pick your fave. The poll will be open at the team blog until midnight, Feb 16th.

copyright 2011 Shibori Girl

Fancy, Schmancy

Marble Man talked me into entering a piece in the North Carolina Museum of Art's silent auction competition. This is a juried event with a Best in Show award which includes a VERY nice prize. The deadline for entries is March 15th; time to get my rear in gear!

The trick is designing a standout piece which won't be so over-the-top that it can't sell. The purpose of this event is fund-raising for the museum, after all. I decided to make a statement collar which is a little wilder than my usual - longer in the front with an added pendant and some sparkly fringe. I have a clear image in my head and, to make sure I stick to that image, I put it down on paper.

For the focal pieces, I'm using a couple of the polymer clay cabochons I made from push molds.

Now it's up to me to fill the space with seed beads, and some sparkly Swarovski crystals.

I think this piece will take me the full amount of time I have until the deadline!

copyright 2011 Shibori Girl