Inspired by: The Sea

I'm switching things up this week.  The challenges were a way to promote my book coming out and now that has happened sooner than I thought it was going to be, I'm going to simplify things here for myself!  I'm sure you understand.

So this is the new deal:

You have 4 weeks to design something inspired by the sea - you can enter up to four times with four different designs. 

Each Tuesday on my blog I will feature my favorite pick from the entries so far - so enter early!

On Tuesday, September 20th I will draw one winner to receive a

$75 gift certificate to Humblebeads.com. 

The winner will be chosen randomly from all 4 week's worth of entries.

You can follow along with the same themes from before or you can do something sea-themed in general.

Anything goes - it can included Humblebeads or not and use any technique as long as it matches the sea theme. 

To enter upload your photos to the Inspired by Nature Jewelry Challenge Flickr Group.

Here are some designs featuring my starfish and urchins to get the creative gears churning.

Peacock Fairy

Sundown Bead Designs

My design, featured in the first Bead Star magazine!

Lady Noble

The book is out now and you can order a signed copy from my Etsy shop or head over to Amazon for an unsigned copy!

Inspired by: Dragonflies

(Photo credit: Hjhipster via Flickr's Creative Commons.)

My upcoming book is all about inspiration from nature and one of my missions in life is to help inspire those on their creative journey. So from now until the book release I am hosting a weekly challenge.

This week's inspiration is dragonflies! Your design can be inspired by the photograph or dragonflies in general.

Details:You have one week to complete a piece of jewelry inspired by the weekly theme. The entries have to be created this week - you can finish something you've already started, but the purpose of the challenge is to inspire you to make something new related to the challenge!

Anything goes, it can include Humblebeads or not, art beads or whatever you have in your stash. It's up to you and however the inspiration strikes you for that week.

To enter add your photo to the Inspired By Nature Jewelry Challenge Flickr group. On Tuesday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Monday night is the deadline for entries.)

Here are some inspiration ideas to get your gears churning!

Dragonfly pendant from Beverly Herman (aka my awesome mom) using one of my Dandelion Wine beads.  You can find the pattern in her Etsy shop.

Kerri Fuhr - she knows how to work a dragonfly!  Check out her shop for more dragonfly inspiration.

This week's prize is a pair of tiny dragonfly charms.

Pre-order the book here.

Have fun with this week's challenge - I can't wait to see what you make! 

Inspired by: Tiger Lilies

My upcoming book is all about inspiration from nature and one of my missions in life is to help inspire those on their creative journey. So from now until the book release I am hosting a weekly challenge.

This week's inspiration is one of my favorite flowers - Tiger Lilies! This week your design can be inspired by the photograph, lilies, orange flowers, etc. Just as long as it relates to the theme of Tiger Lilies it will qualify for the challenge.

Details:

You have one week to complete a piece of jewelry inspired by the weekly theme. We are going to move from Tuesday to Tuesday from now on - my Monday's are a little too crazy right now!
The entries have to be created this week - you can finish something you've already started, but the purpose of the challenge is to inspire you to make something new related to the challenge!

Anything goes, it can include Humblebeads or not, art beads or whatever you have in your stash. It's up to you and however the inspiration strikes you for that week.

To enter add your photo to the Inspired By Nature Jewelry Challenge Flickr group. On Tuesday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Monday night is the deadline for entries.)

Here are some inspiration ideas to get your gears churning!

My design featuring my Tiger Lily Bead.

TooAquarius

TheBijouBabe

The prize:

One lucky winner will get one of my vintage illustration pendants with a lily design!!! 

(Yes, the are finally coming to my Etsy shop this week.)

Pre-order the book here.

Have fun with this week's challenge - I can't wait to see what you make. 

And yes, the Big Huge Giveaway winner will be announced soon.

Inspired by Bees Winner

The winner from last week's challenge is Backstory Beads!  

Karin has won a $25 gift certificate to Humblebeads.com. 

The winner was choosen randomly from all the enteries.

You can read about the 'backstory' on Karin's blog. 

Inspired by: Bees Prize!

Yeah, it might be a good idea to mention a prize for this week's challenge! 

This week's prize is a $25 gift certificate from Humblebeads.com, you'll get to pick a few of your favorites!  So pull out those bee beads and enter today.

You can find my tiny charms and all sorts of other goodies in my Etsy shop.  I just restocked some of my best sellers.

Inspired by Trees Winner

The winner 3rd week's Inspired By Nature Challenge is Bay Moon Designs!

The winner was chosen by random from the all the entries.

Kathy Lindemer worked up a lovely necklace with earthy tree-inspired tones using stones, pearls, crystals and brass spacers. 

Kathy won one of my Branch Lentil Beads in copper and a few matching disk beads!

I'm looking forward to seeing your Forest Floor inspired entries this week.

Inspired by: Forest Floor

(Photo credit: adapted from Code Poet via Flickr's Creative Commons.)

My upcoming book is all about inspiration from nature and one of my missions in life is to help inspire those on their creative journey. So from now until the book release I am hosting a weekly challenge.

This week's inspiration is the Forest Floor! It can be anything woodland related, from mushrooms, ferns and acorns to creatures you'd find in forest like squirrels, foxes, hedgehogs, etc.- you can run with the inspiration photo and or go with a more loose interpretation. As long as it relates to the theme of the Forest Floor it will qualify for the challenge.

The prize this week - one of my Fern Pendants!

You have one week to complete a piece of jewelry inspired by the weekly theme. The entries have to be created this week - you can finish something you've already had started, but the purpose of the challenge is to inspire you to make something new related to the challenge!

Anything goes, it can include Humblebeads or not, art beads or whatever you have in your stash. It's up to you and however the inspiration strikes you for that week. To enter add your photo to the Inspired By Nature Jewelry Challenge Flickr group. Every Monday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Sunday night is the deadline for entries.)

Here are some inspiration ideas to get your gears churning!
 

My Woodland Charm bracelet

What's Hiding in the Forest necklace from Hint

Hedgie Earrings from Lorelei Eurto

Pre-order a signed copy of the book here.

Rock the Trees!

Just two more days to enter the Inspired by: Trees challenge!  I love trees, they just kind of speak to my soul and make me all sorts of happy.  I love the pattern of birch bark, the long draping vines of the willow tree.  I love oak leaves and acorns.  I love trees that are tall and ancient.  I love trees that are delicate and filled with blossoms.  I love the lonely and bare trees of winter and marvel when they are encrusted with icy jewels.  I love the sun dappling through trees in the summer.  I love hearing the leaves rustle as the wind howls on Autumn days with gold and crimson swirling to the ground.  Give me a tree and I'll find something inspiring about it!

So let's rock the tree theme today!

Only 3 spaces left!

Inspired by: Trees

My upcoming book is all about inspiration from nature and one of my missions in life is to help inspire those on their creative journey. So from now until the book release I am hosting a weekly challenge.

This week's inspiration are trees! It can be anything tree related - you can run with the inspiration photo and or go with a more loose interpretation. As long as it relates to the theme of trees or leaves it will qualify for the challenge.

The prize this week - one of my Branch Lentil beads in copper and I'll throw in a few matching disk beads.
You have one week to complete a piece of jewelry inspired by the weekly theme.  The entries have to be created this week - you can finish something you've already had started, but the purpose of the challenge is to inspire you to make something new related to the challenge!

Anything goes, it can include Humblebeads or not, art beads or whatever you have in your stash. It's up to you and however the inspiration strikes you for that week. To enter add your photo to the Inspired By Nature Jewelry Challenge Flickr group. Every Monday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Sunday night is the deadline for entries.)

Here are a few designs to get your creative gears turning. 

Midnight Tree necklace from Jess Italia Lincoln

Birch Trees and Falling Leaves necklace that I created.

Sure Sign of Spring necklace from Erin Prais-Hintz.

Pre-order here.

Inspired by: Feathers Winner

The winner for my first Inspired By Nature Challenge is Tropical Blonde!

The winner was chosen by random from the all the entries.

Kate Gardenghi created two pieces this month,  check out the other one here.  Peacock feathers are so amazing.  Kate went straight to the source and used real feathers in both of her pieces..

Kate won one of my Bird Nest Pendants!

Can't wait to see what everyone makes for the Tree Challenge!

Hope

What dream has taken flight in your soul lately? 

I can see my hopes on the horizon, perched in tree tops just above my grasp. 

With a little stretching of the wings, those hopes will soon be singing my song.

I love the idea of hope, hope is more than just a wish.  It's a quite comfort that dreams will come true, that life is good, that we are cared for in ways we can't imagine.

Today is the last day to enter the Inspired by: Feathers Challenge.

The necklace above features a beautiful sparrow from Vintaj, a few sweet Czech glass eggs and a hand-painted egg by me.

Don't miss out - sign up today!

Inspired by: Feather Challenge

(Photo credit: adapted from Socialspice.de via the Flickr Creative Commons)

My upcoming book is all about inspiration from nature and one of my missions in life is to help inspire those on their creative journey. So from now until the book release I am hosting a weekly challenge.

This week's inspiration is feathers!  It can be anything feather or bird related - you can run with the inspiration photo and or go with a more loose interpretation.  As long as it relates to the theme of feathers or birds it will qualify for the challenge.

The prize this week - one of my Bird Nest Pendants.  The design was taken directly from my sketchbook and each one is hand painted to mimic a watercolor painting.

You have one week to complete a piece of jewelry inspired by the weekly theme. Anything goes, it can include Humblebeads or not, art beads or whatever you have in your stash. It's up to you and however the inspiration strikes you for that week. To enter add your photo to the Inspired By Nature Jewelry Challenge Flickr group. Every Monday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Sunday night is the deadline for entries.)

Pre-order here.

Willow Challenge Winner

The winner for my first Inspired By Nature Challenge is The Beading Yogini! 

The winner was chosen by random from the all the entries. 

Cece Cormier combined wire wrapping, lampwork, macrame, sewing and painting skills to create this necklace inspired by willows.  I'm a little stunned - what an amazing piece.

Cece won one of my Round Willow Pendants. 

The next challenge will be up soon!

Inspired By: Willow Challenge

Do you know my book is coming out September 13th?  That will be here so quickly!  Right before I left for Bead & Button I got to see the preview.  I cried.  It's so beautiful.  Like, "right out of my imagination, just like I dreamt it" beautiful.  I can't wait to hold it in my hands.  My poor family - the embarrassment they will have to suffer whenever I see the book in a store.  I will be shameless. 

 

So my awesome book is all about inspiration from nature and one of my missions in life is to help inspire those on their creative journey.  So from now until the book release I'm going to have a weekly challenge. 

You have one week to complete a piece of jewelry inspired by the weekly theme.  Anything goes, it can include Humblebeads or not, art beads or whatever you have in your stash.  It's up to you and however the inspiration strikes you for that week.  To enter add your photo to the Inspired By Nature Jewelry Challenge Flickr group.  Every Monday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog.

This week's prize: a Round Willow Pendant in navy!

Here are a few jewelry creations that I love that fit this week's challenge:

 Bittersweet by Erin Prais-Hintz



Birds & Bees by Kristy Carroll Abner

Meandering by Cindy Gimbrone

I have decided to offer signed copies of the book and my bead featured on the cover. You can pre-order your copy here. 

Now hurry off and dream up something wonderful and willow-y!