Friday, 31 August 2012

The August Challenge - And the winner is...

Thanks to everyone who took part in our August challenge, as always you've all come up trumps with your fabulous work. Before we announce the winner, let's have a reminder of the blue and copper challenge image and all of your wonderful entries...

Wild copper grass on blue


Linda



Nicole



Tracy



Kristen



Donna



Shirlnjazz



Carolyn



Gill



Maria



Melody



Tammy



Stephanie



Shirley



Fiona



Chris Maj



BeeJang



Emma



Gail



Signy



Mary Ruth



Stephanie



Starless2011



Dee Wingrove-Smith



Ev Shelby



Liz



Mary Kearney


Kathy



Carol Paris
(Design by Kerrie Slade)



Celia
(Design by Piratchada T Beejang)



Coral



Janice



Michelle



Danielle
(Design by Jean Power and Kate McKinnon)



Ericka



Jenny



Nissa



Marg



Annita



Debbie



Andrea



Iha



Sarouchka
(Design by Kelly Wiese)



Sarah
(Design by MaryLou Holvenstot)



Jan Tharp



Lori


Everyone's names went into the list randomizer at Random.org and the lucky person who is at the top of the list is...


Congratulations Kristen, you're the winner of £25 to spend at Yashmas Creations

Well that's it for the August challenge, we hope you've all had a great time designing, making, as well as seeing all the beautiful entries. Check back tomorrow when we'll have a brand new challenge and another fabulous prize for September!

Tuesday, 21 August 2012

Change of Challenge Email Address

Just a quick post to let you all know that Big String is ending their email service so the new address to send your challenge entries to is ottbs@live.com

We can start using this new address from today but I will still be accepting entries via the Big String address until August 31st.

Sorry for any inconvenience!

Monday, 20 August 2012

The August Challenge - Weekly Update 3

A bumper collection of entries to share with you this week! As always if you would like to join in the fun, share your creations with us and maybe win a fabulous £25 voucher to spend at Yashma Creations then simply see the challenge post for details.

Michelle



Danielle
(Design by Jean Power and Kate McKinnon)



Ericka



Jenny



Nissa



Marg



Annita



Debbie



Andrea



Sheila



Iha



Sarouchka
(Design by Kelly Wiese)



Sarah
(Design by MaryLou Holvenstot)




Jan Tharp



Lori




Monday, 13 August 2012

The August Challenge - Weekly Update 2

Here are all the gorgeous entries we've received during week two of our August challenge. It's great to see all the different shades of blue being used! To join in with us and be in with a chance of winning a £25 shopping spree at Yashma Creations please see the challenge post for details.

Mary Kearney


Kathy



Carol Paris
(Design by Kerrie Slade)



Celia
(Design by Piratchada T Beejang)



Coral



Janice


Monday, 6 August 2012

The August Challenge - Weekly Update 1

A few entries to share with you from week 1 of our August challenge! If you'd like to join in with us this month and be in with a chance to win a £25 voucher to spend on beads at Yashma Creations then please see the August challenge post for details.


Dee Wingrove-Smith



Ev Shelby



Liz





Wednesday, 1 August 2012

The August Challenge

Welcome to the August challenge! Well we finally had a bit of Summer here in the UK so, in celebration of the blue skies and sunshine, this month's challenge colours are BLUE and COPPER.

Wild copper grass on blue

Any shade of blue can be used but the copper must be either a copper shade or actual copper, other shades of orange or red are excluded. Beads with AB/rainbow finishes are allowed but no other colours please!

Now here's the twist...we'd like you to include SEMI PRECIOUS somewhere in your entry. This twist is entirely optional but if you choose to use the twist as well as the colour scheme then you will receive two entries into the draw!

How do I enter?
There are two ways...
1. Email your photographs to Liz at ottbs@live.com
2. Or add them to our Flickr group pool.

Choose whichever way is easiest for you, you don't have to do both. In either case, please mention that it's for the August Challenge so I know that it's your entry. We're happy for you to post your photos on our Facebook group as well but please make sure that you've also submitted as above. Entries that have not been emailed or added to the Flickr pool will not be accepted.

What can I make?
Anything as long as it involves beads! Any technique is accepted, from beadweaving and stringing to wire work and bead embroidery. Lampworkers and polymer clay artists are also welcome to submit beads they've made. I'm sorry but any entries that do not include beads in some form or another will not be accepted. Your entry must be made especially for the challenge, please do not submit something that was made before August 1st 2012.

Does it have to be my own design?
No. We're happy for you to make something using a pattern from a book, magazine or tutorial but if you do please let us know the designer's name so that we can give full credit.

What about findings?
Findings (clasps, earwires, metal spacer beads etc) are exempt from the colour challenge so you can use silver, gold or any other colour findings that fit in with your project.

When is the deadline for entries?
The deadline is 6pm (GMT) on Friday the 31st of August.

Can I enter more than once?
You can make as many pieces as you like using the chosen colourway. All entries will be shown here on the blog but you will only be entered into the draw once (or twice if you've used the twist).

I'm not in the UK, can I still join in?
Yes of course! We welcome submissions from around the world so don't worry if you're not in the UK. Our sponsors have agreed to post prizes overseas so you can still enter and be eligible for the prize!

The Prize
This month our sponsor is Valentina of Yashma Creations and she's offering one lucky winner a fabulous £25 voucher to spend in her Etsy shop.
The winner will be drawn by Liz after 6pm on Friday the 31st of August, using the random list generator at www.random.org and announced later on the same evening.

Good luck everyone and happy beading!