The September Challenge - And the winner is...

Thanks to everyone who joined in with our September challenge! As always, a quick look at the photo we posted for our green and gold colour scheme...

The winner is at the end of the post but please don't forget to look at all of these wonderful entries on the way!

Sarah

Andrea

Gill

Janine

Ericka

Leah

Liz

 

Starless

Clair

Fiona

Jane

Linda

Lori

Shirley

Trudi

Tammy

Emma

Dee Wingrove Smith

 

Suzie

Ericka
(Design by Jill Wiseman)

Dorisanne

Dee

Tammy

Coral

Tracy

Lynsey

Christina

Ev

Giorgia

Helen

Jenny

Maureen

Michelle

Kathy

Susan

Laura

(Adapted from a pattern by Diane Fitzgerald)

Janice

Mary

Carolyn

Carol

Gillie

Iveth

Gail

(Design by Nancy Dale)

All the names went into the list randomizer at Random.org and the lucky person at the top of the list is...

Congratulations Michelle, you're the winner of the fabulous Preciosa pearls from Jencel!

Well we hope you've enjoyed this month's challenge, check back tomorrow when we start a brand new challenge for October!

The September Challenge - Weekly Update 2

Apologies for the late post this week. But I hope you'll agree that it's worth the wait when you see all the beautiful entries from week two of our September challenge! Don't forget to visit the challenge post if you'd like to join in with us, there's a fabulous prize of Preciosa crystals from Jencel up from grabs this month!

Laura

(Adapted from a pattern by Diane Fitzgerald)

Janice

Mary

Carolyn

Carol

Gillie

Iveth

Gail

(Design by Nancy Dale)

The September Challenge - Weekly Update 1

A gorgeous collection of entries to share with you this week! If you'd like to join in with our challenge and have a stab at winning a fabulous collection of Preciosa crystals from our sponsor Jencel then please see the September challenge post for details.

Tracy

Lynsey

Christina

Ev

 

Giorgia

Helen

 

Jenny

 

Maureen

 

Michelle

 

Kathy

Susan

 

Little Bead Boxes {Bead, Book & Bounce}

Continuing with our feature - Bead, Book & Bounce - I'm thrilled to let you all know that the next book on our list of 'must bead' is Little Bead Boxes by Julia S. Pretl. And the reason that I'm so thrilled? This book was the very first beading book on my wishlist but, because of my long-term fear of peyote stitch, it's sat on my shelf becoming dusty for much longer than any other beading book in my collection. Having overcome that long-term fear with the help of the wonderful ladies in the OTTBS Facebook Group, means that I'm now ready to tackle some more intricate projects. Thanks ladies! 

I'll be encouraging you to create something from Julia's amazing book; to share any projects you've made that have been inspired by Little Bead Boxes; and, perhaps, to share your thoughts on the book, patterns and what you may have learnt. (You can read a little bit more about how this works in our Introducing: Bead, Book & Bounce article.)

Inspirational Beading - Book Spotlight, Little Bead Boxes

Patterns In Other Places - 

Julia has created a  multitude of additional Bead Box Patterns, which complement the instructions in Little Bead Boxes. These patterns don't include instructions and it may be difficult to construct the boxes without having first purchased the book, but by all means purchase an extra pattern if you've already beaded your way through the book. Or if you're super, super confident!

And, If You're Interested - 

Visit Julia's website, Beading In My Basement, where you can see all of Julia's boxes, vessels, collars, bead-knitting, patterns and tutorials in one amazing collection.

Don't forget, we're still working on projects from The Beaded Garden by Diane Fitzgerald and we'll be sharing our completed projects at the beginning of October. 

Bead Romantique: The Reveal {Bead, Book & Bounce}

So, the time has come for our very, first Bead, Book & Bounce Reveal. In June, we chose some of the most popular beading books - and one by one - we're challenging our readers to dust off the books on their shelves. Over the last few months, everyone has been busy beading pieces inspired by the beautiful projects in Lisa Kan's Bead Romantique and, today, we'll share a couple of our reader's finished projects with you.

   

Here's Ericka's version of the Medici Rhinestone Necklace, which features on the front cover of Bead Romantique. Ericka has changed the pattern a little by using a different shape and colour of rivoli and some stunning furnace glass beads created by David Christensen. Whilst still recognisably the same necklace, Ericka's beautiful necklace shows how easy it is to create an adaptation which suits your style and stash!  Ericka says that, although she needed to adjust the pattern to accommodate her round rivolis, she found the instructions really easy to follow. That's what we like to hear!

   

Next up, Gillie has created her own version of the Victorian Diamond Cuff - though apparently choosing which piece to make was quite difficult! Thankfully the pattern itself is lovely, with clear instructions and Gillie really enjoyed making it! Sadly though, funds didn't quite run to an investment in Margarita Beads, so Gillie has adapted the pattern and included sequins to give the cuff a bit of sparkle. She's not thrilled with the results and might adapt her cuff when she has the opportunity, but I'm sure we'll all agree that it looks awesome.

 

So, it seems that so far, our readers are impressed with the clear, simple instructions in Bead Romantique and are just as happy with the stunning results of their efforts. Now it's over to you. You can link up any projects that have been inspired by Bead Romantique using the Mr. Linky below.   

• Please link directly to your Bead Romantique blog post, so that we can find it easily. 
• Please leave a comment here when you link up your project. 
• Please try to visit the blogs of other participants when you can. We all love a bit of love!

The September Challenge

Welcome to the September challenge! September is traditionally a time for change, with leaves on the trees starting to turn from their summer green into more autumnal colours. With this in mind, September's challenge colours are Green and Gold.

Where did my summer go?

Any shades of green are accepted and you can either use metallic gold beads and/or beads that are golden in colour. Or you may choose to create your whole piece in green keeping the gold for the clasp, the choice is yours! Beads with AB/rainbow finishes are allowed but no other colours please!

Now here's the twist...we'd like you to include pearls somewhere in your entry. They can be either natural or manmade glass pearls and for this challenge they must be green and/or gold. The 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 photograph 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 September 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 September 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 Sunday the 30th of September.

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!

Any other questions?
If you have any questions about the challenge please feel free to email Liz at ottbs@live.com

The Prize
This month our sponsor is Celia of Jencel and she's offering a fabulous prize of 3 large packs of sparkly Preciosa crystals. Each pack contains either 144 in 4mm, 72 in 6mm, or 48 in 8mm and Celia has a huge range of colours for the lucky winner to choose from!

The winner will be drawn by Liz after 6pm on Sunday the 30th of September, using the random list generator at www.random.org and announced later on the same evening.

Good luck everyone and happy beading!