Michaels Reader Challenge- Blog Hop


Update! I have been adding links all morning so be sure to get the most updated blog hop list on my post this morning!
 
Welcome to my first Reader Blog Challenge! I chose several strands of beads and some chain from Michael's craft store. I posted the pics here on my blog and readers ran out to their local Michael's and snagged as much as they could from the choices I gave. The "rules" were that each person needed to create a piece of jewelry using the beads, they had to create their own clasp, and if they wanted to add beads, they could add 2 additional elements to their final piece. Today is the day where we all reveal the final projects!

As you can see, this is my necklace below. I created a longer style and my additional beads were: a strand of copper fringe chain, some ceramic beads from Nan Emmett of Spirited Earth, and the focal- is a wood ring. I also grouped all the chain into one of Elaine Ray's ceramic bead cones. Now, as I'm looking at the pics, I realize I did not follow my own rules- because I didn't even include a clasp on my necklace. Good going Lor. Well, better luck next time.
And there will be a next time! I think that the next time, I'll pick a nice well-stocked online venue like Fusion Beads. This will allow more International beaders to participate.



A couple people chose to email me their photos, since they aren't bloggers. So I'm going to share those with you here as well.

First up is Stephanie Silva. Looks like Stephanie created a longer style necklace with some dangles off the focal. Her additional items were brass chain, some ruby colored rounds, and I see some sweet creamy white chain links used in a unique way!  



Judy of Three Red Beads, submitted a gorgeous design- the one thing I notice is the embellished clasp. How beautiful! Looks like she added in some iridescent triangular seed beads in a red tone, and is rocking the multi-strand style. Love how this one turned out, very unique!!



Tess Miller of Totally Beadazzlin Jewelry Designs submitted a piece with a pendant focal!  Here's what Tess said about her piece: "...I loved your eclectic selection of beads ~ several that I wouldn't normally have chosen.  I grabbed pink Rhodolite and some yummy purple Amethyst as my two add-in options.  As I layed all the beads out and pondered, they seemed to be begging me for an asymetrical design ~ something I've not been hugely successful at completing in the past (yet another challenge).  I also wanted to come up with something unusual for the clasp, so I ended up attaching the base of my homemade clasp and the hook portion together on one side, using the white chain on the other side and giving the length of the piece a little more "adjustability".  I hadn't seen that before and I’m kinda diggin' it the more I look at it."


And we have another longer style necklace from Ellen Wagner. Ellen added some beautiful copper filigree pieces, a large green coordinating focal, and did some funky weaving of the green pearls and chain at one side. Clever! Ellen couldn't find the wooden cubes she she bought some interesting wood cylinder beads and used them in her final piece.


Betty just got her necklace image to me and I wanted to add it in before the day gets away from us! Looks like Betty went with asymmetrical style, which I Love!! And check out that interesting stringing technique at the front of the necklace with the jade and chain. WOWZA!




Sue and Danny submitted this lovely necklace to me this morning. Danny has Autism, but loves to bead! I can't say I blame him! He puts all the beads together, and Sue, his Mom, does all the wire wrapping and stringing. It turned out lovely, and Danny was quite excited to be part of his first contest. I applaud them both!


Here is a submission from Paula... A more complicated necklace design that is out of this world. Love that dragonfly focal!

Paula said:
"I added shell rectangles from bead gallery to balance out the square to circle ratio of the components, another larger white chain from bead landing, and I used enamel paint to create a white washed finish on a dragonfly pendant from enchanted planet and used findings from bead landing, ( I missed the make your own clasp part, sorry again)."




Melanie submitted her necklace to me, and this is the first time that someone other than family and friends has seen her work! Join me in giving Melanie a sweet round of a applause because she did a great job with this challenge! I love the simplicity of her necklace design!

Birgitta (love that name!) emailed me her necklace design this morning, and I was excited to see another International diva that has been able to participate in this challenge.


Birgitta had Nan of Spirited Earth send her the Michaels beads, and she came up with a knock out necklace. She had this to say about her piece:

So I had to come up with a new idea....
In the same envelope sent by Nan (spirited earth) I  got some  jummie
stuff she made that I decided to use
her leaf in front and branch :)  Thanks Nan for the help!!
I got the white lentils and wooden cubes + the white chain
I choose multicolor jade ( a bit pumpkinlooking)  instead of some soft
green from my own treasures and some big but round white pearls...(no
green pearls)
I was rather brave too / solder on copper a ring to the white chain
(matching my clasp)  but it only got a little bit brown ....matches the
rest :)








Enjoy hopping through all the blogs to see what everyone came up with! Happy Sunday!


Mary Harding
Hilary of Fryestyle
For My Sweet Daughter
My Life Under the Bus
Kristie of DreamSomeDesigns
Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings
Copper Diem

Andrew Thornton
TyneBodenNecklaces
Raida of HavanaBeads
Erin of Treasuresfound
Molly of BeautifullyBrokenMe
Beading by Malin de Koning



AuntieAnnie
Gr8Findings
Deborah M Purdy
Spirited Earth

Erin Siegel Jewelry
beads by breul
Beads for Busy Gals
Cynths Blog
Nayas Organized Chaos
Crafty Hope
2 catch a hummingbird

Rosebud For the Love of Beads
Jamberry Song
Peacock Fairy
Elysian Studio Art
Designs by Debi
sweet girl design

Silver Rose Designs
Tropic Beads
Imaginative Jewelry
Magnolia Attic
Jeni Smathers
Glass Addictions

Comments

  1. Love the multiple strands of chain in yours, L! They add so much texture and interest. Love the wood ring and the little pop of color on the side with the ceramic cone!

    Great designs by the others, too! Everyone did something original and unique in their design that really stands out!

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  2. It's amazing that the same set of beads can inspire so many different designs. I take my hat of to all of you.

    Also a great way to discover some great new blogs....

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  3. Amazing as always Lorelei!

    This was like creative crack ! I was so excited to see what everyone did with that white chain. I was also so excited I forgot to put a clasp on mine as well! Hahaha oh well I still had fun.I was originally going to use ribbon as a clasp but changed my mind. Malin did it beautifully.
    Thanks so much for hosting this it was great fun! Patty

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  4. Every one beautiful in it's own unique way, I can't get over it really!! On to check out some more! Thanks Lorelei!

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  5. This has been a great experience Lorelei. Thanks so much for doing it. I love your piece. The ceramic bead cap by Elaine Ray is a brilliant idea. Great to see how many ways we all used this set of beads. Glad you are going to do it again. I did end up just linking back to you since I still can't get the links live. I will have to figure that one out before the next time.

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  6. This is so much fun to follow...what amazing creativity everyone has, the pieces are all so different from each other & all so wonderful in their own right!!!

    Wish I could have played but the closest Michaels is a 5-6 hour round trip for me & I just didn't make it :)

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  7. thanks for hosting this great challenge.
    i especially love the pairing of the two chains..and the big wooden hoop.All of it actually is fabulous.
    figuring out the white chain was a little tricky for me..

    it's so interesting to see how much the other 4 pieces differ, all lovely.

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  8. Lorelei, I had so much fun seeing all the creations for the challenge. It's amazing that so many different designs could be made from the same beads.

    Looking forward to the next challenge. Great idea to use Fusion Beads (free shipping--yeah!).

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  9. What a cure for creative block! I love having so many approaches to creating necklaces with the same beads! I agree, it's a good idea to structure the next one to encourage international participants. Hope I can participate next time!

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  10. I had so much fun with this challenge and I am thankful you started it. It is truly amazing what can be done with all the same beads!
    I am looking forward to the next one.
    Shannon

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  11. My blog is:

    http://magnoliaattic.blogspot.com

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  12. These designs are all so gorgeous!! And I've swung around to all the links, and it's just amazing to see how everyone met the challenge in their own unique way. Everything is gorgeous and this challenge totally made me fall in love with beads all over again. Thanks so much, Lorelei, for holding this really fun challenge!

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  13. Everyone's designs are so unique and beautiful!

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  14. Hi Lorelei - sorry about the link for my blog! Not sure what happened... It should be http://silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com

    I'll be posting my necklace shortly!
    ~Holly

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  15. I really enjoyed participating and it was so much fun to see the different designs.

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  16. This was so much fun! Everyone's designs are wonderful!

    A big thank you to Lorelei! Looking forward to the next challenge.

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  17. First, I want to thank you for hosting this blog hop/challenge and for picking out beads/chain that really did seem to challenge ALL of us. Wonderful!

    Second, your piece is beautiful, but I would expect nothing less from you. ;)

    As far as the other designers who aren't bloggers, wonderful work as well. I was surprised by how much red/pink showed up in these designs. I would have never considered that.

    Lastly, I must say how much fun I am having hopping around to all the other blogs and seeing their pieces. As well, it's great to have found some more blogs to follow (not that my feedreader isn't already overflowing, oh well!).

    Thanks again Lorelei!!! Can't wait for another one of these.

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  18. Love all of these but particularly Danny and Sue's lovely necklace! Great job everybody. I am so excited about the idea of you doing one using beads from an online shop - I would love to be able to take part next time - although I see that Malin managed anyway - she's smarter than me! Off to blog hop some more now.

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  19. Ive been looking forward to your bead Challenge bc its a Challenge with all these different beads! Ive just got home from church and fed the husband and am looking forward to going to all the Blogs. What your readers who dont blog have done ..they are really outstanding designs!! And yours is Spiffing too Lorelei!

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  20. Lorelei-
    This was so-o-o much fun! Thank you for all the work you put into setting it up. I am already looking forward to the next challenge.

    I had looked at including some of Nan's beads too, but they didn't end up in the final version of my necklace. I especially like the way you grouped beads, mostly in sets of 3, instead of just alternating them. It makes the diverse elements look more cohesive.

    Thank you for visiting my blog and for making today a super, sweet Sunday!

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  21. betty's use of the chain and jade was so creative.

    Sue and Danny this is a lovely necklace.

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  22. Lorelei, please do this again! I had so much fun. I got in super late in this one. I think it will be easier buying from the Internet too.
    Thanks for challenging me with the white chain. It was 9pm last night and I was thinking that I had to act quickly to be able to get in! I love how we all mase such different things with the same beads.

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  23. This was so much fun Lorelei! Looking forward to the next one! I love your piece, and that you too added a wood ring. The other pics you posted, I loved that several people added deep pink to the colors and it was fun to see the different ways people used the chain. Great ideas!

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  24. Lorelei... I just can't thank you enough!! That white chain... I would've never thought of it and it really made me push myself! Plus, I was able to find some new blogs and get connected to some great ladies (including you!) I definitely want to be involved in the next one... I adore your jewelry and I will be reading loyally!!

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  25. Lorelei..been following the challenge, even though I didn't participate this time. Everyone has created really lovely and inspirational pieces with items that some of us might normally overlook...Bravo to you for doing this :)

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  26. Just goes to show that there is beauty and inspiration everywhere! I love that all of these are so unique, different and creative. There are no rules and the pieces each have the personal flair of the designer. It was fun to participate in. Sounds like you are on your way to having more challenges in the future.
    Enjoy the day.
    Erin

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  27. cool is as cool does... :)

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  28. Thank you for allowing us to participate in such a wonderful experience. Your designs are the best asymmetrical ones I have ever seen. I enjoy looking at the Stringing Magazine and trying to pick out which ones are yours without looking at the names. You have a distinctive style and I love how you stay true to it. You are such a great source of inspiration and creativity. This challenge was a lot of fun! Look forward to more ones in the future.

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  29. What a wonderful array of designs with the same beads, beautiful. Thanks so much for hosting this challenge!

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  30. As I hopped from blog to blog today, each reveal I saw became my new favorite ~ such amazing and creative work!
    I loved reading the how's, what's and why's that occurred as people went about completing their pieces and hearing the obvious excitement over what they ended up with!
    Thank you again Lorelei for inspiring us to challenge ourselves and for being such a gracious host! ;o}
    This was pure FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

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  31. Wow! Everyone has lived up to the challenge! Amazing works of wearable art!

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  32. Lorelei - thanks for putting this together - it's been great and a great way to find other treasures in the blog world :-) Love, love your piece too!

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  33. i'm having so much fun looking through all of these! you rock.

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  34. I just now got around to posting my challenge piece. http://glassaddictions.blogspot.com/2010/10/late-to-party-as-usual-michaels-reader.html

    Now I'm going to go look at all the other blogs and see what others came up with. Thanks for the fun challenge. I look forward to more.

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  35. What beady goodness! Everyone's designs are so wonderful and I especially like what Erin is doing for Andrew how thoughtful. I hope to be able to get in on the next challenge. Lorelei your design is beautiful and when I was doing the blog hope I found so much inspiration.

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  36. Woohoo! I do so love seeing these designs! They all look so fantastic. Even if i can't get to a Michaels to participate, i have been so enjoying seeing the results.

    Can't wait for the next international competition! I'll be jumping in for sure :)

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  37. Lorelei, what gorgeous designs!!! There's no way I can pick a fave, I like them all in different ways. So many totally cool techniques and gifted designers!

    THANK YOU again for challenging us! You've got a really good thing going, and I'm glad you're planning to include our international friends in the next round.

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  38. Love them all. I love the way everyone created something different and wonderful!

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  39. Thanks, Lorelei, this was such a fun challenge! It's amazing to see all of the wonderful designs that came out of a few beads & chain.
    Your piece is absolutely beautiful!!

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  40. What is so cool is that everyone had a different interpretation! Really great!

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  41. Great challenge! I was sad to miss it! (darn back!) It looks like great fun was had by all! I love that they all look so fantastically different, even with similar elements!

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  42. Lorelei - thanks so much for hosting this blog hop. I was out of town from Thursday through Sunday, and I wanted to get through all of the blogs before I commented here. OK...I just want to say: WOW! There are some amazingly talented artists participating in this hop!

    Your necklace is fabulous, and I love the extras you included - especially the blue ceramic cone. Just beautiful! The white chain is grounded so well with the copper chain, that it naturally fits in with the rest of the components. Lovely!

    The other pieces you shared from artists who don't blog are wonderful. I am particularly drawn to Judy of Three Red Beads' necklace - I love the colors that she incorporated into her piece.

    Again, thank you so much for being such a lovely hostess - I can't wait for the next challenge!

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  43. Thanks for that bead party. I am so excited that you have thought about an online store - I love MIchaels but when will they finally start shipping their beads? Thanks again for the fun. The pieces are beautiful.

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