Arabella

I've been invited to exhibit my jewellery at the Oatley 101 Artists Exhibition, the first weekend in August. I think I am looking forward to this.....it'll be fine once I set up...hehe.

So I thought I would make some simple things to add to the collection. I made a couple of bracelets last night, but one is yet to have its clasp completed. One is finished though, named and photographed, and here to show you. I've named this one Arabella.... dont ask me why....its the name that came to me as I was taking the pics.

I thoroughly enjoyed creating this bracelet, it was a nice change from the labour intensive piece for the Tournament.

If you would like to come to the exhibition, just follow this link and it'll take you to the promo page. Please pop in and look at some amazing artists and dont forget to come and say 'Hi!'

Coralline - My Battle of the Beadsmith entry

Finally I am able to show you my entry piece into the Battle of the Beadmisth Tournament. I would have a few days ago, but my computer decided it wasn't going to play nice.

I named this piece Coralline. As a reflection of what happens in the depths of the seas.

From the moment I started this piece, the beads guided me to where they needed to be. I thoroughly enjoyed creating this collar, and I hope you enjoy looking at it.

Wow! its been quite a while since I last blogged. A lot has been happening in the creativity sector after joining the Battle of the Beadsmith.  For the first few weeks, my mind went absolutely blank. I lost my beading mojo, and just couldnt bring myself to create anything of substance. I had a fabulous idea and my visual was as clear as day....a 3D collar..... I doodled my design, gathered my materials, and after 4 false starts, unfortunately I had to re-evaluate how I was going to execute this wonderfully macabre design. By this time, I was running out of time.

So I played around with some different beads, hoping to jog the ol' mojo.... I created things I didnt really want to do. I made lots of components and thought to myself that maybe this was the direction I was meant to go in. So I continued.... started to put it all together... looked at it, and thought NUP! this isnt me.....its too pretty. I dont do pretty ...LOL.

I decided that sitting at my desk with beads in front of me and 3 pieces started, but not seeing an end, I went out for some inspiration. Four weeks to the deadline, and I'm back to square one.

After a few days... I started a completely new piece..... these beads spoke to my inner self....they guided me... and I was liking where they were taking me. YAY! I was on my way with my Battle piece...

I think when I was just over half way, someone saw my piece, at the stage it was at, and was mesmerised by it.... He asked me if he could buy it !!!!! Of course he could.... how exciting! So I had this renewed energy to finish it because someone had loved it! and I wanted to finish it for him  before he moved interstate, so he could present it to his wife. I finished it last week.... I still had to photgraph it to enter it in the Tournament. 40+ photos later, I had enough to select from. So I took the piece over to them. Needless to say they were both over the moon. She was ecstatic to finally have a Nifty Creations original... and I was very honoured and humbled.

I would love to be able to show you photos....but the Tournament hasn't finished yet....so you will have to wait just a little bit longer.

Battle Of The Beadsmith 2012

I have been invited to participate in a worlwide super challenge with 64 extremely talented bead artists from around the globe. To say this is an honour would be an understatement. To bead beside these creative people is daunting, but a challenge that I look forward to with many butterflies to spur my creativity on...LOL

Here are the guidelines:

Beadsmith Elimination Tournament

In an effort to create more awareness of some of the incredible bead artistry being executed by bead masters worldwide, I thought it would be fun to set up a beading "tournament" where original works can be viewed, shared, and celebrated both by the participants, and the beading public alike.

64 seed bead artists have been invited to participate in an elimination "tournament" to determine which piece of their original beadwork best captures the imagination of 101 of their fellow designers, specialty bead shop owners, and members of various beading magazine editorial staffs.

On May 14th, random artist pairings will be created, establishing a first round of competition, consisting of 32 artists vs. artist "contests". (For example, round one might have the work of Californian Linda Roberts paired up against the work of Vermont's Nancy Dale, and so on.)

Artists will then have Seven weeks from the announcement of the first round pairings to create, a single piece of original beadwork, and submit four photos best highlighting the works most important elements. The 62 competitors not involved in a particular round one "contest", plus 41 invited judges, will vote for the piece that best captures their imagination. A majority of at least 85 of the possible 103 total voters will be enough to determine a winner. All necklaces, bracelets, earring, brooches, headpieces, belts, handbags, or any other wearable adornments are acceptable for submission. The deadline for all of the submissions, by the artists, is July 10th, Tuesday

The 32 winners of round one will be randomly paired again in one of the 16 new "contests" in round 2 and the voting process will begin again.

The 8 winners of round two are again randomly paired in 4 new round 3 "contests" to determine the final four competitors.

The 4 winners of round 3 are randomly paired in two "contests" to determine the final two competitors.

Round 4 determines the winner.......

And here are the participants:

Olga Petterson-Sweden, Sigifredo Contreras-Mexico, Linda Roberts- USA, Heather Kingsley Heath- England, Sharayah Sheldon-USA,  Helena Tang-Singapore, Nancy Dale-USA, Cynthia Newcomer Daniel-USA, Patrick Duggan-Australia, Marsha Wiest Hines- USA, Carol Dean Sharpe-USA, Annie Hatvani-Hungary, Christina Neit-USA, Sue Horine-USA, Ann Braginsky-Israel, Lea Palickova-Czech Republic, Alexandra Sydorenko-USA, Betty Stephan-USA, Callie Mitchell-USA, Christian Rodriguez-USA, Eva Dobos-Hungary, Katka Vaclavikova-Czech Republic, Misan Tejre-Sweden, Kinga Nichols-USA, Melissa Ingram-Australia, Anneta Valious-France, Mikki Ferrugiaro-USA, Miriam Cielo Shimon-Israel, Amy Katz-USA, Elke Leonhardt Rath- Germany,  Irina Chikineva-Russia, Edgar Lopez Disenos-Dominican Republic, Kassie Inman-USA, Orsolya Füzesi-Hungary,  Jill Thomas-England, Ibolya Ingesné Barkóczi-Hungary, Éva Csizmadia Lajosné-Hungary, Nausikka Dahllof-Sweden, Nella Moskvichjova-Russia, Julia Turova-Russia, Alla Vizir-Ukraine, Lynn Davy-England, Dini Alves-USA, Guzialia Reed-Japan, Alla Maslennikova -Russia, Sandra Dokter van Esveld-The Netherlands, Olga Haserodt-Germany, Joanne Browne-Australia, Jennifer Chasalow VanBenschoten-USA, Rosita Pisarchick-USA, Roxan O'brien USA, Christine Boyer Maj-USA, Kathy King-USA, Susan Brackett-USA, Olga Shumilova-Russia, Neva Brown-Australia, Ella Des- Belgrade Serbia (and wherever her boat takes her), Katherine Gezey-Ukraine, Lauren Macgregor -Australia, Hannah Rosner-Ohio, Ekaterina Kalinina-Russia, Marta Koudelova-Czech Republic, Terri Richards-USA, Marina Nosova-Russia

The Judges:

Sabine Lippert-Germany, Smadar Grossmann-Israel, Maggie Roschyk-USA, Adele Rogers Recklies-USA, Diane Hyde-USA, Jean Campbell-USA, Patrizia Tager-Israel, Zoya Gutina-USA, Jana Tarhala-Finland, Kerrie Slade-England, Laura Boudloche Zeiner-USA, Cath Thomas-Switzerland, Heather Collin-South Africa, Claudia Schuman-Germany, Chloe Menage-England (Bead Magazine Editor), Laura Andrews-USA, Kathleen Mccabe-Elsey- USA, Julia Gerlach-USA (Bead and Button Magazine Editor), Diane Fitzgerald- USA, Verena Greene-Christ- Germany (Perlen Poesie Magazine), Jean Power- England, Ana Garcia-USA, Paulette Rosner Baron-USA, Amy Blevins- New Jersey, Kelly Nealon-Australia (Australian Beading Magazine Editor), Melinda Barta-USA (Beadwork Magazine Editor), Karin Nilsson-Sweden, Jo Lochhead-Scotland, Kandra Norsigian-California, Kenj Katsuoka-Japan (Miyuki Company), Juliet Browse-England, Jamie Cloud Eakin-USA, Pamela Hawkins-USA (Bead Design Studio Magazine Editor), Marjon Donker-The Netherlands ( Editor Polymer To Art Magazine), Kate Bannister Tracton- USA, Deb Moffet Hall-USA (Bead- Patterns The Magazine & Quick Stitch Peyote Card), Barbara Conrad-USA, Lea Avroch-USA, MaryLou Holvenstot-USA, Anna Elizabeth Draeger-USA, Galina Pchelkina-Russia (Editor of Чудесные мгновения Magazine)


 

In 2009 I was involved in a challenge titled 'The ladies of Camelot'. It was the challenge I needed to push me in the direction I have evolved in. So I found the poem by Lord Tennyson tilled "The Lady Of Shalott'. and it held so much imagery for me that I created my first collar.


Here is an excerpt from that poem:

'On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the world and meet the sky;
And through the field the road run by
To many-tower'd Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.
Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the wave that runs for ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four grey walls, and four grey towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.


Lying, robed in snowy white
That loosely flew to left and right --
The leaves upon her falling light --
Thro' the noises of the night,
She floated down to Camelot:
And as the boat-head wound along
The willowy hills and fields among,
They heard her singing her last song,
The Lady of Shalott.
Heard a carol, mournful, holy,
Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darkened wholly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.
For ere she reach'd upon the tide
The first house by the water-side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shalott.

From these 2 stanzas I derived the image of Elaine, as she floated down the river, dying, and having her energy, life force and blood drain from her body. As she passed the flowers by the towers, her blood drained down to the depths.



I'm trying to add my Etsy Store gadget to this blog and it wont let me. So I've added it as a link.

So the challenge piece has been posted to the Beading Forum, so I can now show you. I've named it Aurora..... a selection of Light Ocean Agate NiftyGems (gemstones made by me from polymer clay), Swarovski Rivolis, seed beads and Chinese Crystals.