One of the most interesting features in the magazine is the Fun with Focals section. It includes 30 tips and innovations for creating interesting and clever focal elements.
I was so inspired by this feature I picked my favorite 5, came up with my own versions and have partnered with Interweave Press for a new contest and a challenge.
There are two parts to this contest, one is a random drawing and the other is a creative challenge with assignments!
The Best of Stringing Drawing:
Grand Prize - a year subscription to Stringing Magazine
Runner Up - a free copy of the Best of Stringing
How to enter:
Leave a comment here answering this question - For focal beads are you more likely to grab an art bead, a metal pendant or a large bead such as stone, wood, shell, etc.?
One entry per person.
The Fun with Focals Challenge:
Prize: $50 gift certificate from Humblebeads.com and a signed copy of the Best of Stringing.
How to enter:
1. Each day this week I'll post my version of the Fun with Focals project along with the assignment to follow along.
2. You'll have a week to create a piece of jewelry inspired by the assignment and put it online. It can be on your blog, facebook page, flickr or other online photo album or in your Etsy shop, etc..
3. Put the link to the creation in the comments of the matching post.
You may submit one link per assignment.
The winner of this prize will be randomly drawn from all the assignment links.
For both parts of the contest please leave your email if you don't have a blog account, so that I can notify the winners. Winners will be drawn at 3pm on Friday, November 6th.
Your first assignment will be posted soon!
Wow - Thanks for having such a super contest! I will definitely be looking out for my first "assignment." :o)
ReplyDeleteFor focal beads, I love to use art beads....Especially if it's something super special that I got from someone. So many of them are unique enough that they just NEED to be the center of attention!
Great contest Heather and a wonderful prize for the winner.
ReplyDeleteI use art beads as a starting point for most of my projects. They are just fun to work with and they have a big influence on the other bead purchases that I make.
These days I'm pretty much going to grab an art bead - often one of my own clay beads - as the focal inspiration for a design.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather! Thanks so much for the shout-out!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like my necklace. I hope I did the Humblebeads justice :-)
You ROCK Heather! (And for the record, so does Interweave and Stringing!)
ReplyDeleteI used to grap anything that looked pretty...now I am more apt to grabbing an art bead (thanks to you and Art Bead Scene and my copious Bead & Button show purchases I have been hording and my recent Etsy purchases, etc, etc.)
This is just the sort of thing I need to kick start my creative juices.
Thanks so much for the great contest! Count me in!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
Art Beads Rock the HiZZOuse! Always grab artbeads for focals in my pieces. They always deserve to be the focal of any piece of jewelry and it's even cooler that I have even met a few of the artists!
ReplyDeleteAlready sketching up ideas for the assignments.
Sounds like fun! I do love unusual gemstones as focals but usually lean toward using art beads as focals.
ReplyDeleteI'm an artbead girl, too! I usually end up driving the project train with the colors and textures in the bead...love ending up with fun results!! Thanks to all you wonderful artists who keep me supplied! Jen
ReplyDeleteI am an Art bead kind f girl. I gravitate towards the ceramic ones right now, but have used many other kinds.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a chance to win
Marie
I always grab an art bead for the focal and use gems and/or metal beads for accents. Cool contest!
ReplyDeleteFun contest:) I can't wait to see some of the entries!
ReplyDeleteI almost always go for an art bead. Typically, I prefer ceramics/clay with lots of color. I'm starting to love the words on beads, too:)
Oh art beads. Definitely art beads. Thanks for the challenges and opportunity to win. This will be fun!
ReplyDeletegreat contest!!...I'd love to have a subscription to Stringing...I almost always use an artbead for my focal but sometimes one of my metal creations, it just depends
ReplyDeleteOh how fun! I almost always use an artbead for my focal. It sets the mood for the design.
ReplyDeleteAn art bead for the focal every time, I'm especially into porcelain right now, and I love clay. Actually, I like them all!
ReplyDeleteI would love to use only art beads for my focals, but since they can sometimes be more than my customers want to spend, I also use stone, brass and natural focals.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun contest!
I would use an art bead first. I love the unique look and the idea that it is not mass produced.
ReplyDeleteGreat contest!
ReplyDeleteI used to use stone focals,now I almost always use an art bead.
I don't have an identity on the pc yet,so I have to print name here.
Gail W.
bo94149@bellsouth.net
Thanks,and can we order the mag somewhere on the internet?
I wish I had more time to participate in the Fun with Focals Challenge, but I will try to find some time to enter! As for the question, I would have to say an art bead. Usually some sort of artist created pendant. Thanks for the giveaway and challenge, it's a great idea!
ReplyDeleteLisa
Since I have found all the great artists on Etsy - I have been ordering art beads(no shows here until Nov.-can't wait). I still am drawn to unusual metal pieces also. Thanks for the great chance to win.
ReplyDeleteSince I have a bizzillion art beads from many fab glass artists, I tend to use those first as a focal and work my designs around them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your inspiration and kudos to IW for being a great sponsor. Yes, Stringing is great for sparking creativity.
sandi
sandra.miller15@yahoo.com
These days I pick the large bead in any of the materials. Stringing, wire wrapping and beads. My life. Yea!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun challenge!
ReplyDeleteI love using focal beads - art beads when i can get them or an interesting stone or pendant.
Great contest!!
ReplyDeleteDue to Art Bead Scene, I know prefer art beads. I used to use focals that were stone. But after more exposure to what is out there and how to use it, I like the uniqueness of the art beads.
My own lampwork art beads are what I usually pick up! Thank you for the contests!
ReplyDeleteI am an Art Bead Lady every time!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this contest!! This is going to be fun!
awesome prize! If i can get them i go for an art bead focal also, but as i am on a pretty tight budget, i often end up with a nice stone focal, or create my own using thread and beads to make a sort of beaded tassel type thing.
ReplyDeleteART BEAD, everytime as a focal bead. For me, it just makes the project more unique.
ReplyDeleteLiz
I like it if the focal adds something unique, so I mainly use my own art beads. If it doesn't contain an art bead (either by me or another artist), then it's probably a gemstone.
ReplyDeleteoh, and email: olooriel(at)gmx.de
ReplyDeleteI love YOUR focal beads!! I often use a focal bead or a focal salvaged item from "junk" jewelry or a found object from nature--especially shells, rocks and beach glass.
ReplyDeleteI used to always use gemstones, but now I'm using more art beads. They are a ton more fun! Great contest!
ReplyDeletePatti
That's a tough one, I think it depends on the inspiration for the piece, I really love all of the choices, metals, organics and art beads but they could be all one in the same~! I am just starting to get more into feeling comfortable using metal so I guess if I had to pick one, and only one it would be an art bead.
ReplyDeleteI've been concentrating more on making beads than jewelry, but I usually reach for one of my ceramic pendants. It's been a long time since I used a stone focal.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant contest! I wonder if I'm too late??? I usually go for an art bead; I am in awe of all those awesome lampworkers out there; I wish I had their skills! Love metal beads too, especially Bali style beads or Hill tribe silver. Or silver clay art beads...they're all so great, how can I choose??!
ReplyDeleteWow! Inspiring contest! For a focal, love to wire wrap gemstones, but also love artbeads. Hard to say which I love better.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
stafford37@optonline.net
Great contest! Thanks so much for the inspiration! For a focal like to wire wrap a gemstone, but also use artbeads. Love them all!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
stafford37@optonline.net
I also agree that it depends on the piece i am creating, but i oftne find i reach for etched metal pendant pieces. I do so love using them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a great contest.
ReplyDeleteI prefer art beads fir my focal.
Almost always an Art bead.
ReplyDeleteIn reality ,I usually use my own polymer clay creations.This is mainly due to cost.
I give myself a very good price on beads!
But, I love collecting pieces from other artists.
Knowing who made the bead gives each design a special meaning. When I wear a bead from an artist I admire ,I feel a connection.
Maybe I'm hoping a bit of their inspiration seeps into me !!!
:D m.e.
Art Bead, Art Bead, Art Bead! Of course! Usually my own since I make pendants! Thanks for the contest and the giveaway, Heather! It's a great one!
ReplyDeleteart beads every time! great contest and giveaway - thank you so much...
ReplyDeleteplease forgive me, i thought the comment went thru but i didn't see it and i would like to be in on this -
ReplyDeletegreat contest and challenge... thanks so much...
art bead every time!!
Thanks ,Heather!I didn't know you could do that with the pictures.I don't know where you find the time.
ReplyDeleteIn past times, I've usually been more inclined to grab a large stone bead, because that was what I had on-hand. However, since I've been spending an abnormal amount of money on art beads lately, those are what most of my jewelry has focused on in the past few months.
ReplyDelete