Voting for the November EBW Challenge

I'll be honest: I have been torn about promoting this challenge and future EBW challenges all month. I have a very minor leadership role on the team and get to participate in the discussions about moderating entries. Lately this has nearly set me over the edge. I don't know if people get some sort of power trip out of denying entries in a beading contest through Etsy or criticizing people who did win whose entries "stretched" the theme, but I sure don't. Most people on the team don't even participate in the voting process, let alone promoting the challenge for the sake of the team. I'm hanging in there for the remainder of 2012, but I think that my patience will be gone by 2013. This saddens me because the team has been a huge asset for my beadwork since I got serious about my beading in 2008, and there are a lot of talented people there. But I think that my priorities are better spent elsewhere.

With that being said, there are still many gorgeous entries for the November theme, Circles and Squares. With all of the drama going on this month and the crazy limitations that got set within this theme, I wasn't very inspired to create anything myself even though I'm a huge fan of geometric shapes.

Voting takes place on the EBW blog through November 15. Please check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite. If you can't see the clickable mosaic, click here.

Here are just a few of my favorite pieces for this challenge.

Retro chunky rainbow geometric bead embroidered statement bracelet by MoonsafariBeads

Cowboy Geometry Necklace by thistledew4u

Circles and Squares Geometric Modern Beaded Bracelet in Red White and Black by MegansBeadedDesigns

why I love my customers

I love my customers because sometimes they come with amazing ideas for custom orders that never would have occurred to me.  The most recent custom order that I finished is a perfect example of this.  Patch (patchfirstshop) contacted me about creating a set of pendants, one in navy blue (which is her boyfriend's favorite color) and turquoise (which is one of her favorite colors).  She's going to give the turquoise one to him for Christmas.  This way, they can each have something that reminds them of the other one.  How sweet is that?

Patch came up with the design for the shape and how it will look like one can fit right inside the other.

For anyone who beadweaves and is interested in trying this: The tubular square is well worth the effort, as I'm sure you can tell from the pictures.  However, it is trickier than a tubular triangle because of the way the piece keeps curving until it's connected right at the end.  I highly recommend getting comfortable with the flat and tubular triangle designs before attempting this.

I have several more ideas for this design now, including several squares in different sizes connected to make a longer pendant.  And as always, if you're interested in something like this for yourself, please let me know.