August/September Creative Challenge Submissions

Pink and Orange Burst by Kelly Darke

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry everyone! I did not get this posted up on schedule, and I apologize! I have been so busy with work and crafting, story of our lives, right?

Anyway, we are now ready to accept submissions for our last creative challenge, which was The Jazz Age. Hopefully time didn't get away from you as much as it did with me, and you had a chance to make something inspired by the Jazz Age!

Leave a link here to your entry. You have until October 16, 2013 to post your link. Your creation can be something on etsy or your own personal blog, basically anywhere that you can provide a link to.

Voting will be held starting October 17 and ending October 20.

We can't wait to see what great pieces you have all come up with! Don't forget that the winner of this challenge will not only get to choose the theme for our next creative challenge, but they will also be in the running for our 2013 Favorite Creative Challenge Winner!

Creative Challenge Winner and Announcement for the August/September Challenge!

Congratulations to the winner of our June/July Creative Challenge... Jane!  Although Jane's Titania was the only submission for our last challenge, I think we can all agree that her piece is just breathtaking.

Titania- A Midsummer's Night Dream themed piece

As the winner of the Creative Challenge, Jane chose the theme for our next Creative Challenge... and that theme is... the Jazz Age, which spans over the 1920's to the 1940's.  What a unique and exciting theme, don't you think?

The rules are simple.  Create something with needle and thread that is inspired by the theme of the Jazz Age.  Here is your chance to make some really beautiful and exciting needlework.  Get creative and think outside of the box!  Submissions will be accepted between September 24, 2013 and September 27, 2013.

On September 24, we will put up a post asking for everyone's submissions. It can be a link to something you are planning to sell on etsy or other venues, or just a picture of something you created!

Starting September 28 and ending September 30 will be our open voting to decide who made the most awesome piece! All you have to do to vote is leave a comment on the voting post.

Feel free to leave comments here about different ideas for this challenge, or just to cheer everyone on! And remember, the winner of this creative challenge will be put in the running for a grand prize at the end of the year!

June/ July Creative Challenge Submissions

Pop Art Lips Necklace by A Little Offbeat

Well, it's that time again! Sorry to post this a little late this month, but we are now ready to accept submissions for our latest Creative Challenge!  The theme for this challenge is A Midsummer Night's Dream.  We hope you had some time to put your needles to work in creating some amazing midsummer night themed pieces!

Leave a link here to your entry.  You have until July 30th to post your link.  Your creation can be something on Etsy or your own personal blog, basically anywhere that you can provide a link to.

Voting will be held starting July 31 and ending on August 2.

We are excited to see what creations you have made!  The winner will not only get to choose the theme for our next creative challenge, but they will also be in the running for our 2013 Favorite Creative Challenge Winner!

Creative Challenge Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of our April/May Creative Challenge... Danny V!  His collection of adorable characters from Alice In Wonderland was the perfect fit for our challenge of Fairy Tales!

Fairy Tale Winning Piece!

As the winner of the Creative Challenge, Danny chose the theme for our next Creative Challenge... and that theme is... A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Wow, is that a perfect theme for June and July, or what?  Just hearing the theme is getting my creative juices flowing, we can't wait to see what gorgeous and amazing pieces you stitchers come up with!

The rules are simple.  Create something with needle and thread that is inspired by the theme of A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Here is your chance to make some really beautiful and exciting needlework.  Get creative and think outside of the box!  Submissions will be accepted between July 24, 2013 and July 27, 2013.

On July 24, we will put up a post asking for everyone's submissions. It can be a link to something you are planning to sell on etsy or other venues, or just a picture of something you created!

Starting July 28 and ending July 31 will be our open voting to decide who made the most awesome piece! All you have to do to vote is leave a comment on the voting post.

Feel free to leave comments here about different ideas for this challenge, or just to cheer everyone on! And remember, the winner of this creative challenge will be put in the running for a grand prize at the end of the year!

Creative Challenge Voting

It's time to vote for our favorite April/ May Creative Challenge piece!  The theme this time around was Fairy Tales, and here they are for you to take a gander at!  Vote for your favorite by leaving a comment below!  Voting will be open until May 31st (this Friday), so get your vote in and spread the word!  The winner will not only get to choose the theme for our next creative challenge, but they will also be in the running for our 2013 Favorite Creative Challenge Winner!

Cinderella and Stepsisters by Aimee

Alice in Wonderland by Danny V

Medusa by FunWithNeedles

Little Red Riding Hood by AniaJane

Thanks for taking a look!  Leave your vote in the comments section below!

April/ May Creative Challenge Submissions

Geo Bear by Three Silver Trees

Hello to all of you busy busy stitchers out there!  It's time again to begin accepting submissions for our latest Creative Challenge!  The theme this time around is Fairy Tales.  We hope you had some time to put your needles to work in creating some amazing fairy tale themed pieces!

Leave a link here to your entry.  You have until May 27th to post your link.  Your creation can be something on Etsy or your own personal blog, basically anywhere that you can provide a link to.

Voting will be held starting May 28 and ending on May 31.

We are excited to see what Fairy Tale inspired creations you have made!  The winner will not only get to choose the theme for our next creative challenge, but they will also be in the running for our 2013 Favorite Creative Challenge Winner!

Creative Challenge Winner!

Congratulations to our February/ March Creative Challenge winner... Bridgit Boggs!  The theme was The Garden, and I think we all can agree that her Rambling Rose piece puts us right in the mood for being out in the garden.

The Garden themed winner!

As the winner of the Creative Challenge, Bridgit got to choose the theme for our next Creative Challenge... and that theme is... Fairy Tale.

The rules are simple.  Create something with needle and thread that is inspired by fairy tales.  Here is your chance to make some really beautiful and exciting needlework.  Get creative and think outside of the box!  Submissions will be accepted between May 24, 2013 and May 27, 2013.

On May 24, we will put up a post asking for everyone's submissions. It can be a link to something you are planning on selling on etsy or other venues, or just a picture of something you created!

Starting May 28 and ending May 31 will be our open voting to decide who made the most awesome piece! All you have to do to vote is leave a comment on the voting post.

Feel free to leave comments here about different ideas for this challenge, or just to cheer everyone on! And remember, the winner of this creative challenge will be put in the running for a grand prize at the end of the year!

Creative Challenge Voting

It's time to vote for our favorite February/ March Creative Challenge piece!  The theme this time around was The Garden, and wow, did we get quite a bit of submissions!  Here they are in all of their garden-y glory, for your viewing pleasure:



Pikmin Tissue Box Topper by Daniel Valentin

Welcome to our Garden by Sew Jenaissance

Herb Garden by Shelia Huis

Embroidery by Aimee



Rambling Rose by Bridgit Boggs

Jumping Spider by Fun With Needles

Woodland Cross Stitch by Angie

Vote for your favorite by leaving a comment below! Voting will be open until March 31st (this Sunday), so get your vote in and spread the word! The winner will not only get to choose the theme for our next creative challenge, but they will also be in the running for our 2013 Favorite Creative Challenge Winner!

February/ March Creative Challenge Submissions

Necklace by The Werk Shoppe

Why hello everyone!  It's time again to begin accepting submissions for our latest Creative Challenge!  The theme this time around is The Garden.  Spring is in the air, so hopefully you have had a lot of inspiration.

Leave a link here to your entry.  You have until March 27th to post your link.  Your creation can be something on Etsy or your own personal blog, basically anywhere that you can provide a link to.

Voting will be held starting March 28.

We are excited to see what Garden inspired creations you have made!  The winner will not only get to choose the theme for our next creative challenge, but they will also be in the running for our 2013 Favorite Creative Challenge Winner!

Creative Challenge Winner!

Congratulations to Sew Jenaissance, the winner of our December/ January Creative Challenge! Her Winter Sports themed piece is pretty adorable.


Winner!

As the winner of the Creative Challenge, Sew Jenaissance got to choose the theme for our next Creative Challenge... and that theme is... The Garden.

The rules are simple. Create something with needle and thread that is inspired by the garden. Here is your chance to make some really beautiful needlework. Get creative and think outside of the box! Submissions will be accepted between March 24, 2013 and March 27, 2013.

On March 24, we will put up a post asking for everyone's submissions. It can be a link to something you are planning on selling on etsy or other venues, or just a picture of something you created!

Starting March 28 and ending March 31 will be our open voting to decide who made the most awesome piece! All you have to do to vote is leave a comment on the voting post.

Feel free to leave comments here about different ideas for this challenge, or just to cheer everyone on! And remember, the winner of this creative challenge will be put in the running for a grand prize at the end of the year!

Creative Challenge Voting

Hello everyone!  It's time to vote for our December/ January Creative Challenge!  The theme for this challenge was Winter Sports.  Here are our awesome submissions:

Winter Girl by sew jenaissance

Ice Fishing Eskimo Girl by stitchnmomma

Snowshoeing Into the Northern Lights by Ania Jane

Vote for your favorite by leaving a comment below!  Voting will be open until January 31st (this Thursday), so get your vote in and spread the word!  The winner will not only get to choose the theme for our next creative challenge, but they will also be in the running for our 2013 Favorite Creative Challenge Winner!

Tips and Tricks Tuesday: Beads and Sequins

Beaded embroidery is top on my list of techniques that I want to learn. Beading can be used for jewelry, clothing, and accessories; it can be done for small details or to cover an entire piece; it can be retro like a 50s sweater or en vogue like a the beading on a couture evening dress.

I had no idea where to start, but I found this great video using a simple Google search. It's about 3 minutes long, but it's worth watching.

If you don't have time to watch, here are the basics:

1. You can use any type of bead, but less 'flat' beads might need to be anchored with smaller beads and more stitching.

2. You will use primarily backstitch and couching stitches, but may use other simple stitches to anchor individual beads.

3. Avoid knots, and be careful to keep your stitches within the beaded area so that you won't cut any of the stitches when mounting the piece. (Especially important for jewelry.)

4. You can do bead embroidery onto paper, fabric, ribbon, etc.

5. Use nonwoven stabilizer (interfacing) on fabrics.

We have several talented beaders in our EtsyNEAT group as well, so I decided to ask a few of them for some tips.

ShonetteDaniels had several suggestions. She says that "using good lighting is essential. I use full spectrum day lights , good morning sun, and another full spectrum light with a magnifying lens on it ( saves the eyes just a bit!)."

(Beaded Cuff by ShonetteDaniels)

She suggests "a good beading needle-- paying a little more for them is worth it!"

She also mentioned the need for a strong thread, such as "Fireline" (which I added to my shopping list) and a strong base material. She said anything that won't pucker when repeatedly punctured with a needle will work, but specifically suggested "Lacy's Stiff Stuff". Thanks Shonette!

(Beaded Cuff by ShonetteDaniels)

Lody of HaverHillStudio is writing a series about bead embroidery on her blog, Lody's Beadworks. She's starting out with the materials and foundation preparation and plans to add more tutorials in the future. Be sure to follow her blog to get in on all the future tutorials.

(Above: Beaded pendant and earrings by HaverHillStudio)

(Below: Beaded cuff by HaverHillStudio)

Now I just have to make a trip to the store and choose a project!