Thursday, January 08, 2015

Star Frost Special Challenge Reveal...

Today is the Reveal for the Star Frost Special Challenge!  If you're not familiar with the challenges, I put together a Design Kit and offer them on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Challengers claim their kits and I then send them off around the world!  Each participant has about two months to create a piece and at the end of the challenge, everyone shares what they created!

It's a fun way to challenge your creativity and it's always fascinating to see what each person will make with the nearly identical kits.  Sometimes there are overlaps in the ideas and themes, and other times... things are vastly different from each other.

I wanted to do a special "holiday edition" of the challenge and created a wintry blend of frosty clears, cool blues, chilly grays, and icy whites.  I wanted to put together a kit that celebrated the time of year.

To learn more about what went in the kit, CLICK HERE.

One of the fun elements of the kits is that there's a Mystery Component.  It's usually something handmade by me.  This time it was a polymer clay snowflake pendant.

And without further ado... here's the REVEAL:

I created this bracelet.  I dug through the Luxury Bead Blend and found these clear drops, which I liked very much and wanted to use.  So I located another tube to augment what was in the kit and paired the drops with a silver-lined frosty blue seed bead.  I used Spiral Stitch to create the base of the bracelet.  The drops give it a fun, textural element that reminds me of icicles.  When I finished, I thought it needed to be jazzed up a little, so I sewed on a decorative ring and added some wire-wrapped dangles strung up with opalescent glass from the kit.  It gives the piece a little bit of movement and catches the light nicely.

These pieces were created by Cheryl Tucker.  Here's what she had to say about them:  "I separated the beads into two stringing projects and made matching earrings for each piece.  For the first project, I added blue beads to the necklace with the Mystery Component.  I love that icy blue combination."

"The multi-strand white bracelet should be good now with a sweater but may be better with a tan next summer!"

Mia Nutick made these pieces.  Here's what she had to say about them:  "I have a few things but I am going to have to do some for the Catch Up Reveal.  I'm moving, so things are in a massive disarray!  I got SO many more piece out of the Star Frost beads than this!  It was GORGEOUS!  The choker is on memory wire with an added snowflake charm."

"In this necklace, I used elements from the kit, but I also added Japanese cultured pearls."

"For this necklace, I made matching earrings and a bracelet.  I added Swarovski crystals from my stash to elements from the kit."

"I'm glad I started doing these challenges!  I am going to go back to selling jewelry on Etsy under the name Bauble Yaga... that is... AFTER we move and get everything set up and I sell my back inventory from Chimera Fancies."
This necklace was made by Joanne Goldberg.  Here's what she had to say about it:  "I'm traveling and I knew I wouldn't be here for the reveal, so I sent my piece in early.  I strung the necklace and added a cluster of vintage Japanese glass."

These pieces were made by Lisa Mendum.  Here's what she had to say about them:  "Thanks again for a wonderful kit!  You always put together such wonderful textures and colors.  I love layered jewelry and decided to make a set I could wear together or separate.  I made a short wired beaded section that I could wrap around the multi-strand necklace and a pair of beaded hoop earrings."

But wait... that's not all!  Please swing by the blogs of the other participants from around the world!  Check out what they made for the Star Frost Challenge!

Carolyn Lawson 
Carole Carlson of Beadsophisticate 
Shai Williams 
Karin Grosset Grange of Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Ann Schroeder 
Tammy Bowman of Inner Muse Jewelry 
Alison Herrington
Kari Asbury of Hippie Chick Jewelry Design 
Alice Peterson
On Andrew Thornton's blog:
Andrew Thornton, Cheryl Tucker, Mia Nutick, Joanne Goldberg, Lisa Mendum

The Desert Sands Challenge is up next!  The reveal is scheduled for Thursday, January 29th.  Check back here to see all the lovely creations!

ALSO, tomorrow (Friday, January 9th at 7PM EST) the next Design Kit will be revealed and go on sale!  Swing by tomorrow and get ahold of your kit!  If you're interested in participating, the kits sell out super fast, so make sure to grab one while you still can!

13 comments:

Kari Asbury said...

So many unique and gorgeous designs! Everything I have seen today from this kit is just fantastic. So many different takes on the frosty beauty. Thank you again Andrew for providing such fantastic inspiration!

Unknown said...

The gorgeous jewelry designs are so much more inspirational then the minus 6 degree weather here in Indiana today! I will wear my necklace with Andrew's beautiful focal tomorrow and then Saturday I am staying in my house and designing my Desert Sands pieces to warm my soul. The lovely Star Frost submissions have given me some wonderful examples and the next challenge is calling me.

Andrew Thornton said...

Cheryl Tucker: I really enjoy the pieces you've created! The exposed wire in the first piece makes it look nice and dainty and I imagine it looks like crystals have magically appeared around the wearer's neck. And the earrings are so stylish! The colored wire really gives the transparent beads extra flavor! And your multi-strand bracelet and earrings are so nice! The multi-strand has such a richness to it and I love all the textures going on. Plus the twist of the bottom row mimics the twist of the Japanese glass beads perfectly! Thanks so much for participating!

Andrew Thornton said...

Mia Nutick: You've outdone yourself with these stunning pieces! All of them look so expensive and luxurious. You've really got an elegant touch! And I love that the first two pieces look like they could be worn together and layered! The last set is bling-tastic! Super sparkly and ever so wintry! I think all of your pieces are just magical! Thank you so much for participating! And I'm glad that you're doing the challenges too! I have really enjoyed seeing what you've been making! Keep up the good work and GOOD LUCK WITH THE MOVE!

Andrew Thornton said...

Joanne Goldberg: What a fun piece! I like the energy of the focal dangles. They remind me almost like a snowflake, the way that they radiate outwards! And I love the pattern you've created in the base of the necklace! You've done a great job! Thanks again for participating in the challenges!

Andrew Thornton said...

Lisa Mendum: What a treasure trove of beauties! Great job! I love all the layers and the richness of textures. And I also like your thinking of being able to create pieces that can be worn together or separate! I imagine you could probably wear the multi-strand necklace as a chunky wrap bracelet. Everything gleams with wintry loveliness. Thanks so much for participating in the challenges!

Shai Williams said...

Oh what great designs! They are all so unique and wonderful that I really couldn't pick a favorite because they all qualify.

Inner Muse Jewelry Design said...

Andrew: I love the crystal drop spiral! What a great way to capture the feeling of frosty, cold. I reminds me of when I used to watch the icicle drip on our eaves up North. The dangles are a great touch to add movement and light to your design.

Cheryl: Great job on the coordinating necklace and earrings! The milky glow from the beads and the pretty blues you chose remind me of a bright winter day when the sun is catching the crystals in the snow and refracting them like a prism. The white set is multi-seasonal and I agree...will look fabulous with a tan :D

Mia: You really put heart and soul into creating these lovely designs! I love the snowflake design, it is whimsical and elegant! I love the asymmetry of the pearl necklace, also elegant. The jewelry set is fun and blingy! Bravo!!

Joanne: Your necklace is beautiful and reminds me of blooms starting to emerge after a long winter sleep.

Lisa: Great idea to mix and match the jewelry sets. I love the necklace with the dangle attached to the clasp. It can drape down the back or off the shoulder. Very cool! The knotted necklace and earrings will look great combined with the layered necklace.

Alice said...

Beautiful pieces from everyone. I just love the kit. I have enjoyed seeing what everyone made. I'm looking forward to another challenge in the future.

Anonymous said...

I love Andrew's bracelet. It is so elegant yet fun with those dangles.

I love how Cheryl used the blue with the Mystery Component. I love that icy blue look too! The multistrand bracelet IS going to be great any time of the year! So pretty.

Mia's snowflake necklace is so pretty and really represents the Star Frost theme. I'm in love with the pearl necklace. So timeless. The last set is so sparkly and pretty it's like a winter party.

I love the cluster in front of Joanne's necklace. Such a fun element of the design.

All of Lisa's pieces are so pretty. I love the idea of making them to layer. I love the layered look as well.

Lots of great work in this hop as always. Thanks, Andrew!

Alison Adorns said...

Andrew: Thank you for another amazing kit and fun blog hop! Your bracelet is amazing, love the drops!
Cheryl: Great Job! I really LOVE the floating style stringing that you did and the All white bracelet is gorgeous!
Mia: I love CHOKERS, and yours is perfect! What a beautiful classy knotted pearl necklace! Great Job!
Joanne: WOW what an awesome cluster focal you made, I love it!
Lisa: Great Job! Your multi-strand layered set is fantastic!

Jeanne @ Gems By Jeanne Marie said...

These are all such beautiful pieces! I love the frosty sparkle of this kit!
I have to say, I can really empathize with Mia, and am impressed that she created anything. I move in November and am still very disorganized and behind on challenge and book club posts.

Karin G said...

What a great collection of frosty designs!
Andrew's bracelet is so cool, I love spirals and the clear drops with the beautiful ring and clear beads make it so elegant!
Cheryl's pieces make beautiful sets, I love that they are both so different, very light and sweet with the bare wire or chunky and multi strand. Great work!
Mia's pieces are wonderful, they make me think of cool water flowing, all the elements combine so well together!
I love the contrast in Joanne's wonderful piece, the delicate straps and the chunky unique focal cluster.
Lisa's pieces are amazing, I can see them all layered in a rich collection of frosty strands! Gorgeous.

Thank you again Andrew for creating such beautiful, abundant and inspiring kits!