Artbeads Design Challenge - What's Old is New Again - And Evinrude flies again...

Although the jewelry making community in the US is large and vibrant, the opportunities here in Norway to join activities that are as fun and challenging as the Artbeads Design Partners program are few and far between, so you can imagine how thrilled I was when I got the mail saying i was accepted to join the ArtBeads Design Partners. And I got to join in the challenges right away. The first challenge was “What’s Old is New Again,” which gave me the chance to work with some vintage looking base metals, which are some of my favorite materials to work with!

It was a lot of fun to stretch my creative dragonfly wings and make something so different from what I usually make. And what can be more fun than showing them off along with so many other talented designers?

Here you can find some of the stuff I used:
Swarovski: http://www.artbeads.com/swarovski.html

Base metal parts: http://www.artbeads.com/base-metal-components.html

So I decided to name my creation;

And Evinrude flies again...

I was watching a good old cartoon the other day, The Rescuers. And this cute little dragonfly from ArtBeads reminded me of it.

So I wanted to give a good old friend the chance to fly again.

The funny thing is - Ole Evinrude that made the outboard boat motor that was the inspiration for the dragonfly in the movie. Ironically, his birthday would have fallen on the day my ArtBeads dragonfly arrived in Norway, so it seemed like a tribute to his birth, in 1877. To add to the coincidences, it just so happens that I live within walking distance of the place he was born.

Disclosure:
I got as an AB-Design Partner the Swarovski crystals and the base metals components from ArtBeads free of charge. I was asked to give my honest opinions on the products, good or bad. I am not employed or compensated by ArtBeads in any way.

Antique Brass Isabella's GracePendant
Swarovski 6100 24mm FacetedTeardrop Pendant Crystal Bermuda Blue
Antique Vintage Brass-PlatedPewter Round Wave Toggle Clasp
3-Foot Hand-Dyed SilkBlue/White Blend 

Button Swap - What I sent...

I earlier this year joined Michelle's Button Swap. And I got partnered with Melodie, and this is what I send her and why.

As I am in Norway, and dont have best access to cool buttons. I tried finding something that had a story behind it. I did find one vintage tho, as in it used to belong to my grandmother - that is about as vintage as I can get it.


So here goes:
1 - My grandmothers vintage pewter button - with a pattern that is based on rock carvings that is from the stone and bronze ages.
I dont really know what exactly they where trying to carv - but it looks cool.

2 - Pewter button - with the pattern of a Birkebeiner which is a skiier that the civil war in Norway between 1130 and 1240 was the rebellious party, and allso helped resque the 2 year old new king to safety.

3 - Pewter button - pattern based on a viking shield.

4 - Wood button - with an oak leaf pattern.

5 - Gold colored button - the store claimed it was coated in real gold, but I picked it just cause it looked cute.

I hope the story on the buttons can be a fun side of this swap. At least I thought it was fun that i could find buttons that gave a bit of norwegian history with them

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I can unforunatly not show off what I made.
I havent gotten any buttons,
and there is no more mail this week due to easter.
Sorry.
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1. Cat - Boo Beads
2. Cindy - Sweet Bead Studio
3. Cory - Art with Moxie
4. Cyndi - Beading Arts
5. Dita - Alankarshilpa
6. Donna, Marti, and Michelle - Beads & Books

7. Erin - Treasures Found
8. Hope - Crafty Hope
9. Inca - Zerenity Design (You are here)
10. Katrine - Army of Sock Monsters
11. Krista - French Elegant Jewelry
12. Kristie - Artisan Clay
13. Linda D. - Lutka and Co.
14. Linda L. - Linda's Bead Blog
15. Lody - Lody's Beadworks
16. Lori - Pretty Things
17. Loretta - Loretta's Boutique
18. Malin - Beading by Malin de Koning
19. Mary - MK's Creative Musings
20. Maryanne - Zingala's Workshop
21. Melinda - Melinda Orr Metal & Clay Jewelry Designs
22. Saskia - Perlendistel
23. Shannon - For My Sweet Daughter
24. Shirley - Beads and Bread
25. Stephanie - Confessions of a Bead Hoader

Back from the dead ... sort off ...

Nature seen to decide I needed a break. For all those that has been wondering, I been knocked out with the flu, for like the last 4-5 weeks. I seem to be mending, and hopefully able to bead something soon.
I have a few projects coming up, a bracelet for a swap, a 3 part design challenge and ofc the button swap.
The bracelet will be shipped in about 2 weeks and ofc not posted before it arrives at its destination.
The design challenge will be posted and revealed (hopefully) in end of May - early June.
The button swap is due at the end of April. I have sent my buttons to my partner - but so far not gotten any back.

Think that is it ... at least there will be somethings to look forward too and read about here soon.
I also have some other plans ... but that is more "wait and see what it turns out too be".

Hope everyone is doing good - and being healthy ... and that my flu is gone for good soon.