January challenge: Buried Treasure

Buried Treasure aka "Use your stash!"

Dig into the treasure you have been hoarding... 

We all have one. Call it a treasure, or a bead stash. Call it loot or inventory. It most likely does NOT look like this: 

Keeping your beads safe? Paranoid? 

It probably looks more like this: 

ONE of my 4 artist bead treasure boxes. Can you spot all the pieces by AJE team mates? LOL

What could be better than starting the year off right with new creative ideas? Using a treasures bead or component! Last year we started what may become a tradition here at Art Jewelry Elements - the "Use your Stash" challenge. (Granted, thats not a very poetic name, but it gets right to the point.)

Here is how it works: 

• Gather your beads and components by any and all of your favorite artisan bead makers. 
• Fondle. Think. Plan. Design. Dream. 
• Create! 
• Sign up here! Leave a comment with your name AND your blog address. 
• Blog! Buried treasure reveal date is January 31st 2016. 

**Please — only leave a comment if you can commit to creating a finished piece and blogging about it on the reveal date.
**Pull out those pieces you love from your stash and ENJOY them. What are you saving them for? 
** This Buried Treasure challenge is NOT limited to AJE artists - but we DO love you see what you create with our creations. 

Until then - Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! Happy Creating!

March Hares - the AJE Themed Challenge Reveal

March is often associated with idioms about lions and lambs... but here at AJE it was the month of the Hare. We had discussed this "theme" idea for a good while before deciding to move ahead. And we, as a team, felt there were myriad reasons to give it a try... We wanted the bead makers, the component people to have an opportunity to be involved in a monthly challenge. I mean art beads - am I right? And we wanted to encourage dialogue on inspiration, and shared inspiration. We wanted to demonstrate individual styles of expression, and the diversity of artist offerings within limited parameters. But enough philosophy - on with the reveal!

This month we have many participants - team members, 2 winners and a great list of artists and designers that hopped to the challenge. Take a look. Enjoy.

Happy Spring!

AJE Team
Jenny
Caroline
Lesley
Linda
Niky
Melissa
Rebekah
Lindsay

Guests
Aural - Woodland Bay Native
Heather - Hidden Ridge Studio
Cindy Martin-Shaw
Keren Panthaki
Jackie Ryan
Karin Grosset Grange - Ginko et Coquelicot
Pamela Traub - Klassy Joolz
Paisley Lizard Designs
Karen at Ditsy Blue
Michelle McEnroe ( 4 pieces pinned on the AJE Pinterest page)

January COM winners!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The plethora of prizes is announced! 

The January Component of the Month/Use your Stash winners are: 

Niky - Silver Niknats

Lee - Strega Jewellry

Samantha - Wescott Jewelry

Melissa  - Bead Recipes

Kathy - Bay Moon Design

Becky - Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Yvette - Blue Kiln Beads

Shaiha - Shaiha's Ramblings

Karin - Ginko et Coquelicot 

Winners: you will be contacted  by your AJE team member - via email for mailing addresses and the like. Please watch your in box. Pieces will mail ASAP - taking into consideration holiday timing and general hectic time of year. Especially mailing overseas!!!

Reveal day: January 31st.

And now for a little Grinch-i-ness:  

(Opinions expressed are mine, and may or may not be shared by my fellow AJE members.) 

• Email - there is nothing worse than having to delete someone from the give away list because they neglected to include their email. An oversight, but frustrating! 
• Blog - to participate in the AJE challenges, its stipulated that you have a blog. It is an unspoken understanding that you blog be active. No post at all or  posts dates 2 years ago... these are not active blogs. I would say within the last 6 months is reasonable. Life happens; blogs get neglected... 
• Names/blog identity - if I click on your comment and can't find you - I will search your name. If I can't find your blog - I take you off the list. Is it me, or is it frustrating when the blog never has the person's name? Anywhere? In the About section? If I am searching your name, I won't find your blog unless they are somehow connected. Just saying...  (I know this is my pet peeve, and others aren't so bothered by it. ) 

Which one will you receive? 

Having said all that... I need to clean house, blast the Holiday music and then look at MY personal stash. Its NOT too late to start fondling, planning, designing. Have a Merry! See you January 31st!