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April Monthly Challenge – Youthful Spirit

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. ~William Shakespeare

Shakespeare Pendant from Urbanbead

This month’s challenge theme is “Youthful Spirit” inspired by the Shakespeare quote. What does this mean? Well, that’s up to you to interpret. Show us your jewelry designs inspired by the renewal of spring that April showers us with each year. Maybe you’ll go with a floral theme or a design inspired by today’s youth. Or you might find Shakespeare himself as your inspiration. Just remember each design must include at least one art bead.

Shakespeare Garden Bead from HumblebeadsFeatured Designer of the Week!

This month we are trying something different. From all the entries during the month, an editor is going to pick their favorite design to be featured every Monday here on the ABS. We want to give our participants more time in the spotlight! Our first Featured Designer will be this Monday, so get those entries in soon.

(We are still giving away free beads every week during Studio Saturday.)

Spring-inspired bead set from Earthenwood Studio featuring square window pendant from Chinook Jewelry as seen in the Spring issue of Stringing Magazine

How to enter the Monthly Challenge:
1. Create something using an art bead that fits within our monthly theme.
This challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artist, etc. The art bead can be created by you or someone else. The challenge is to inspire those who use art beads and to see all the different ways art beads can be incorporated into your handiwork.
Beads by themselves and beads strung on a chain or cord will not be accepted.

Cindy Gimbrone’s Anime bead inspired by today’s youth culture.
2. Upload your photo to flickr.

Detailed instructions can be found here, and click here for a tutorial for sending your picture to the group. If you can’t upload to Flickr, send your entry and information to Heather.
Please add the tag or title AprABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog or website, if you have one.

Photos are approved by our moderators, if a photo hasn’t followed the guidelines it will not be approved. You may upload 2 photos a day.

No denying the youthful spirit of Creative Impressions in Clay’s Tie Dye Buttons, wouldn’t they make a great clasp?

***What is an Art Bead? An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.
*** A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.
p.s. If you have a blog, post your entry and a link to the ABS challenge to spread the beady goodness.


Portia – a Shakespeare inspired pendant by JenniferRydinDesigns.

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1 Comment

  1. tammy
    April 6, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    Everything is gorgeous. I especially like those tie-dye beads.

Comments are closed.