19 October 2012

Quick Fire Challenge: Michaels Toast of the Town Necklace Hop

Hello peeps!

Sorry for the radio silence this past week. That was completely unintentional. I had some big projects brewing that had to be focused on. I just never found my way back to you. But I missed you!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a concert of the Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma. Right here in little Stevens Point, Wisconsin. What an incredible collaborative musical party that was! They were in our city for about 5 days and over that time they held master classes with University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point students as well as local high school band students. My daughter was one of 1200 students that got to attend a presentation where they shared some of the very unique cultural instruments they played. There were 15 members from far-flung countries like Russia, India, Iran, Spain, and China. They did an impressive 2nd half performance of a work that was commissioned for them to perform that was inspired by Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. We learned that it was only the 3rd time that they had actually performed that live. And that our concert was the last stop on their 2012 tour. All I can say is WOW!

I think I have some ideas for my February Challenge of Music. ;-)

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Quick Fire Challenge: Michaels Toast of the Town Necklace Blog Hop

{Toast of the Town necklace}

Remember this post where I shared my participation in the October Jewelry Celebration "Made by Me, Inspired by Life" over at Michaels.com? The whole point of this experience is to encourage you, dear reader, to make the projects that all the experts created.

Well, the fine folks at Michaels and I have come up with a fun Quick Fire Challenge for you: using the instructions that I wrote and my piece as inspiration, I challenge you to create your own Toast of the Town necklace in a completely different colorway.

{Wore this to the Yo-Yo Ma concert last night!}
The beauty of this necklace design is that you can make unlimited variations of it just by changing the beads. Right after I made this, I made another in a purple/fuschia color palette. Just goes to prove how versatile this is!

To help jump start the creativity, I went to Michaels today and selected four strands of beads each in three different color palettes. I will be giving away these bead strands, plus a toggle clasp, and a copy of the instructions as a kick start to your creativity and to prove that YOU can make this necklace in any color combination.{Pardon the raindrops! Just as I was taking this picture it started to sprinkle! I promise that raindrops will not be included ;-}

{Grey/Blue Palette: hematite - silver - dyed jasper - ceramic}





{Red/Black Palette: faceted glass - millefiori - hematite - etched silver}

{Copper/Brown Palette: shell - metal - ceramic - glass}




Are you up to this quick fire challenge Michaels challenge?
  •  Will you use the instructions provided to make your own version of the Toast of the Town necklace?
  • Will you be willing to add beads from your stash, or better yet, take a trip to Michaels and fill in the blanks?
  • Will you share your variation in a blog hop on Friday, November 2nd?

If you are can answer yes to those three questions, and you are willing to play by those rules, please comment on this post by Sunday, October 21st.

Be sure to have a way to quickly get in touch with you {Note: I try to reply to virtually every comment on my blog. If you have never received a reply from me, you don't have your email address turned on in your profile!}

I will pick three random winners to be gifted with a random colorway of four strands of beads, a toggle clasp and a set of the instructions. Since this is a quick turnaround, I have to limit the giveaway to U.S. addresses only. I will announce the winners on Monday, October 22nd and mail out the beads that day. I will also be playing along to make a third variation of this necklace.

This is a quick turnaround, hence the Quick Fire name! Would love to have you join me!

And even if you are not randomly selected, or you are outside of the U.S.,  you can still play along by taking a copy of the instructions found on the Michaels.com website and making your own version. Everyone is welcome to participate in this Quick Fire challenge!



32 comments:

OksanaB said...

What a great challenge! I'd love to participate. Love all the beads that you've found at Michaels. I'm so jealous (in a good way) that you've got to attend the concert!!! Have a great weekend. Oksana @ http://oksanalikesit.blogspot.com/ Thank you!

Denise said...

This could be so much fun!! I am up for the challenge!!! Bring it on!!! Michaels is my favorite store!!!

Unknown said...

I would love to participate! The palettes you picked are really nice. I recognize all of those Michael's beads. I spend way too much time there :)

sarahmarocha@gmail.com

rosebud101 said...

This really sounds like fun!!! Thank you for doing this, Erin!!!

Alicia said...

I'll play along with my own stash, since I'm an 'out of town'-er :)
Nice challenge, Miss Erin!

Tanya said...

Erin, those beads are all gorgeous. I would *love* a chance to play. I have been in love with your Toast of the Town necklace since I saw it, so this would be an excellent opportunity to try my own. :)

Dawn Doucette said...

Sounds like a great challenge! I'll play along. If selected, I'll head over tho Michael's immediately... anything for an excuse go bead shopping at Michael's!!!

Cheri said...

I would love to be a part of this challenge, the beads are awesome! We finally got a Michael's in our area, it is fabulous!
creativedesignsbycheri@yahoo.com
creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I would love to play along! It's such a great design. :)

KayzKreationz said...

I would love to play. And I adore that red color palette. I've never made anything in red although I really like it. My e-mail is in my blog profile. Keeping my fingers crossed. Xxxxxx

elisabeth said...

What a great challenge - I'd love to play along!

Freestyle Elements said...

What an awesome versatile necklace! I don't have a Michael's in my area, but I have lots of beads that I have bought there when I make a trip to the big city (3 hours away). I would love to play along!

kmorgan said...

I would love to participate! Sounds like fun. I like all the palletes but I think my favorite is the copper/brown tones. This necklace seems very versatile. My mom would love to wear it.

Unknown said...

Erin, I am going to try and play along, I have loved this design since I seen it! I am going to try and use some of my own beads and taking a trip to Micheal's is never a challenge for me. I am from out of town too but I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. Yo-Yo Ma what a great opportunity for your daughter and a wonderful evening for you!

Elena Adams (ElenaAdams1992@yahoo.com) said...

I would <3 to play! :) I love Michaels beads and lately especially their little grab bags of mixed findings and silver mixtures :) If chosen it will give me the reason to start a blog finally:)

Unknown said...

Well, as a seed beader, this would actually be a huge challenge for me, so yes, toss my name in the pot! I always love your creations, and would love to try making one of these beauties!

Lois Moon said...

Count me in - I need a little jump start for my creating right now.

Or maybe I should just listen to this while i pick out beads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7EcT5YzKhQ

Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, and Stuart Duncan...Goat Rodeo Sessions songs.

Unknown said...

I just blogged about this.
http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/2012/10/quick-update.html

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

You know I love your challenges Erin and this sounds like a lot of fun!

re-maker said...

Sounds like fun!

Unknown said...

such a versatile design, so many possibilities

Sally Anderson said...

Oh, this sounds fun, Erin! Please count me in! Thanks.

Anonymous said...

wow! I have been dying to make this necklace! Other things have taken the priority! What a wonderful "excuse" to make it. I'd love to take part. Lee (Stregajewellry@yahoo.com)

Chelle said...

I would love to play along as I have yet to make a necklace.. EVER... lol micheladas68@comcast.net

Empty nester at last said...

Oh I would love it. What a great excuse to go to Michaels!!!! thx designedbyvera@gmail.com

A Polymer Penchant said...

Ok, I found a donut candidate - I'm in!

Zeniswoman said...

My little girl and I are going to head over to Michael's today while daddy's watching football. :) I love mama-daughter days! This sounds like fun! I'll play along even though I don't have a blog.
Have a lovely week,
Holly
zeniswoman@yahoo.com

sandi m said...

I loved this when you first posted it. So easy and truly versatile. Don't count me - although it is tempting. I'm reading the Sunday paper and Michael's has all their bead strands 50% off this week - timely for your challenge!
I'm drooling over the red/silver/millefiori combo you created. And I think this would be awesome with a beady soup, too.

Adaptable Kay said...

I LOVE Micheal's! It's just too bad that I can't afford to buy supplies there more often.

I love this challenge! I'd love to be included in this challenge if I'm lucky enough to be chosen :)

Good luck to everyone who entered! If I'm feeling up to it, I'll definitely try to play along regardless of if I win or not ^.^

TEEJewelry08@yahoo.com

Mary Anne said...

I would love to play along! Going through my stash and planning to use my Michael's coupon right now....

Courtney Breul said...

Darn, missedd this one! But I will print out the directions and see what I can come up with. :)

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