May Monthly Challenge - Mother Earth

This month's challenge theme is Mother Earth. Maybe that brings to mind beady ideas of earthy, floral designs. You might feature a goddess inspired bead in your creation or maybe something that is an ode to motherhood in general. The theme is open to your interpretation! Just remember each design must include at least one art bead.

From Earthenwood Studio

Featured Designer of the Week!
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 Featured Designer will be this Monday, so get those entries in soon.(We are still giving away free beads every week during Studio Saturday.)

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.

2. Upload your photo to flickr.

Earthy green glass links from Cindy Gimbrone

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 MayABS 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.

Goddess Pendants from Creative Impressions in Clay

***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.

Spring Branch Beads by Humblebeads