August Monthly Challenge - Something to Say

Our theme for August is "Something to Say!" We all have a story to tell. This month, let your jewelry and beaded creations do the talking for you. There is a wealth of beads, pendants and charms with words or sayings. You can stretch your creativity and have different narrative beads tell a story. If you do submit a design that doesn't use text, please give us a brief explanation of what your piece is "saying".

The Prizes & Sponsor
We have two great sponsors this month. The first is Evie's Tool Emporium. They have donated a set of letter and number stamps and copper blanks. The winner can choose the size of letters and blanks that they want!
Our second sponsor is Poetry for the Skeptic featuring art collage pendants by Jess Contreras. He has donated a pendant that features one of his little poems.

So one winner, three great prizes for this month! It could be you, all you have to do is play along.

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.

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 simply strung on a chain or cord will not be accepted.***

2. Upload your photo to our flickr group.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 AUGABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog, if you have one.

Deadline is August 31st.

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.

***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.

(Pendant in the top photo is from Jennifer Stumpf.)