April 2018 "Finish It!" Design Challenge GALLERY OF ENTRIES

If you were curious about what the completed design looked like for this "Finish It!" contest, it's pictured here. But, let's be real... you guys want to see the entries, right?

I have to say, as always, I was amazed and delighted by every single entry and there were 67 of them! It's hard to imagine they all began from the same set of instruction... no... I take that back. Imagination is the reason they were all amazing! 

View the GALLERY OF ENTRIES here (please view from desktop or laptop as the link is proving finicky from phones and tablets)

Imagination... that creative spark we ALL have, is really the driving force behind these "Finish It!" Design Challenges. There were a beautiful handful of tutorials I've learned from over the years and, during that time, I've heard others refer to the use of tutorials as a "crutch", that everyone should "design for themselves" (and I have blog posts arguing against that idea for a variety of very valid reasons). This contest proves that tutorials can be a jumping-off point, the spring board from which these 67 entrants launched themselves and their creativity. And I'm so thankful they did. Every day, I was truly gifted with these entries flowing into my email inbox, inspired by them, motivated by them, and awed by them. I hope you will find them all equally amazing. 

(Please note: I received 66 emails and responded to each, as well as one Facebook submission, totaling 67 entries. I checked my spam folder daily to make sure I didn't miss a single entry. If you attempted to enter and do not see your entry in the gallery, please send me an email ASAP. I will add your entry to the gallery as quickly as I'm able.)

The gallery of entries will be available for viewing… well… indefinitely or, at the very least, until Pinterest falls into the dark abyss of the internet, at which point the images will (hopefully) be moved to another file sharing system. In the meantime, click the link above to view the wonderful creations.

The gallery of entries will be available for VOTING, however, through May 20th, 2018. Voting is open only to those who participated in the contest. To vote:

• Please only ONE vote per participant. If the same person comments with their vote on multiple entries, all comments will be dismissed, and the vote invalidated. Please, only vote once.
• Please use the word "VOTED" in the comments of the entry to cast your vote. 
• If, for any reason, you cannot place your vote yourself, contact [email protected] with your choice and I will vote on your behalf.

A note to non-participating viewers and commentators…. please reserve the term “VOTED” for participants only, to avoid confusion during the judging process, but do feel free to comment as a show of appreciation for the beautiful work submitted. These entries are worthy of the recognition they receive and then some.

On May 21st, votes will be tallied and the “Group Favorite” (most voted by participants) will win my completed version of this project and any ten tutorials of their choice. In the case of a tie, I will place the deciding vote.

Also, a “Judged Favorite”, chosen by a panel of four jewelry artists and three “consumers” (who are not participating in the contest), will also receive any ten tutorials of their choice.

Every contestant should receive the finished version of this tutorial as a thank you for his or her participation. This tutorial has already been sent as a reply to all the participants, so if you haven't received it yet, please check your spam folder or contact me at [email protected]

Thank you all so much!

Happy weaving!
Nicole