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April 2019 "Finish It!" Design Challenge

4/14/2019

20 Comments

 
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Shew. It sure does feel like it's been a hot minute since I've had a "Finish It!" Design Challenge, and it's about time! I'd originally planned this for February, then things happened and it was pushed to March, then more things happened, because isn't that always the way? But it's finally here and I'm super stoked, because these contests, and having the privilege to receive the entries in my email every day, are truly an inspiring experience that I hope many of you choose to participate in. And, because wire will be my love above all things "jewelry making", this is a wire-only challenge! No stones or beads allowed at all! Now keep on reading for more details on how the challenge works!
Enter between April 15-May 15. Open world wide.

The purpose of the "Finish It!" challenge is to encourage the participants to extend themselves, their talents and creativity beyond the limitations of a single set of instructions and create pieces uniquely their own. Tutorials have been an integral part of my personal evolution as a jewelry artist, from such talents as Eni Oken, Iza Malzcyk, IMNIUM and Lonely Soldier. And my progression from the steps and instructions provided to me by others has been a worthwhile journey towards my own creative self-discovery. Tutorials need never represent a "cookie cutter" aesthetic, nor the only design possibility, but rather a gateway to limitless possibilities, and the entries received for these contests have proven, time and again, the truth of that statement.

Here’s the gist: At the bottom of this post is a link to a tutorial or, more accurately, the beginning of a tutorial, and ending abruptly less than halfway through the instruction. Your job is to create a piece beginning with the steps, as explained in the file, but ending with your own imagination!

Contest Rules


  • No beads or stones may be used at all. This is a wire-only challenge.
  • To assure fairness, only the size of wire gauge may be changed. All lengths listed must be utilized (with the exception of tails too small to use).
  • Tools not listed may not be used at all during the construction of your piece. However, the pliers may be substituted for any other single pair of pliers. If a hammer, for example, isn't listed in the "Materials & Tools" list provided with the instruction, it may not be used during the construction of your piece.
  • Wire color or type (copper, bronze, silver, etc) are up to each contestant.
  • Finishing tools and processes, such as for polishing and oxidizing, may be used as they do not directly influence the size and shape of the finished design. 
  • When a piece is completed to his or her satisfaction, the contestant is asked to submit a single photo of a single finished piece via email, to nikki.hanna@gmail.com. Please title this email “Contest Entry”. No compilation photos. One single clear photo is requested. The completed project may be photographed on a chain, if desired, and on any display. Please save the image file as "Your Name Here" and send as an attachment (not embedded in the email). Following these submission guidelines assures your entry is not missed! The deadline for this submission is May 15, 2019, 11:59 pm (US Eastern). Note: Photoscape and Picasa are both free programs suitable for image resizing and photo editing, as needed.
  • On May 16th, an album will be created on Pinterest containing the submitted entries, then put to vote before all participants. Note: By submitting an entry to the “Finish it!” Design Challenge, you are granting Nicole Hanna permission to display your image online for the purposes of promoting or running this contest.
  • The participants will vote for “Group Favorite”, by commenting on their favorite entry (only one comment, on only one entry), with all votes submitted between May 16th and Midnight May 21st. If you do not have a Pinterest account, or (for any reason) cannot comment on the entries to cast your vote, please submit your vote to nikki.hanna@gmail.com and I will comment on your behalf. More on this in a later post.
  • Votes will be tallied and winners announced May 22nd.

While this is mostly intended to reward you with a sense of accomplishment, the “Group Favorite” will win my completed version of this project and any ten tutorials of their choice, plus $25 via PayPal (be sure to be PayPal ready!)

A “Judged Favorite”, chosen by a panel of four jewelry artists and three “consumers” (none of which will be participating in the contest), will also receive any ten tutorials of their choice plus $25 via PayPal.

Every contestant will receive the finished version of this tutorial simply for participating. This tutorial will arrive as a reply to your submission email, after the contest is closed to new entries, so check your spam folder if you do not receive it by May 22nd. Also, be sure your email host will accept incoming attachments. I've had many emails rejected because the mail box was full, or security settings did not allow attachments.

Note: Please access this file via a laptop or desktop computer. Some mobile devices are uncooperative with PDF downloads, and I may not be able to address requests for manual email delivery of this file in a timely manner (thus using up your submission time).

Good luck everyone and happy weaving!

Nicole
finish_it_design_challenge.pdf
File Size: 1197 kb
File Type: pdf
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My #depthyear Journey So Far!

4/8/2019

4 Comments

 
I posted earlier this year that I was embarking on a new Depth Year journey! For those who haven't heard the term, "Depth Year" basically encourages you to go deeper into what you already own, or hobbies in which you're already investing, verses spreading yourself thin in new belongings, books, tools or techniques. This journey is different for everyone, and there's no right or wrong way to tackle it. And for some, there's no need to tackle it at all! 
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But I was feeling the pull. 

I've always been inclined towards a sense of minimalism. I don't like clutter. I feel overwhelmed when surrounded by too many things. And, of course, organization is a keystone of my day to day life. So, part of my Depth Year was a low-spend or no-spend promise to myself for 2019. I hoped to find peace and joy in what I already possessed, and not in the hunt for something new and shiny. This didn't, necessarily, mean I wouldn't purchase anything at all, but that I would attempt to be very conscious about my purchases.... bringing to me only the things that filled a need, purchases that supported local artists or business owners or fed into the creative community, and purchases that would further what interests I'd already established that I'd hoped to journey deeper into during the year.
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And, in January, I failed miserably. I bought journals and more journals and planners. I bought oodles of purses that I certainly didn't need but simply wanted. Sure, I'm putting my planners to good use, and it does fuel my love of writing, planning and drawing, which was their purpose. But, funny enough, I've already re-sold many of the purses I purchased. I re-homed 25 tarot decks. I went through my closet and donated clothes and shoes I never wore or that I one day hoped to fit into (we all have those clothes, am I right?).
And I think, entering April, I'm finally finding my groove with my Depth Year journey. I deleted all shopping apps from my phone (even apps for Michael's or JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby.... those coupons encourage me to spend without necessity!). And now that I've purged unused items, even items I've only recently purchased, I feel much more free to create, or that I'm at least open to creative possibility. 

While I may have moments I'm derailed from this new path of mine, I wont punish myself for it or allow it to derail my goals moving forward. I may yet buy another purse. I may buy another tarot deck, despite the 20 I haven't used in months. But I'll endeavor to try, every single day, to invest my time and energy into what I have. 

And this isn't just about "things". I endeavor to spend my time more consciously as well. I want to experience the depth of great relationships, encourage other creative souls in whatever way I can (and yes, sometimes this will mean buying things), and keep my interactions positive and uplifting whenever possible. And when not possible, be open to receiving the positivity of others. 

So yes, while I may have "failed" at the beginning of my Depth Year, there's still a lot of 2019 left, and I'm opening myself to whatever that means. I'm excited to see where this road will lead. 

Are you investing in a Depth Year? Let me know in the comments below!
4 Comments

News, Giveaways and More Giveaways!

4/1/2019

4 Comments

 
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So, last month I didn't blog, I didn't make videos, I didn't make jewelry (for the most part) and it was terrible! While I was giving my elbow a rest and trying not to create before I was physically well and truly able, I was also falling into my own "creative sin" and not creating at all in any way, and that left me in a sort of funk for the month of March. I was able to sneak in some photography, but it was still far too cold to take a trek outside for some nature photos. But absence makes the heart grow fonder and, sometimes, we need to be reminded that we love what we do.. Now that I'm feeling a-okay, I'm ready to get back to it and get some wire in my hands! 

And while I work to fill my shop back up with goodies (I ended the month with only two pieces still available!), I'm also embracing my love for the creative community and having loads and loads of giveaways! I can easily say 2019 will be the year of giveaways, with something happening every single month, and sometimes multiple things happening in a single month!
Here's the rundown: 
  • Every month, through 2019, a purchase of the new discounted tutorial bundle pack will automatically enter your name in a drawing to win a piece of jewelry. For the month of April, this purchase enters you to win a green dragon eye pendant! The winner for this pendant will be announced April 11th!
  • Every month, any purchase at all enters your name in a drawing to win the following month's tutorial bundle pack. Winner drawn and announced the last day of every month.
  • We've also got a 15k Facebook Likes giveaway happening on my Facebook business page soon. This TWELVE HOUR extravaganza will include a tutorial or piece of jewelry given away every half-hour (including my five brand new electroform pieces!). While I'm only a few likes away from goal, I'm terribly unprepared for the giveaway at this time, which will likely occur at some point this summer, possible June or July, while I scramble to get some brand new tutorials together!
  • Coming up! A tutorial giveaway for newsletter subscribers only. So if you aren't already signed up, click here and get on the list so you wont miss out!
  • In my Nicole Hanna Jewelry Facebook group, I'm enjoying a Wine and Wire Wednesday live chat every other Wednesday of the month. Next live chat is scheduled for April 10th (I might have mis-dated it in the last newsletter as April 11th) at 6pm US Eastern. But there's a giveaway scheduled for the last live chat of April! Anyone who stops in, if even for a moment, and leaves a comment during the chat, is entered in a drawing to win whatever it is I create during the chat. So be sure to click the link above and check out the group!
  • And yes, despite the delay last month, there are new videos coming to my Go Art Yourself YouTube channel. 

I am definitely looking forward to what the rest of 2019 brings, which will include other changes as well. Last September, I offered a tutorial membership package, which was basically one ginormous 60% off discount on 12 months of tutorials released (at least 60 lessons!). This year, I am (so far) undecided whether or not I will be offering this membership again. Only because I have a comprehensive online workshop planned that I'd like to offer, and my website can only accommodate one or the other, for a variety of technical issues and the limitations surrounding the platform I use. I could offer the workshop off-site, on a third-party platform like Teachable, for instance, so it's an option I'm keeping in mind. Let me know what you think in the comments below. I've got a few months to go, so there's time to make decisions yet and I'd love to hear what you think!

And now, I shall be off, plan a few more blog posts (I'm feeling chatty after so many weeks away from writing), and get to wire wrapping! I hope you all stay creative, until the next time....

​Nicole
4 Comments
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  • Home
  • Blog
  • Gallery
  • Learn To Wire Wrap
    • PDF Tutorials
    • Video Tutorials
    • Tutorial Membership 2022
  • Shop
    • SIGNATURE COLLECTION
    • GODDESS COLLECTION
    • PDF Tutorials >
      • Beginner Wire Weaving
      • Intermediate Weaving
      • PDFs for Cabochons
      • Advanced Weaving
      • Wire Wrap Workshops