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June "Finish it!" Design Challenge: Winners

7/24/2020

3 Comments

 
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Well, here we are at the end of another "Finish It!" Design Challenge, and the journey was well worth the wait (though I hope we don't have to wait so long for the next one). The entries were absolutely fantastic, and each of them deserves attention and praise, for their ingenuity and originality. I do tend to prefer these wire-only challenges, as they (hopefully) inspire others to design for designing sake, and not for an embellishment to a stone or focal. And you all always instill in me a true sense of appreciation for the beauty and versatility of wire.
If you haven't perused the Gallery of Entries yet, click here to view all the beautiful work!
Now on to the winners! But first, I'll say a big thank you to everyone for participating. You fill me with a sense of creativity and reignite my passion for design, each and every time I see one of these pieces, and I hope you participants all had fun giving it a go. 
GROUP FAVORITE
​Hannah Gilman

Hannah knocked it out of the park with her project, resoundingly voted as your Group Favorite. I love that she took the steps and built upon it an entire vase of natural elements, with leaves and petals and flowers peeking through. I think I see something new every single time I've viewed this image and admired the creativity, and definitely plan to revisit it often for inspiration. Hannah has a true understanding of flow and attention to detail. Well done! 
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Picture
JUDGED FAVORITE
Caroline Louise

Now the pre-selected panel of judges also appreciated Hannah's beautiful workmanship, but we unanimously adored Caroline's 3-D creation. I almost found it impossible to believe it started from the same set of instructions I provided, and spent a (seriously ridiculous) amount of time dissecting this work. Still, I'm dumbstruck by the structural beauty of this work. This piece is a well-deserved win! 
Both winners deserve a round of applause for their work, as does everyone who participated in the challenge. I'm always so humbled by the entries received, the participant's excitement and encouraging words to one another. You all represent a true sense of community, and I'm just happy to be a part of it. 

These winners have received their $25 cash prizes and have been emailed regarding the other winnings. I hope you'll head on over to the Pinterest gallery, if you haven't already, and show your appreciation for these two amazing designers, as well as all those who took the time to enter with their original creations. 

Thank you and happy weaving,
​Nicole
3 Comments

June 2020 "Finish it!" Design Challenge, Gallery of Entries

7/16/2020

10 Comments

 
Yup, you've gone and done it again and created some absolutely fantastic entries for this (long awaited) design challenge. Not that I ever expect any of you to disappoint, but you've certainly exceeded expectations! Some had similar ideas to my own, as regards the flow and shape, but each were absolutely unique in the finished vision, which is why I love these contests so much! I'm always amazed by the effort, intensity and dedication to ones craft displayed by each of these entrants, and am filled with inspiration as a result. 
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Now VOTING BEGINS and it's time for the normal contest jargon....
View the GALLERY OF ENTRIES here (please view from desktop or laptop as the link is proving finicky from phones and tablets)

​I often hear a lot of folks say that tutorials somehow negate the creative force, that following the instructions of another lacks a sense of originality. And this design challenge proves exactly why that's nonsense! Instruction is not law, it's not immutable. You are allowed to work with the flow of a lesson, or row down your own river. It's a jumping-off point, but not canon. I love to see how others change designs, allow mistakes to happen, cut wires too short accidentally and have to improvise. Those moments always spoke to me on a personal level, and offered me the opportunity to own the process, which is exactly what these entrants have done. They OWNED it! 

(Please note: I received 69 emails and responded to each. 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 VOTING, however, through July 22nd, 2020. 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 nicole@nicolehannajewelry.com (or through the contact page here on this website) with your choice and I will vote on your behalf.
  • Please only vote if you are a participant in this contest. 

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 July 23rd, votes will be tallied and the “Group Favorite” (most voted by participants) will win my completed version of this project, any ten tutorials of their choice and a $25 cash prize via PayPal. 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 and a $25 cash prize via PayPal.

Every contestant should receive the finished version of this tutorial as a thank you for his or her participation. This tutorial will be sent as a reply to all the participants, within the next day or two. Please check your spam folder or contact me at nicole@nicolehannajewelry.com if you do not receive your copy of the tutorial by the end of the weekend.

Thank you all so much!

Happy weaving!
Nicole
10 Comments

June 2020 "Finish it!" Design Challenge

6/9/2020

8 Comments

 
Picture
Unrelated Gratuitous Cat Photo
Well, it's been a hot minute, hasn't it? Almost a full year since the last design challenge and I'd say I'm definitely ready to be inspired, amazed and enthralled by the talent you all eternally possess. While life has seen fit to distract me from posting this challenge, I'm here to say at last it arrives!

The usual contest jargon is as follows:
Enter between June 10-July 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). Wire color or type (copper, bronze, silver, etc) are up to each contestant.
  • 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. *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.
  • ​All weaves detailed in the beginning of this lesson must be utilized in the piece. However, other weaves may be added once the required steps are completed.
  • 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 nicole@nicolehannajewelry.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 July 15, 2020, 11:59 pm (US Eastern). Note: Photoscape and Picasa are both free programs suitable for image resizing and photo editing, as needed.
  • On July 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 July 16th and Midnight July 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 nicole@nicolehannajewelry.com and I will comment on your behalf. More on this in a later post.
  • Votes will be tallied and winners announced July 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 July 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).
finish_it_design_challenge.pdf
File Size: 1671 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

8 Comments

April 2019 "Finish It!" Design Challenge WINNERS

5/24/2019

5 Comments

 
Okay, so here's the thing. It was pointed out to me, after the contest had closed, the gallery of entries posted, and the finished tutorial sent to all participants (by the way.... if you haven't received it or don't see it in your spam folder, give me a shout out), that I failed to use the 14 gauge round wire in my own piece!

Yes, that 14 gauge round wire that drove so many of you crazy was accidentally left in the list of materials used, as I'd originally intended to use it for a coiled bail but opted for the jump ring instead. So.... I'll be doing my own "Finish It!" challenge, including the 14 gauge round wire, just so I can understand the pain of my fellow participants. lol. 
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Anyway, that means I'm even MORE impressed with the entries, because the participants took the steps I provided (which didn't include that pesky 14 gauge wire) and had to incorporate that nonsense piece of wire in there somewhere! And boy did I open every single email submission I received and say to myself "Why didn't I think of that?" Because every single entry was outstanding. 

By the way, if you haven't already seen the Gallery of Entries, check out the gorgeous work by clicking the link highlighted above! You wont be disappointed. 
Now for the winners! We had both a "group favorite", voted for by the participants of the challenge (and only the participants, to help avoid a popularity contest), and a "judged favorite" chosen by a panel of seven individuals, myself included., who were non-participants in the challenge. So let's begin! 
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GROUP FAVORITE
Dalila Caria

​With an overwhelming number of the votes, this was not a surprising win. Creating a mask, utilizing such symmetry, and working that darn 14 gauge wire into the framing at the bottom is truly masterful work and looks stunning. I mean, I'd wear it all day every day and not even as a pendant, but as an actual mask! To mirror those swirls is a feat in and of itself and I'm immensely impressed with this craftsmanship
JUDGED FAVORITE
Lori Kalafos


I mean, seriously? I admit to being partial to owls anyway, but this incorporates so many different types of weaves that I'm really impressed. Even added in a coiled coil and hid that 14 gauge round wire like a boss! The little spikes beneath the eyes add so much dimension to the design and are such a nice compliment to the curves above the eyes, that it all flows together so beautifully. 

​Both of these participants deserve all the recognition they receive, because the work speaks for itself and demands notice and some real appreciation. These artists have a command of design that I'm, quite frankly, super jealous of right now and super inspired by. 
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Both winners will receive 10 tutorials of their choice and a $25 cash prize (payable via PayPal), and Dalila will receive my finished pendant (sans that 14 gauge round wire!). But honestly, guys, let's be straight.... the struggle to judge this was real, and I imagine that sentiment is shared by all the participants who cast their vote. Because every entry was a wonderful peek inside the character of its creator, and inspires in me the motivation and creative drive to get some work done! Thank you so much to everyone who participated, and I hope you will all check out the entries linked above and share some love with the contestants. 

See you in the next challenge! Stay creative!

​Nicole
5 Comments

April 2019 "Finish It!" Design Challenge GALLERY OF ENTRIES

5/16/2019

5 Comments

 
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Whooo boy! You guys never cease to amaze me and thrill me with your entries in the design challenges, and this challenge was no exception. Fifty-four outstanding entries traveled through my inbox and into this challenge and were coming to play hard ball! 

If you were curious about the completed design (which the entrants worked from), you can check it out to the left, but honestly..... mine pales in comparison to the work received during this challenge. I am absolutely blown away and totally, utterly inspired by the beautiful and creative pieces. 
View the GALLERY OF ENTRIES here (please view from desktop or laptop as the link is proving finicky from phones and tablets)
I often hear a lot of folks say that tutorials somehow negate the creative force, that following the instructions of another lacks a sense of originality. And this design challenge proves exactly why that's nonsense! Instruction is not law, it's not immutable. You are allowed to work with the flow of a lesson, or row down your own river. It's a jumping-off point, but not canon. I love to see how others change designs, allow mistakes to happen, cut wires too short accidentally and have to improvise. Those moments always spoke to me on a personal level, and offered me the opportunity to own the process, which is exactly what these entrants have done. They OWNED it! 

(Please note: I received 54 emails and responded to each. 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 VOTING, however, through May 23th, 2019. 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 nicole@nicolehannajewelry.com (or through the contact page here on this website) 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 24th, votes will be tallied and the “Group Favorite” (most voted by participants) will win my completed version of this project, any ten tutorials of their choice and a $25 cash prize via PayPal. 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 and a $25 cash prize via PayPal.

Every contestant should receive the finished version of this tutorial as a thank you for his or her participation. This tutorial will be sent as a reply to all the participants, within the next day or two. Please check your spam folder or contact me at nicole@nicolehannajewelry.com if you do not receive your copy of the tutorial by the end of the weekend.

Thank you all so much!

Happy weaving!
Nicole
5 Comments

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
Download File

20 Comments

April 2018 "Finish It!" Design Challenge WINNERS

5/21/2018

13 Comments

 
Wow. Just.... wow. 

The entries I received for this design challenge were all out of this world, and completely, unabashedly unique. I'm so tickled to see such a level of uniqueness derived from the same beginning steps, the same materials and tools. The magic factor here is, of course, the imagination, talent and creativity of those who entered... who managed to blow us all away! 

If you haven't already seen the GALLERY OF ENTRIES please CLICK HERE. Note: It's best to click from a laptop of desktop. For some reason, I've failed at technology and social media this month, or Pinterest changed their platform, or perhaps a combination of both, but apparently folks had trouble accessing the album and, from a phone, the link was sending you to the Pinterest main page. So... I'll probably rethink things a bit for the next one! It's a learning experience for me too! 

Still, we had a total of 68 beautiful entries and each one deserves a round of applause. From these 68 entries, the participants placed a vote for their favorite and the highest vote won the honor of "Group Favorite". A panel of seven judges, consisting of both consumers and jewelry artists, came together to pick a "Judged Favorite". As in previous challenges, the winner of the Group Favorite vote wins my completed version of the project as well as 10 tutorials of their choice. The Judged Favorite also wins 10 tutorials of their choice. 

And... get this... we had our first ever TIE! That's right... a tie for "Group Favorite"! This is the first time I've ever had the extremely difficult tie-breaker job! There were a few votes that were not qualified (cast by non-participants), so posting the winners took a bit longer than anticipated as I cross-checked votes with participants. 

So let me introduce you to the two participants who tied for GROUP FAVORITE! 
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Caroline Louise
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Lois Demers
These were both incredible designs, showcasing a load of originality and daring, each with a mountain of movement and character. Ultimately... as they say in Highlander.... there can be only one. I will emphatically state that choosing one over the other in no way implies one is actually BETTER than the other. However, I had to go with where my spirit called me. 

And the winner of GROUP FAVORITE is.... LOIS DEMERS! Lois wins my completed project as well as 10 Nicole Hanna tutorials of her choice. 

However, I would like to also offer Caroline Louise her choice of 10 Nicole Hanna tutorials as well, because she made a stellar piece of art!

And as if these two pieces aren't enough to wet your creative whistle, let me introduce to you the JUDGED FAVORITE!
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Angelina Croft
First of all, manipulating that 14 gauge wire is a BEAST, but she also managed to make the leaves flow effortlessly, creating a truly cohesive flow that moved seamlessly with the required steps. Really beautiful work. Angelina wins 10 Nicole Hanna tutorials of her choice. 

But you know what. I wanted to offer up an HONORABLE MENTION as well, because it's my design challenge and I wasn't NOT going to mention this piece...... 
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Donna Thrower
I mean... come on.... Not only is that an example of the most meticulous weaving I've ever seen (sure... I may be a little jealous), but the symmetry is SPOT ON and the photography is natural and inspired, and she received her fair share of the votes as well. I can only say I wish I'd designed this first. Lovely. So, with that said, I'd also like to offer Donna 10 Nicole Hanna tutorials of her choice. 

And that, my friends, brings to close another amazing "Finish It!" Design Challenge. Please give these winners a huge round of applause and congrats. They deserve it, as do all the entrants who took the time to challenge themselves and complete and submit their entries. 

Thank you so much everyone for participating, for encouraging the participants, and for your patience during my social media/Pinterest kerfuffle. Hopefully I'll have things a little more clear for the next run. And there will definitely be a next run, so keep your eyes peeled and check back often! 

Stay creative! 
​Nicole
13 Comments

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

5/10/2018

4 Comments

 
Picture
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 nikki.hanna@gmail.com 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 nicole@nicolehannajewelry.com

Thank you all so much!

Happy weaving!
Nicole
4 Comments

April 2018 "Finish It!" Design Challenge

4/9/2018

22 Comments

 
Picture
It feels like it's been AGES since I've hosted a "Finish It!" Design Challenge (it kind of has been, hasn't it?), so here it is at long last! 

The rules are pretty much the same as in previous challenges, but there is some additional information in the file (attached at the bottom of this post) that is useful in completing the challenge, so be sure to read the file in its entirety before beginning your project. 
Enter between April 10- May 9. 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 needle nose 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 9, 2018, 11:59 pm (US Eastern). Note: Photoscape and Picasa are both free programs suitable for image resizing and photo editing, as needed.
  • On May 10th, 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 10th and Midnight May 19th. 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 21st.

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.

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.

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 12th. 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
22 Comments

September 2017 "Finish It!" Design Challenge: WINNERS

10/16/2017

14 Comments

 
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Just take a quick scroll through the Pinterest album of contest entries and look at this picture to the left, and you can see just how a single set of instructions can lend itself towards 65 totally unique designs, imbued with the personality and creativity of its makers. 

This is why I love hosting these contests. It, hopefully, stretches the imagination of those who enters and maybe
even makes them a little uncomfortable. Because creative discomfort sometimes paves a beautiful path towards individual expression. And this contest was so full of gloriousness that I'm seriously considering more wire-only challenges in the future. While stones and beads are complimentary and lovely accessories, it's the wire work I fell in love with all those years ago when I made the first tentative steps towards my future, so I'm more than a little biased with my love of wire. And this contest, with these entries, just fueled that love even more! 

There are two categories judged in each "Finish It!" Design Challenge. A group favorite, where only participants are allowed to cast a single vote for their favorite entry. And a judged favorite, reached by a consensus of 7 non-participants, including consumers and other wire-artists. 

The group favorite will receive my finished version of this pendant, and any 10 Nicole Hanna Jewelry tutorials of their choice. The judged favorite will also receive any 10 Nicole Hanna Jewelry tutorials of their choice (not that any of the entrants need my help!). 

And everyone gets bragging rights! Because I know this wasn't an easy challenge. There was an obscene amount of wire involved, and the focus stayed entirely on the design utilizing that wire, without the distraction of beads or stones. 

So please.... take a look at the winners below: Penny Sanchez and Daune Price-Hannah, and give them the warmest and most-deserved congrats! 
Group Favorite: Penny Sanchez
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Judged Favorite: Daune Price-Hannah
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And definitely stay tuned for more "Finish It!" Design Challenges. While I have no more planned for this year, I do already have them tentatively scheduled for next year, with some new approaches in consideration! And if, in the next contest, we break 100 entries, I'll be offering a few more goodies for our winners and participants, so definitely stay tuned! 

Until then, beautiful souls, stay creative and happy weaving! Any many thanks to the truly amazing and talented folks who entered! By accepting the challenge, you filled these past few weeks for me with inspiration and joy. 

Nicole
14 Comments
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