Does your group have challenges?

[Kuehlmorgen_D]

Hi Leslie

Here is an other challenge: "No fear from competition"

Under this topic was a challenge within a group of beadmakers. They showed their results on the German beadmaker's symposium in Wertheim some years ago. The reaults were really interesting and quite different.

What they did: They choose a color topic and a time limit per bead. That helps to keep the work managable for everyone. Each participating beadmaker makes two beads for eatch beadmaker in the group. Next step is a "classic" beadexchange so all beadmakers get two beads of each one in the group. The last creative operation is making jewellery by using all beads from the beadexchange. Bring the results togather or trade photographs! This might be a good idea for a group exhibition.

The original topic was "Use black, white and crystal" and the limit was about 15 minutes. I think they where about 10-15 participating beadmakers.


Dietmar

[MargieShanahan]

Our group (Midwest Lampworkers Guild of metro Omaha NE) meets once a month and has a bead challenge similar to ones with themes described above. We've had some programs too that stretch creativity--teams receiving bags with all different kinds of stuff/findings and having to put it together as a wearable piece (we had a time limit too!). Another one was to bring a certain number of beads and findings, get together with a team/small group, and put it together in an asymmetrical wearable piece (most of us were complaining before about being "stuck in a jewelry-designing rut."
Margie

[leslie101]

those are all some great ideas.
The one we were just assigned was to make a bead on an old key. It will be great to see what everyone does.
It's always fun.
Leslie

[AngieRamey]

The Smoky Mountain Firecrackers have a challenge for each meeting, the theme of which is decided at that previous meeting then everyone brings in their completed projects for a dirty-santa type of exchange. We've done several different themes:

Silver glass
Organics
Sculptural beads
Murrini making where we exchanged a bead AND packets of our handmade murrini
Twistie exchanges (recipes included)
Encased florals
Complex stringer application

Our exchanges are always the most fun part of our meetings!

Angie Ramey

[Kuehlmorgen_D]

Hi Angie

Just a question: How does a "dirty-santa type of exchange" work? Is it "make one bead for everyone participating" or is it "give one, get one" or is there an other mode of operation?



Hi Y'All

I try to figure out a way how to organize an exchange with a free number of beads traded by the individual participant. My idea is to assort the "baskets" with the beads in decreasing order. The largest basket starts to trade one for one with the neighbours in decreasing order of their beads. Once all of the original beads in a basket are traded this basket goes out of the trading process. Then the next largest basket starts to trade... I hope it works with all combinations of numbers. But I never simulated it... That might be a way to organize an exchange with a large number of people without the pressure to make a huge production of similar beads for the individual.

[leslie101]

All great ideas everyone...keep 'em comin'!
I know it can be difficult to keep people involved or inspired.
Leslie

[AngieRamey]

Sorry I haven't been back to answer your dirty santa question before now! Basically, it goes like this.....

Everyone wraps up their exchange bead so no one can see them. Each participant draws a number. Whoever gets #1, chooses and opens a bead. #2 can then steal that bead, or choose another new one to open. If #2 steals from #1, then #1 gets another turn and chooses a second bead. When the last bead has been drawn, the game is over and everyone keeps the bead they are currently holding. This game has been called Dirty Santa, Chinese Auction, White Elephant....I've heard a million different names, but the stealing is what its all about. Our group just loooooooves to steal someone's goodies! LOL!