Project Runway Challenge -- Week 10: Designing for Your Biggest Fan

For week ten, the designers were instructed to create runway looks for selected PR fans. I do empathize with having to listen to someone's wishes while still trying to make sure the piece represents you as a designer. Not all of us can walk that walk well.

Let's start with the top designers for the week.

Helen earned her fourth win with this look:

The other two high placing designs were from Justin...

... and Bradon

In the middle (safe) were Kate...

... and Dom.

 

The bottom three looks included Alexandria...

... Alexander...

... and Ken (who was ousted).

So c'mon jewelry designers!  What would you make if all you had to do was make a piece of jewelry for your ultimate fan?

Or, use one of the above runway looks as your inspiration.

Submit your entry here (preferably by next Thursday, but not crucial). Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Project Runway Jewelry Challenge Week 9 Results

Week nine's challenge was to create something for the modern southern woman. SRAJD members had the option interpreting the theme as they like or making something inspired by a design from the Project Runway show as inspiration (see the clothing designs here).

Here are the entries for the week (remember, you can still submit even after the deadline!):

Lori Mlinarcik: "Coca Cola is referred to as the 'soft drink of the south'. Even soft drinks that are not Coca Cola are still referred to as Coca Cola. This is a vintage Coca Cola bottle bracelet with sterling findings and a sterling box style clasp with a safety on each side. Cool."

  

Nohline L'Ecuyer: "My image of a southern woman is in pearls and gloves, but that's not modern. So I made some chandelier style earrings with pearls - the old and the new. I twisted some square wire in parts to form the links."

Grace Gipson: "I loved Kate's look and would buy it in a heartbeat to wear to a southern bash! Love the colors expressed."

Laura Bracken: "Kate's outfit used one of my favorite color combinations so I had no choice but to make some simple matching earrings."

I hope you join us for the next runway theme... the modern southern woman challenge!

And if you end up designing something for the SHOE (or any previous ) challenge, any time during the airing of season 12, submit it here.

Project Runway Challenge -- Week 9: The Modern Southern Woman

For week nine, the designers were instructed to create runway looks for the modern southern woman. Ken and Dom, being from the south, figured they had it in the bag, but when they both ended up in the bottom three looks there was much eye rolling (from Ken, not Dom).

The judges made an unprecedented move by giving the three bottom-look designers one hour to rectify their travesties before final decision time (two started from scratch, the third altered his original look).

But before we go there, let's start with the top designers for the week.

Bradon won the challenge (despite Ken assuring us that none of the designers using plaid had a clue about what the modern southern woman wants).

Runners up included Alexander (oh look, more plaid) ...

... and Kate

 

Safe this week were: Alexandria

 

Helen

 

and Justin

The bottom three, who got a chance to redeem themselves included: Dom (who's remake look so impressed the judges, it was awarded a "win" and will be produced by BELK along with Bradon's winning design).

Before...

 

... and after

Ken's look before...

... and after

Jeremy's look before...

... and after (and Jeremy was eliminated although I personally loved his simple second design and would never in my life have been caught dead in Ken's hootchie dress... but Ken adds more drama to the show)

So designers (jewelry designers) put on your thinking caps and get inspired to make something that represents the modern southern woman.  Or, use one of the above runway looks as your inspiration.

Submit your entry here (preferably by next Thursday, but not crucial). Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Project Runway Jewelry Challenge Week 8 Results

Week eight was the "performance wear" challenge. SRAJD members had the option interpreting the theme as they like or making something inspired by a design from the Project Runway show as inspiration (see the clothing designs here).

Here are the entries for the week (remember, you can still submit even after the deadline!):

Grace Gipson: "What a novel idea, jewelry worn with performance wear. It's a durable bracelet of crystals woven into chain maille and held together with a sliding magnetic clasp. It's more about style than exercise!"

Laura Bracken: "For the performance-wear challenge, I decided to go with jewelry that can weather continuous trips to the gym, the beach, the shower, the pool, marathons, and anything else you care to do with an active lifestyle. This simple bracelet is one you'd put on and not remove for months on end."

Nohline L'Ecuyer: "I made a long chain pendant with three charms of silver clay. Each charm has the initial o myself, hubby and son. Added two lampwork murrini charms for some color. Can be worn long out of the gym and then double up and clasped in place while in the gym."

  
I hope you join us for the next runway theme... the modern southern woman challenge!

And if you end up designing something for the SHOE (or any previous ) challenge, any time during the airing of season 12, submit it here.

Kudos for SRAJD Members

Want to give a shout-out to the following SRAJD members for their accomplishments and recognition in the world of jewelry making. 

Michelle Murray of Steel Hip Design has one of her pieces of jewelry on the cover of Spurgeon Vaughn Ratcliffe's book, Steampunk Jewelry, due out Dec 2013.

In November 2013, Debra Jeffries of Debra's Divine Designs had the to opportunity to gift celebrity Selena Gomez  with her handmade jewelry.

Laura Bracken of Bracken Designs is one of the new instructors for the online teaching site CraftArtEDU.com.  Her first two classes are part 1 and part 2 of jewelry crimping (the basics, and special techniques).  Both classes are free and can be found under Laura's instructor listing. 

Sharon Orella of SO Art Studio was one of the featured artists in an article in the Washington County, Fall 2013, Arts Guide. The article mentions both her copper work and her jewelry. 

Lauren Andersen, author of “The Absolute Beginners Guide: Making Chain Mail Jewelry” was featured on Jewel School on Jewelry Television (JTV) Wednesday, September 11, 2013.

Sheila Kerr designed a Robert Burns inspired pendant and earrings 'Ae Fond Kiss' which is on sale in the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum as well as on the Robert Burns World Federation website for online purchase. This design has attracted a lot of attention. Sheila is based in Ayrshire, Scotland, the heart of Burns country. She has also just been awarded Runner Up of Most Enterprising Business 2013 by the Association of Scottish Businesswomen. Check out Sheila’s Facebook page and website.

Elayne Russell's Etsy shop was featured in the Spring 2013 issue  of Aura Magazine.

 

Laura Bracken's Egyptian Lotus Pendant was featured in the Spring 2013 issue of Wirework magazine.

If you know of an SRAJD member with a "kudos worthy" moment, please send that information to us at SRAJewelryDesigners @ gmail (dot) com.  Thanks!

Project Runway Challenge -- Week 8: Performance-Wear

For week eight, the designers were instructed to "create high-end performance-wear for Heidi Klum's New Balance line".


Helen was the winner...

 

With the runners up being Kate...

 

and Alexander...

 

The "safe ones" included Bradon...

 

Dom...

 

Jeremy...

 

... and Justin...  

 

The bottom three looks were Alexandria...

 

Ken...

 

... and Karen, who was booted.

 

This challenge may be a real challenge to us jewelry designers, but let's see what take you all use as inspiration this week.

You can use the theme to inspire your design or you can use one of the designer's outfits to inspire your design.  Have fun!

Submit your entry here (preferably by next Thursday, but not crucial). Can't wait to see what you come up with!

 

 

 

Project Runway Jewelry Challenge Week 7 Results

Week seven was the "shoes" challenge. SRAJD members had the option of finding a photo of a pair of shoes that inspired them or by using a design from the Project Runway show as inspiration (see the clothing designs here).
Here are the entries for the week (remember, you can still submit even after the deadline!):


Nohline L'Ecuyer: "Black and white - always elegant. Hand knotted fresh-water pearls, two striped black and white lampwork beads and hundreds of seed beeds strung up to balance out this necklace."

Kim Forrer: "My inspiration for these gold abstract earrings came from the gorgeous gold sandals Heidi wore at the start of the show. Simple compared to the rest of the shoes."

Kim Forrer: "Loved these sandals. And since I have been working with leather lately thought it was the perfect opportunity to make a gladiator bracelet to go with the gladiator sandals."

Grace Gipson: "Justin picked the shoes I would have picked for the shoe challenge. Yummy! The design he created for those shoes was perfect. Not that he needed any styling changes, but I just had to had a runway look for his model's gorgeous neck."

Laura Bracken: "I could have done a whole year of jewelry making shoe challenges! I love me a cool pair of shoes (to look at, not to wear). I went with this snazzy pair of faux snakeskin and made a necklace out of sterling silver and polymer clay (I did not make those beads and regret forgetting who did)."

I hope you join us for the next runway theme... the runway-worthy activewear challenge!


And if you end up designing something for the SHOE (or any previous ) challenge, any time during the airing of season 12, submit it here.