Monday, June 01, 2009

A CONTEST!!!

Last week, two random thoughts collided in my brain. After popping some E.S Tylenol to deal with the resultant headache, I realized that the thought collision had produced An Idea.

More about that later.

Somewhere in my cyberspace travels (i.e. wasting time on e-mail, random bead and jewelry blog perusals and miscellaneous Googling) last week, I came across some advice from an established jewelry artist about periodically cleaning out one’s bead stash in order to keep things fresh, streamline the design process and not get overwhelmed with options, etc. Of course, my immediate reaction was “Get rid of BEADS? THE HORROR!” But then I started to think “Yanno, she might be on to something here.”

I mean, let’s face it. If we look in our clothing closets, don’t we all have that pair of jeans we’re keeping “just in case” we ever manage to fit in to them again? And then there’s that dress we bought to wear to that thing that one time that we’ve never worn again. Not because there’s anything wrong with it, we just tend to forget it’s in there. Oh and the sweater that still has the tags on it because OMG – WHAT were we thinking when we bought it and it was possibly a PMS-influenced purchase and…well, you get the idea.

Isn’t a bead stash kinda like that, too?

There’s gotta be beads in the stash that just aren’t ever going to get used. You know you look at them every time you open up your drawers and boxes, but you just don’t ever seem to pull them out. Maybe your design aesthetic has changed since you bought them or maybe you used part of a strand and are never going to use the rest or you bought 27 strands of one thing and you really only needed 26 and…well, again, you get the idea.

So, I’m thinking about this stuff all last week and sometime during that period, I was also talking (complaining) to a friend (long-suffering and patient with my whining) about how my blog has 12 followers (and YAY for my 12) but another blog has 44 and how come I don’t have 44 yet (um, it’s possible I have unresolved lack-of-popularity issues leftover from high school, but that’s a whole ‘nother blog probably requiring therapy and wine) and yanno, the kind of things you aren’t REALLY upset about but complain to your friends about anyway just because you know they’ll listen you. And in a blinding flash of insight (and possibly desperate attempt to get me to shut up) she says “you should have a blog contest.”

Hmmmm.

So I walk away thinking “contest” and “get rid of unneeded beads” and somehow in the swirling universe that is my brain (I sorta picture it like the orbit around Earth’s atmosphere where we have all that space junk that’s constantly smashing into each other and mostly then it just disintegrates or burns up during re-entry) those two thoughts crashed into each other and I came up with the idea to have a “Give Away My Unused Beads” contest.

All you need to do to be entered is to leave a comment and a link to your blog showing this give away. I will draw a random name on June 12th and that person will win a huge box of beads and beading supplies!

And when I say huge, I mean HUGE. Over the weekend, I started the great clean out. I’m only about halfway through and I already don’t have a box big enough for all the stuff.

It’s possible my hobby may be a bit more about bead buying than it is about jewelry-making. Shhh…don’t tell anyone I said that out loud.

Anyway, I’ll be honest and say you’re probably not going to find a strand of “A” grade amethysts in there, but there will be plenty of great stuff including stones, glass, lots of findings, charms and surprises. I’m even picturing that this could be a continuing kind of thing where the winner takes what she wants from the box, then adds her own cast-offs and runs her own contest and sends it on to the next person and so on and so on, etc.

Maybe I’ll post some pictures of some of the items between now and June 12th, but not too many. I think most of the fun of this for the winner will be to receive the box and get to dig through all the “treasure” and not know what they will find.

So, ready, set, GO!

KJ

33 comments:

Marie Cramp said...

I am in!! If I win I think I will pass it on to the next person, that sounds like a great idea!! Check later for the link to your site on mine ;)

Marie

Janice said...

What a terrific idea Marie. As to your secret comment. I can blackmail you now. HaHaHa

Ruth Trowbridge said...

Oh yes I want to play with your beads! This is my comment and this is my link
http://lifethroughthecracks.blogspot.com/
now I will go post a little something about your contest. Hope this gets me entered. What fun! Peace for all

Silver Parrot said...

Thanks, everyone. I finished going through all my stash as of last night and I have a HUGE pile of things for the give-away. Keep helping me publicize it, please!!

Hickchick said...

I found your site through Rural Rose. I've posted a link on my blog. I am just a dabbler in beading-Ive promised 'Rose' a finders fee of the plunder. It would be good to get the creative 'juices' going again! Kris

Carlene said...

First off, I just want to tell you you have 13 followers-I'm just not signed up. I think you have a great blog! I check in almost everyday and don't usually leave comments because I don't have a blog. Which brings me to my dilemma-I'd love to be in on your contest, but with no blog.....what's a girl to do?
And I now know what the occasional "Zssst" noise in my head is-ideas desintegrating during re-entry!

Silver Parrot said...

Carlene - May I suggest going to blogger.com and setting one up? At least for long enough to get entered in the contest? Anyway, thanks for being a follower and I'll amend my official count LOL!

Mari said...

I'm in!! thank you!! I already posted about your giveaway on my blog and on Twitter too!! Good luck to me!!

http://misamores-mari.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/laspina75

Mellisa said...

You have a new follower :) I don't know what it is but I find that I watch that follower count like crazy and totally ponder why the number doesn't increase faster! (might be my infrequent posts lately!)

Here's where I blogged your contest:
http://chinookdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/06/one-more-day.html

I would love to win, what fun to get to dig through a box of beads to see what you parted with! I'm so sad I didn't get to do the B&B show so this would be a great bead substitute! Thanks for having such a neat giveaway :)

Jenny said...

Oh I agree with you! I bemoan that I have no blog readers...and get complacent and then O dont post!

And I think we tend to not weed and purge our bead stashes - I mean they are so small and dont take up much room, right? Why not keep it? I commend the cathartic step you are taking! ( And would LOVE to win!)

Heading over to revive my own blog at: www.jdaviesreazor.com

Kecia said...

What Laura wants, we try to get, because while she will say she's shameless, I'm not much further off because I can benefit too.

http://kazdymsiberians.blogspot.com/

Split Rock Ranch said...

I left a comment in your reminder post but I'm going to comment here on the original post, too. What a great idea! Here is the link to the post about it on my blog: http://splitrockranchllamas.blogspot.com/2009/06/destash-bead-giveaway.html
Thank you for having such a great giveaway and thanks for the chance to enter. Oh the things I could do with such a wonderful stash. Actually if I win, I'll give the stash to my daughter who is just getting started in jewelry design.

pam ferrari said...

Sounds like a great idea! I have tons of beads and findings I don't use. I would love to pass on. Enter me

The Joy of Nesting said...

Greetings!!!

I don't know how I missed your blog for so long!! Thanks to Sharon (Livewire)you are no longer an egnigma!!! I love this give away and the idea of Marie has is great. A wonderful pay it forward :) I'll get you added to my post this morning and of course I'll link to you so as not to loose track of you!!

Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.

PS. Yikes if I win, I'll have to keep my treasures a secret from my "Mule" or the stash will never make down here :) Because of the horrendous mail service and duty costs we have stuff sent to family or friends coming for a visit. Then after a bit of whining they will "mule" it down for us!! A gals got to feed her addition any way she can!!

Meghann said...

This sounds awesome, and the photos look soo tempting!!! I posted on all THREE of my blogs:
http://meglittlestudio.blogspot.com/
http://fibrodiaries.blogspot.com/
http://lowallergykitchen.blogspot.com/

Good luck to everyone! I know I could use these - I want to make things do sell for charity :)

Valorie said...

How cool! It's on my blog here:
http://battlemaidenart.blogspot.com/

I'd probably end up making some jewelry for me and my bridesmaids for my upcoming wedding :D I love random inspiration like this.

Wonderful giveaway.

Beading Butterfly said...

http://beadingbutterfly.blogspot.com/2009/06/free-beads.html

Here's my link! :)

Kassie

The Giveaway Diva said...

i blogged here!! http://thegiveawaydiva.blogspot.com/2009/01/more-giveaways.html

Beady Zoo said...

What a great idea! and it could be the beginning of a traveling bead box too.

http://beadyzoo.blogspot.com/2009/06/beady-giveaway-at-silver-parrot-designs.html

Kathy B

thecolorofdreams said...

I blogged about your contest here:

http://thecolorofdreams.blogspot.com/2009/06/silver-parrot-giveaway.html

Thank you for the chance.
Patricia

Jerri said...

What a great idea. I might have to steal it for myself. Here's the link to my blog post.
http://gemsbyjerri.blogspot.com/2009/06/free-beads.html

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

I would love to give your beads a good home. Please pick me!

Carol

uniquecommodities said...

Man I wish I knew about it sooner! I would have been more than happy to plug it for ya!

I blogged about it
http://uniquecommodities.blogspot.com/2009/06/free-beads-oh-my-goodness.html

I twittered about it too!
http://bit.ly/lrS76

Unknown said...

I think I may be one of that original 12 so I'm not adding to the mix but I do enjoy reading your blog entires. They always make me laugh - which is all good! I am relatively new to beading. My main focus has been making polymer clay beads. I've just recently begun making earrings and I made my first bracelet tonight! I would love to get a box of goodies in the mail... kinda like Christmas!!! I'll definitely add a link to your blog in mine... back shortly.

Unknown said...

I'm back... I just posted my blog for today and there's a link to your in the last paragraph. Check it out at http://harrisonhollowdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/06/studio-recycling-or-what-happens-when.html

Tina said...

left a link on beadsandstamps.blogspot.com

Joan Cromley said...

Here's my post: http://joancromley.blogspot.com/

I love the idea! And you may have more followers than you realize - I use Google reader to keep current with all my faves.

Angel.Pearls said...

This is crazy! I'm definitly in!! I've posted a link and picture at my blog (at the right column), and: you're om my favourite-bead-blogger-list as well. Have a real nice weekend! Love//Eva

Kate said...

Just found your blog thorough another post about your contest. I know it's the last day but blogged nonetheless. Funny, I have all my beads out on my table and have been trying to organize and thought something similar that less would be more inspiring!

http://organicodysseys.blogspot.com/2009/06/one-blog-leads-to-another.html

Nice blog, great bead obsession! :)

One Creative Queen said...

I do a monthly giveaway I've termed "Woot Loot" (because free loot should make you woot!) - but life got in the way and I didn't get it posted this month. Very sad. :(

I would LOVE to add to the box - and make it next month's Woot Loot. Wouldn't that be fun!

xx

Mary Lamoray said...

Oh my goodness!! I'm not too late! I want to be in it too! LOL! I LOVE the idea of a 'continuing bead giveaway'... what a cool idea... :)

I will blog right after this post :)

www.livingwithwalls.blogspot.com

Laura K. Curtis said...

I used to have a friend who owned a needlepoint store and she always said "Needlepoint is two hobbies: collecting and stitching." Beading is much the same way, I think. While I don't do much beading at all any more (I make beads and sell them rather than actually making jewelry), I still have a bunch of beads from when I did that I can't bear to get rid of.

dhurianne said...

Nice Contest! Very challenging.