Jewel School Jewelry Challenge

The Jewel School Challenge was created by an amazing jewelry designer, Valerie Tilghman. She is the complete muse for the weekly challenges, having asked a few friends to simply browse the products from a Sunday airing of Jewel School and create a new piece, photograph it, and post it by the end of the day. Tilghman's idea was to work from the product quickly, without time to over-think the design or analyze the art. After everyone had posted pics of their completed creations, then they'd consider and contemplate the challenge.

Tilghman's idea has grown to become a weekly challenge. It  keeps one's art consistently moving forward by simply browsing very cool -- and often times the very latest --  jewelry making supplies for inspiration. By designing from a different product each week, you will make something new each week. Your designs will grow. You may try something completely different, or even challenge yourself to learn a new technique. And if you get really brave, you can even share your weekly creations on the Jewel School Friends page where having a supportive community makes learning and embracing the new even more worthwhile. Looking for what you love in others' work is an excellent way to define your own style. Even knowing what you don't want lets you in on what you do want. Sharing is a generous thing. Art takes courage. So post a pic or album link. Share a link to your handcrafted store. Or just create privately. Just take the Jewel School challenge and see where your art takes you. Here's how:

 

 

The Jewel School Weekly Challenge: 

1) Challenges run Thursday to Thursday. To participate, artists work from any one product (or more) from Jewel School's weekly products. Each weekly challenge has about 300 products to design from, including various techniques and styles of jewelry design. The links to browse the weekly Jewel School products are posted with each new weekly challenge announcement. You'll find the weekly challenge info pinned to the top of the Jewel School Friends Facebook community page.

 

2) It is not necessary to purchase any product from Jewel School in order to participate. Jewelry Challenges, fundraisers, and occasional prizes are not directly affiliated with Jtv. The Jewel School product links are meant to be used to spark ideas and inspire artists to even try new techniques. The product used in your design -- for example, say 18 gauge copper coated wire -- can be purchased from any jewelry supplier. Simply note the jewelry supply or supplies that are the root of your jewelry design. 

 

3) Pictures (or links to your jewelry) are posted on Thursdays at the Jewel School Friends page on Facebook. Previously created jewelry is welcome, as long as it incorporates a product from the weekly challenge (links to the products to choose from are posted on the Jewel School Friends page on Fridays). Creating new designs each week is a great way to get inspired and stay inspired, try new designs, and build your store merchandise. You may post a picture of your jewelry, share a link to a FB album (please set your FB album to "public" to be visible to all), or post a link to your website, blog, FB page, or your handcrafted store.

JEWEL SCHOOL FRIENDS

 
4) Please credit ANY & ALL resources -- an artist, video, tutorial, book, design, or product -- that inspired your design along with the weekly product you worked from. Jewel School guest experts/ artists have been gracious to comment on jewelry posted for the weekly challenges. It's truly wonderful to make handcrafted jewelry and have expert artists like Margot Potter, Dale "Cougar" Armstrong, Lauren Andersen, Christiane Ross, Fernando Dasilva, or Julianna Hudgins praise your work! So, please be certain to note all resources. Gracias!