ECHO

What does “echo” mean to you? Is it the repetition of words or sounds, bouncing off a wall or a mountainside, growing ever more faint till it fades away? Is it a fragment of a memory, a reflection on the past, a whisper of a recollection?

The word “echo” has its origins in ancient literature: the goddess Echo was a wood nymph from Greek mythology. She lived in the mountains and made the mistake of angering Hera, the wife of Zeus. Hera cursed Echo into only being able to speak the last words spoken to her, dooming the relationship between Echo and her own true love, Narcissus. Echo wasted away, ruined by the despair of a lost chance at happiness.

Can you translate this melancholy to your jewelry making? We hope so, because we would love you to submit to Facet’s October Design Challenge! We invite our readers and makers to create or share a work of jewelry in keeping with the theme ECHO. When you look back at past projects, do they trigger new or related ideas? Have you created a series of pieces, perhaps evolving over time? Does your jewelry reflect an echo of the past, a part of a memory, a repetition of a sound captured in metal, wire or glass?

We invite all beaders, metalsmiths, clay artists and other makers to interpret this theme in their own way and produce a work as creative as it is beautiful.

Any time between now and Oct. 26, submit a photo of your work and a brief description of how your piece fits the theme. At the conclusion of the contest, the Facet editorial staff will vote, and THREE WINNERS will be awarded. There will be three categories of winners: Stitching; Metal, Wire, Clays & Resin; and Stringing, Fiber & Cord. The winners will be announced in early November.

We will share photos of the winning pieces on our social media sites and in our newsletter, so be sure to include links to your personal website, Etsy shop, Instagram or anywhere else that our readers can view more of your work. If you’d like to participate in a Five Question Spotlight about your work and your inspiration, we’d love to run it on Facet!

You may submit two images for each monthly contest.

We can’t wait to have you share your work with the Facet community, and gain inspiration from the work of your fellow jewelers. You can view all of the submissions to the Design Challenge here.