The best part of becoming involved with the Muse III has been that I have had to step outside my comfort zone and show "many" others my work. It has been very easy to stay within my community and make jewelry for others. Now with the Muse III I have put my name and work out there for others to view and comment on. Scary thought! It has been a great learning experience and an eye opener regarding my skills and my dedication to experiencing new challenges.
Thank you for the chance and the challenge. MJS

Even though I didn't participate in the last two I've enjoyed being exposed to material I've never used. I also really like viewing the Gallerys of everyone else work!

Its hard to put a "best" on the many great benefits of Use the Muse, but I especially love the creative challenge of working with the muse and the kit components. In both Use the Muse II & III, I was able to push myself creatively in unexpected ways. Can't wait to work with the next kit !.

I have been following your contests for a year and a half and have been very awed by the inspiration I have gotten from all the artists' different interpretations of the kits for the contests. I have been working up the courage to enter but haven't so far. With the recent loss of my mother, I need beadwork for my therapy and this sounds like a wonderful opportunity to create something beautiful in her honor. She always loved the beadwork that I could dream up so this will be good to concentrate on.
Thank you so much for your consideration.
Bobbie Neal
bjneal50@hotmail.com

My favorite part about the USE THE MUSE contest is that it forces me to be creative and focus on a goal in a time limit. I like the way that I am forced to design something from items outside my collection, but able to use what I have in my collection of beads to augment the designs. The contest forces me to work with color combinations that I might not otherwise choose and I enjoy working with different findings and materials than I might normally choose too. USE THE MUSE II and III have brought my creativity to an exciting level that has created a stir among people when I wear my creations. It is a fabulous challenge and I really enjoy breaking out of my daily grind to take it on from time to time.

The best part, for me, is how it kicks my creativity up to a new level! If you want to read more about my experience, I've written about it on my blog: Behind the Scenes at Jewelry Tales.

My favorite part about Use the Muse III was that it was the first time in 7 years of beading that I created my own design - I never felt I had that in me but Use the Muse III helped me take the leap.

What I love about this contest is how the exact same Muse component inspires so many different entries!! I'm constantly amazed by the creativity and beauty of the pieces created!! I really hope to Participate in Use the Muse 4 - as long as it's not too close to my next exam!!

The best part of the Use the Muse is the ability to participate with other beaders throughout the world and waiting in anticipation for the big reveal of their approach to the Muse. I know this was my first time and I had all sorts of ideas of what I wanted to do but then the Muse itself led me in a totally different direction than my preconceived thoughts. It was a challenge to step up my beading level with new stitches and new ideas and color schemes. I loved every minute of it and am ieager to participate in Muse IV.

While I was not able to enter the Use the Muse III, I greatly appreciated the experience of participating in the Use the Muse I and Use the Muse II. Having a basic set of materials, and being to add creatively to them to create my own interpretation of the beads, charms, and baubles was a growing time in my creative journey. Since participating, and stretching my creative abilities, I have found my foundational skills, am trying things that I would never have tried before, and find myself not wanting to let a single day pass me by without creating something. Thank you, Scarlett, for these challenges. My creative journey will be long and fruitful!

Thank you so much for offering such creative promotions. I have been making jewelry just a few months and I am hooked. Through ArtBeads.com I found your UseThe Muse site and competition. I ordered the kit and was thrilled with the amount of items and the choices. I was motivated to order a variety of Swarovski crystals in olive, copper, and amethyst to make my necklace. While I wasn't confident enough to send in my design, it was a joy and very self-rewarding to create with objects chosen by another person. I will definitely participate again!!!

Your website is really great. Love the pictures.

Happy Holidays,
Debbie S.

Entering the Use the Muse contest and getting the package with the Muse and all the beads is like getting a surprise present. That's pretty good but the best part to me is the build up and the wait until the day when we get to see all of the other entries, that's the best part of all. I only wish we could see them all in person! Thanks Scarlett for all the work you have put into the Use the Muse contests so far. They just keep getting bigger and better!

go to my website to see my response!

I love receiving the kit and the surprise of what the Muse is. However, both Muse II and Muse III have pushed me to create my own designs -- I usually follow patterns created by others. It has made me realize how many different stitches I know and I absolutely love when the design in my head actually comes to life! Thanks for these great opportunities, Scarlett.

I found the Use the Muse contest stretched my creativity in many ways. I like to make jewelry in my favorite color palette of blues, greens, purples by using beading needles and thread and tiny beads. So the autumn colors and metal pieces in the kit caused me to use different techniques. I found working with the colors I created several more pieces. Telling a customer who had ordered a black bracelet about making one out of olive, rust red and gold seed beads caused her to purchase it! Also the contest put a deadline on my purchasing a camera and learning to use it to enter the contest. I am in the process of setting up an etsy shop at KRDesigns11@etsy.com. Next on my list is a blog. Thanks Scarlett and sponsors!

My favorite part about Use the Muse III is the entire experience. This was my first contest and I just loved the way the kit was packaged. Now the suspense is really building for the Big Reveal and it is very exciting. Good Luck to all participants!

The Muse of course! It has been something I would not have considered buying myself so when given something that must be incorporated into a piece it really gets the the wheels turning. It really helps you stretch your beading muscles.
Nancy R drocknich@yahoo.com

I really like watching the results of the contest. The mystery of the challenge piece makes it appealing. But I wonder about every artists creative process and what leads them to the end result. It feels like everone has something revealed to them in the end.

I have participated in many challenges in the past but none at this level. Having won a Judges favorite Theme in the Muse ll Was A High point for me in 2009. I look forward to viewing and entering future Challenges of the Muse.
The winners of the Muse ll were just Breath taking. They inspire all who view them to step up to a higher level of beadwork.

My favourite part is to use my phantasy and creativity how to make some special and beautiful included the Muse given. I participated in the Use the Muse II, which was a good experience to see what ideas had the others from the same Kit. I learnt a lot from the others, too, how I have to release my phantasy.

The best part of the Use the Muse contest is how much I've learned in just the past year. I've been beading since Oct 2005, and this past year, by participating in the contest, has forced me to learn more about beading than in the previous years. And not just beading, but color palettes, balance in designs, photography, ect.... Thanks for giving me the forum in which to explore these things without undue anxiety.

i had a great time creating my Muse 1, it was simple yet elegant. i missed entering the Muse 2 because we were in process of moving. my Muse 3 really showed progression in my concepts of what makes a beaded bracelet and i even had asymmetry in my creation. looking back over the 3 contests i have improved my technique and a good part of that has been entering the Muse contests and looking at others fine craft work. my favorite part is receiving the package to see what the Muse is and revelling in the beauty of the all the beads.

I have participated in all of the Use the Muse's and what I absolutely love about it is never knowing what the muse is going to be and the different color combinations that I would normally not do on my own. Even though it is a contest I never expect to win I enjoy seeing what everyone does and the reveal always gives me new ideas of ways I had never though of putting together a project. On to Muse IV!

This is so exciting! I can't wait to see the winning piece! I have yet to participate in the Use The Muse Contest. I'm still working up some courage to do so. What I love about them is seeing all the different designs and the inspiration that each one brings.
Good luck to everyone! :)
Cheers!

I love the way it inspires my creativity.

I posted about it on my blog
http://gracebeading.blogspot.com/

The contest is a great way to express my creativity with you beads and Muse selections. And then changing my mind and going in a whole new way. I love a challenge.

Hmmm this is hard to pin point a "best" about UTM. I really enjoyed the surprise element, the muse, and working with it and seeing in the past UTM how everyone used them so differently. I can't wait to see what everyone did this time!
The other thing, probably the seed beads since I don't work with them much. I'm a stringer mostly and don't use seed beads often at all. So using different sizes and shapes of seed beads was fun for me.
Another is the experience of learning new ways to do things that I had no idea how to do previously. I guess I can say this is more of a favorite. It was a learning experience and I had a lot of fun doing it!

I Love the muse but missed the deadline to post my finished piece. I can't wait to see all the finished pieces and hopefully i can get into the next one Happy Holidays

What is your favorite part about the USE THE MUSE Contest experience? I would have to say that my favorite part is being challenged to work outside of my comfort zone and never knowing what the Muse will be until we get the package. Thank you for sponsoring this wonderful contest!

My favorite part of the Use The Muse contest, is seeing all of the different creations, using the same kit of beads. With so many amazingly talented beaders taking part, in a challenge that makes you think outside the box. To put your best work forward, and just have FUN!!!! Thank You Scarlett
Erica Faith

My favorite part of the Muse contests (I've done II and III) is how they challenge me to expand my thinking by using materials I probably would purchase on my own. I've felt very inspired and successful in my solutions.

~Rhonda

The reveal because the eyecandy is stupendous!

I enjoyed all aspects of this "Use the Muse" contest. It was a great birthday gift from hubby and it forced me to come up with my own idea. I love the beautiful selections of beads I received. Everything just seemed to flow together and "Voile!", a beautiful piece. I am impatiently waiting for the 4th contest and can't wait to get my hands on that kit. Also looking forward to see what everyone else did with the "muse". Merry Christmas, all.
Here is the link to my blog post...
http://kkahnefan59.blogspot.com/2009/12/use-muse-contest-iii.html
Also, my little store on ArtFire...
http://www.artfire.com/users/DorriesBeadStuffs

The most exciting part is receiving the pack and seeing what the Muse will be, and I also can't wait to see all the entries, very exciting and fun.

I posted on my website about the contest. Thanks for the giveaways!

i had a great time creating my Muse 1, it was a simpler piece. i missed entering the Muse 2 because we were in process of moving. my Muse 3 really shows progression in my concepts of what makes a beaded bracelet and i even had asymmetry in my creation. looking back over the 3 contests i have improved my technique and a good part of that has been entering the Muse contests as well as looking at others fine craft work. my favorite part is receiving the package(s) to see what the Muse is and reveling in the beauty of the all the beads.

I guess I have three favorite parts about UTM experience.

1) I enjoyed trying to incorporate new components and stretching my imagination. In UTM II and UTM III, I came across several items that I hadn't used together before.
2) I loved seeing my entry on-line. It sounds silly but it really gave me a thrill standing side by side with all the other entries.
3) Seeing all the different works of art that could be made from the same set of materials was really inspiring.

Since entering these two contests I found that I am a little more daring when making and wearing jewelry that I make.

I loved participating in USE the MUSE III. What a motivating process. It recharged my creative batteries, which were undercharged at best. I can't wait to see the gallery. I will definitely consider participating in USE the MUSE IV. Thank you for a great experience!

Elizabeth Freeman
El Paso TX
riotgrl1953@yahoo.com

It's hard to say what I like most about the Use the Muse contests. I guess it's being part of a group of people who are all taking the same test, each coming up with different yet correct answer. It's as if we're members of a secret society. Most of the world doesn't even know we exist, and yet our brains churn, needles, thread and beads fly and we follow the Muse wherever it takes us. And in the end we share our results with each other (thanks to all of Scarlett's hard work) and we individually smile and say "ooh" and "ahh" and eagerly await the next contest. It's just plain fun.

Since this is my first contest the whole experience has been exciting. The best part is waiting to see all the different designs that come from the same kit. I viewed the previous Muse contest entries after I received my kit and decided on my design. I feel somewhat out of place because the entries look so professional. I always second guess myself, that is why I didn't want to see the previous contest entries 1st. This just may be the push I needed to start showing my jewelry to more than friends and family. Thank you for the opportunity!

What is your favorite part about the USE THE MUSE Contest experience? My favourite part is that the Muse inspires me to try different stitches, go outside my comfort zone, and to think of designs that I would normally not have thought of. I love how it has brought together people from all over the world who see the same Muse, but we've all interpreted it differently, and produced amazing works of art.

The best part of the use the muse experience for me has been working with color combinations and components that I wouldn't normally use. It is a wonderful way to open up your creativity. The next favorite part is getting to see how everyone else has used the muse! Thanks, Scarlett!

Left a comment here as well. Again, thanks for a great experience.

I have created several of my own pieces, but I had never used items that somone else had picked out. The variety of color and unique pieces were a challenge that I really enjoyed. It gave me a feeling of accomplishment when I was able to do a design I was happy with in the length of time given to do the piece in. Watching it grow and develop was very intriguing. I could now take heirloom jewelry pieces and make a special creation using someone else's jewelry pieces for a unique treasure. After looking at the previous entries in the other contests I am amazed and appreciate the quality of talent of the many beaders out there. This was a wonderful experience and I thank you for having this contest to allow us to stretch our wings!

I can't wait to see the entry piecs. The artistry & variety of prior contest entries has been wonderful.

Without a doubt, the best thing about participating in these contests has been the development of my own creativity. I am not an artist by education or natural giftedness. Using materials others have chosen for me in a restricted time period adds an additional degree of difficulty for me, but also stimulates some creative place I didn't know I had.
Another thing I have delighted in is how all of us all over the world are using the same materials at the same time to create vastly different items. It gives me a sense of global connectedness as I bead. I know that all around the world others are thinking of the same colors, thinking of the Muse, thinking of the time constraints, and so on.

I am new to beading and have been following this contest for some time, I enjoy seeing all the entries and get a lot of insperation and ideas from all the pieces.

i forget the link - crud

http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/2009/12/use-muse-3-and-tech-challenged.html

One way of extending my beading skills has been to enter the 'Use the Muse' competitions. The reason I enter is to use a set of beads which invariably are not ones I would normally use so this encourages me to use different techniques. This I find is one of the best parts of the competition. The final reveal is also exciting as there is alot of oohing and aahing at all the wonderous ways people have 'Used the Muse'.
Link: http://www.artfire.com/users/SwirlJewels/blog