2025 BROWN BAG CHALLENGE
This year-long challenge is organized by Holly Watson. Participating members exchange small bags of fabrics and embellishments anonymously and create works of art from the materials they receive. The big reveal and gifting happens at our Holiday Luncheon in December. You’ve got to be in it to win it!
​At the February 8 Membership meeting . . .
Each member who signs up to participate will receive a brown lunch bag to take home. Over the next few weeks, gather together a small assortment of materials, trims, etc., that inspire you. Place them in the brown bag, add a slip of paper with your name on it, and tape or staple the bag closed.
By March 30 . . .
Turn in your bag to Holly Watson or Meriul Easton. You can do this at the March 8 DeStash Sale event or by other arrangement. No brown bag will be accepted after March 30.
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At the April 12 or May 10 Membership meeting . . .
You will receive a brown bag of mystery materials to begin your challenge.
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Over the summer and into fall . . .
Plan on devoting a full day, or about 8 hours, to creating your challenge piece. All the mystery materials in the bag must be represented in your piece. You may add items of your own if needed to fill out your design. You are not required to use up all the materials or to return anything that is left over. Keep Holly informed about your progress, but do not reveal your project to anyone else before the December Holiday Luncheon.
Be adventurous and push those limits!
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“ALL THE BUZZ” CHALLENGE
Explore the colorful, textured, patterned world of the small and mighty. This 2024–2025 challenge celebrates the beauty, diversity, and ecology of our tiniest neighbors. Let the unseen heroes of nature be seen in their full glory!
Due: November 2025 (at the membership meeting)
Size: Hanging pieces not to exceed 42"W x 58"L; 3D must fit on an 18" x 18" pedestal
Entries: Artists may create two challenge pieces. You may use the same insect or different insects for the two pieces.
1st piece: Up to the max size permitted
2nd piece (optional): MUST be a MINI artwork not to exceed 6" x 6". These pieces are meant to highlight the “small but mighty“ aspect of this theme.
Notes: Each piece must include at least one representation of an insect. It may include other natural elements like flowers, plants, trees, sky, water, and so on. Your insect may be based on a genuine natural beauty or a fantastic version of a real creature (though you must admit, nature does create some pretty fantastic bugs!) You may wish to include an educational element in your work, for example, how bees support our well-being or the endangerment of monarch butterflies. You may choose any insects that appeal to your creative spirit.
WEB-SURFING TIPS
“exotic insect”
“exotic beetle”
“exotic butterfly”“exotic dragonfly”“exotic caterpillar”“colorful ________”“fuzzy_________”“shiny________”
and so on