August BDC Challenge Entries

The August BDC Challenge featured the episode "Shindig".

Check out how the festivities inspired some Big Damn Crafters' members.

Frippery by inlerah


"Say, look at the fluffy one!"
-Kaylee

Kaylee, one of inerlah's favorite characters, sees a frilly pink dress in a store window and falls in love with its layers of ruffles. This yarn was inspired by the dress itself, and also by the idea of embracing your inner girly-girl.

Spun from a beautiful batt of superwash wool blended with white glitz (from fellow etsyian terrabellaspun), this yarn changes gradually from cream to pink to raspberry. It has been plied with 1 strand of pearl metallic thread and 1 strand of white laceweight mohair to add more sparkle and create a soft and beautiful yarn.

8 wpi; 110 yds / 100 m; 2.4 oz / 68 g

If you'd like to purchase this pretty yarn, visit inlerah's shop, here.

Shindig by omshanti


Inara: Are you in pain?
Mal: Absolutely, I got stabbed you know, right here.
[lifts shirt to show a bloodstained bandage on side of abdomen]
Inara: I saw.
Mal: I don't care much for fancy parties. Too rough.
Inara: It wasn't entirely a disaster.
Mal: [lifts his shirt again] I got stabbed. Right here.

This beautiful necklace is another Firefly reference, but this time it's taken a piece directly from the show - the necklace Inara wears during the duel where Mal gets stabbed 'right here'.

Amethyst beads a full 10 mm in diameter form the drops in the front, separated and set off by smaller quartz beads. Depending from them are small brass bells which chime gently as you move - perhaps to dance?

The necklace itself is made up of smaller amethyst beads, along with the quartz, and will cling close to your throat at 17" long. It's held in place by a signature handmade clasp.

If you'd like to purchase this fancy necklace, visit omshanti's shop, here.

Shindig ACEO original by yarrow1


This stunning ACEO piece is original art, on watercolor paper. It has been done in mixed media; this has a watercolor background, ink and a slight bit of marker.

Signed and dated by the artist on the back.

The card is 3.5" x 2.5" (8.89 x 6.35 cm).

If you'd like to purchase this original ACEO, visit yarrow1's shop, here.

BDC Challenge for September

Put on your cunning hats and get to working on your Jayne Cobb challenges!

Maybe you want to try your hand at a Jayne hat since you've never made one. Or maybe you're gonna make something else that Ma Cobb may have sent her baby boy at some point in his adventures (maybe a gun cozy?). Or maybe you can come up with something that would have caught Jayne's eye in a market place.

Jayne is the theme for the BDC September Challenge!

Featured Item: Serenity Floral Polymer Clay Beads

Price: $15.00

Based on the warm colors of the color scheme in Serenity and Firefly, valeriebeads presents "inspired by" florals.

The beads measure approximately 13 mm and are glossed to give them shine. Each bead features valeriebeads' tiny signature cane near the hole. The price is for the 6 beads pictured.

Click here if you'd like to purchase these beautiful beads, or visit valeriebeads' shop for more shiny treasures!

July BDC Challenge Entries

Just in time for the hot days of summer, July's BDC Challenge focused on Ice Planets.

Check out how the coldness inspired some Big Damn Crafters' members.

Ice Planet Pop by scarywhitegirl


"My food is problematic."

As fans of Firefly, you'll probably recognize this item right away. It's a reproduction of the "ice planet" that River and Book eat (or try to eat) in the episode "The Message." Although this version isn't edible, it would make for a pretty sweet prop if you plan to cosplay as River (or Book, I suppose).

The planet itself is crocheted from a yarn containing wool (70% acrylic, 20% wool, 10% nylon), and stuffed with fiberfill. The string is braided cotton yarn, with small paper stars glued onto the string. The stick is a square shaped dowel rod.

The ice planet measures 10 1/2" (27 cm) at the largest point of its circumference. The dowel rod is 12" long (30.5 cm).

If you'd like to purchase this fun Ice Planet replica, visit scarywhitegirl's shop, here.

Macadamia Paradise Caramel Apple by DoubleDippedSweets


This apple gets a 10 on the WOW scale!

A fresh, large Granny Smith apple is covered in smooth, soft Caramel, and then dipped in Toasted Macadamia Nuts. Then, it's cover with White Chocolate and a layer of fresh, shredded Coconut.

If you'd like to purchase this delicious Ice Planet apple treat, visit DoubleDippedSweets's shop, here.

Ice Planet Mobile by inlerah


The 4 ice planets are made from paper mâché which have been painted white and coated with a generous helping of glitter. Each ice planet is hung on cotton cording, strung with painted wooden stars. In the center of the mobile, the colorful squares spell out "My food is problematic" and are finished with a set of silver toned bells.

If you'd like to purchase this cute mobile, visit inlerah's shop, here.

Ice Planet ~ Rutilated quartz and more necklace and earrings set by omshanti


The focal bead is a beautiful, inch-and-a-quarter long rutilated quartz bead (just like an Ice Planet!), strung on a strand of beads the colour of icy summer treats.

Glittery purple and blue glass and chips of various colours of quartz make up the 17" long strand. The clasp is made by hand out of silver-coloured wire.

A matching pair of earrings - a quartz chip surrounded by bright glass - comes with the necklace.

If you'd like to purchase this pretty jewellery set, visit omshanti's shop, here.

Intergalactic Ice Cream by sweettarragon


Sparking white mountain "jade" and white alabaster Swarovski crystals dangle from sterling silver chain and sit atop hand-formed sterling intergalactic squiggles. These sweet treats are firmly attached to sterling silver posts. Cool off with a pair today!

To purchase these lovely earrings, visit sweettarragon's shop, here.

My Food is Problematic - Ice Planet Earrings by rubyzu


5/8" pink glass dimpled glass globes swing from 1-1/2" of delicate sterling silver chain. Full length 2-1/2".

Fun! Pretty! Shiny!

If you'd like to purchase these dangly earrings, visit rubyzu's shop, here.

River Tam Plush Character by lizstaley


How adorable! A sweet little River Tam plushie, complete with a removable Ice Planet!

The body is made from tan buttersuede fabric and her hair is dark brown buttersuede. She's stuffed with all-new polyester fiberfill and her facial features are painted on with black, brown, and white acrylic paint. River is wearing a cute pink dress and matching shrug. Her Ice Planet is a white pom-pom strung on a double strand of thread and then adorned with a red, yellow, and blue felt star and glued inside of a light brown felt "stick". The cool Ice Planet treat attaches to her arm with a loop of elastic.

In addition, River's clothes are actually removable, so if you're handy with a needle and thread (or know someone who is!), you could make her an entire wardrobe! Her current dress is hand-stitched and not lined, but her shrug jacket is fully lined with matching fabric and machine stitched.

River measures about 12" tall standing.

If you'd like to purchase amazing one-of-a-kind doll, visit lizstaley's shop, here.

BDC Challenge for August

Mal: It sounds like the finest party I could imagine gettin' paid to go to.
Inara: I don't suppose you'd find it up to the standards of your outings. More conversation and somewhat less petty theft and getting hit with pool cues.

Team BDC's August Challenge is the Firefly episode "Shindig".

So, put on your purtiest dress or tightest pair of pants and get to thinking on this one.

Featured Item: Mint Chocolate Chunk

Price: $49.00

Creamy, comforting, and refreshing, with just a whisper of a bite. 18" of chocolate jasper and dark brown agate form the base for a few round splashes of deep turquoise. Sterling bead caps and tiny howlite rounds keep everything in place and lead to the sterling toggle clasp in back. This piece uses natural turquoise that has been stabilized for increased durability.

Mint Chocolate Chunk is the first in a series, and a faded brown acrylic necklace has been transformed into an agate, jasper, and turquoise delight.

Click here if you'd like to purchase this stunning piece, or visit sweettarragon's shop for more shiny treasures!

Feaured Item: Nutella Wanna-be Caramel Apple

Price: $8.00

Featuring some of the tastiest treats in the 'Verse, DoubleDipped Sweets has done it again!

They tried to use real out-of-the jar Nutella, but it ddn’t work since Nutella doesn’t "set" and get hard like chocolate does, so they've created their own version of Nutella!

A fresh, large Granny Smith apple is covered in smooth, soft Caramel and then dipped in chopped Hazelnuts. It's then generously covered in Milk Chocolate. This results in a taste and smell that will rock your senses!

Click here if you'd like to purchase this irresistable treat, or visit DoubleDippedSweets's shop for more shiny treasures!

Featured Item: Lime Chiffon Apron

Price: $20.00

Upcycled from an old pair of jeans, a lime green sheer and lace blouse, this apron features 5 functional pockets and lots of special detailing.

The bulk of the apron is denim. The button fly has been removed completely, and the raw edges are finished off with lime green cotton quilt binding. Across the bottom of the apron, the lace and sheer fabric has been pieced together in a ruffle, with the stitching following the curves in the lace in some spots. The sash is constructed from a portion of the sheer lime green fabric with interfacing attached and the sleeves of the shirt. The sash is tacked down in the center so that it doesn't slide out.

The remaining waistband of the jeans measures approximately 28" (71 cm), and the sash is approximately 60" (152.5 cm). This apron will fit any waist size from about 28" (or a little smaller) to about 50", to allow for enough of the sash to tie. At the center of the apron, the length is 17 1/2" (44.5 cm), and at the sides of the apron, the length is 13 1/2"(34 cm).

Click here if you'd like to purchase this unique apron, or visit scarywhitegirl's shop for more shiny treasures!

Featured Item: Cunning Knit Jayne Hat

Price: $20.00

Cunning hand-knit hats to wear during hijinx and thrilling heroics!

All hats are made with vibrant and soft 100% acrylic yarn of various brands. Hats are knit loosely and have lots of stretch, and therefore fit most head sizes, but custome sizes (including baby-sized) is also available if you contact fadingendlessly.

All hats come nestled in straw with a loving note from Ma Cobb (as well as other goodies occasionally).

Click here if you'd like to purchase this great hat, or visit fadingendlessly's shop for more shiny treasures!

Ice Planets - Coolest Treat in the 'Verse

Thanks to Anthem, who posted a comment in our Challenge post, I got to read this super yummy post from The Tasty Planner blog.

The creative chefs (and fellow Browncoats) have created their own version of the yummy treat, Ice Planets and even concocted other "planets", including Persephone, Hera, Sihnon and Miranda - yes, you can now experience just how problematic eating this food item really can be!


Check out the post on The Tasty Planner HERE.

image: tastyplanner.com/blog