Daisy Days
The September design challenge for the Facet webpage was Harvest Moon.
My lariat necklace Daisy Days was chosen as a winner.
The October challenge is A Bump in the Night.
Patricia Parker
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Toho Challenge 2017
This year I made a beaded box for my Toho challenge piece. My daughter had been asking me to make an octopus for her, and when she saw the color selection it was obvious to her that an octopus was what I should make.
Battle of the Beadsmith 2017
This is the fourth year I have participated in the Battle of the Beadsmith. My entry this year is based on the pond at my friend Laura's house.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Summer 2017 magazines
My beadwork was included in two publications this summer.
Bead & Button August 2017 issue had a project featuring small beaded flowers.
A free form bracelet design was included in the gallery section of the Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Twilight
My entry into the Anna Bronze 2017 competition, the theme was Magic.
My necklace, Twilight, was inspired by the time of the day when the light turns pink and the leaves are edged in amber.
To view all 122 entries please visit the Anna Bronze 2017 competition gallery. The winners will be on display at the Bead & Button show in Milwaukee Wisconsin June 9-11.
The magazine also sponsors a design contest through their Facet website. The theme for June is "Upcycling" and in that spirit I entered the necklace into that competition as well. If you would like to participate, enter here.
The magazine also sponsors a design contest through their Facet website. The theme for June is "Upcycling" and in that spirit I entered the necklace into that competition as well. If you would like to participate, enter here.
Friday, April 21, 2017
2017 Beading Contests
This post is a little late; I missed the Bead Dreams competition this year.
Fortunately, there are other contests to enter, and all the ones listed here have no entry fee.
Concours Perles Puca 2017
Design must use at least 40% Puca beads. Deadline for entries October 21, 10:00 am Paris time.
Facet Monthly Design Contest
A different theme every month. Challenge is sponsored by Bead and Button magazine.
Royal Stone Calendar 2018
Different themes each month, each focusing on a different country.
Preciosa Ornela
A different theme every month. Challenge is sponsored by the leading manufacturer of Czech seed beads.
Entries must use any exclusive Potomac Beads product to be eligible.
Entries accepted March 30 to April 30
Theme: Magic
Entries must use at least one Anna Bronze component
Entries accepted until May 15
Fashion Colorworks 2017
Entries must use colors from one of the three triads based on Pantone's 2017 colors.
Entries accepted April 1 to June 10
Seed bead contest
Entries must use at least 50% of products listed in their seed bead selection.
Entries accepted May 1 to July 9
Harmony of Nature and Technology
Entries must use one item from nature and one item considered technical
Entries accepted June 1 to September 1
Have fun, enjoy your beading and good luck!
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Thursday, November 24, 2016
2016 Toho Challenge
Toho Beads challenge 2016
Each participant was given the same beads and asked to create something.
The colors reminded me of a forest floor.
The other entries can be seen on the Team Toho page.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Belle Armoire Jewelry
Inside the issue is a technique based article with photographs. There are also full page shots of some of my other necklaces, including my BOTB 14 piece.
Since the necklace is made with some hard to find vintage beads, I decided to make a kit to accompany the article. The selection of beads includes six shades of vintage French pink beads in size 11 and two shades of pink in size 10. In addition the kit includes Japanese seed beads in sizes 8, 11 and 15 as well as some size 11 triangle and delica beads. Two shades of Swarovski crystal pearls in two sizes round out the selection of beads. The toggle clasp, thread and needles are also included. There is a limited amount of these kits available, and the beads are increasingly difficult to find. If interested, the kit is available in my Etsy shop Rose Blu Beads.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
2016 Seed Bead Contests
Beading contests 2016
End dates for submissions
February 26, 2016 Bead Dreams Bead and Button magazine
April 30, 2016 Fire Mountain Gems seed bead contest
June 10, 2016 Fashion Colorworks
September 1, 2016 International Bead Awards, Perlen Poesie- From Cubism to Art Deco
Tips for entering beading contests
These are things I like to keep in mind when working on a competition piece.
How to find contests- magazines, fb groups, google search
Identify which is right for you- price-some are free and some pricey
difficulty level- how comfortable you are with pushing yourself or entering just for the experience, or just for fun
competition- how many entries does the contest usually get
time period- how long are open dates, how close to end date you have, how much time can you work and how long has the competition been working
materials- seed beads or Swarovski or any kind of bead
Technique-weaving or stringing or embroidery
Judging- is it open for public vote as well?
Check put previous years entries and winners, design with stand out characteristics
Read the rules- make a hard copy, add notes
Make a checklist with key dates and requirements
Know the dates, double check end date for submissions periodically
If the contest with a midnight deadline is based in another country make sure to account for the time difference if waiting until the last day!
Know who the judges are, what their style is, what their colors and favorite beads are
Follow the rules -enter pictures the right size, the right way
Understand the theme
Originality, be different, do something to set yours apart from other entries- design new components or flowers, use different beads or unique focals
Who sponsors the contest- why? If to promote a certain bead, use that bead, blog about them, use product sponsors sell as accents- gemstones, cabs, clasps
Go for all the extra points- small size beads, vintage styles, whatever the theme be thorough,
Enter more than one category with different projects, or enter same category multiple times if allowed
Take clear pictures, and a lot of them. Choose the best layout and reshoot again, and again in different light also.
Don't show your project before contest finalists announced, unless it is allowed or encouraged
Allow enough time to finish, but work until last minute if need be.
Take photos day after finishing to be more objective, distanced, steady.
Take notes, photos write down thoughts during process of creating piece.
Things to keep in mind
Don't be discouraged, bead and design for the challenge of the theme or completion date and learn from each piece- try to do something new to you, a technique you haven't tried or a color you don't use. That way you are pushing yourself to try new things, also your work is growing and evolving from the process.
Good Luck!
Friday, July 17, 2015
Jewelry
Lately I have been looking to find inspiration from designs of the past. One of the things I have been checking out is vintage jewelry from auction sites like Invaluable.com. They have some beautiful pieces offered for sale. Some of them are really unusual. It encouraged me to look through my jewelry box for vintage and unique items. I like to go to the local auctions and various markets, and have bought some interesting things there.
This is a vintage ring I found at auction. I am not sure what it's story is, but it has different colored stones set around the top, and it is really tall. I thought it was a great find.
Some of my favorite pieces of jewelry are one of a kind, and some are just different from anything I see readily available.
This is a piece I found at a second hand store.
The enamel egg and amber design is similar to one I remember seeing in the book Africa Adorned by Angela Fisher. I believe it said the style of necklace was given to a woman to commemorate her becoming a mother.
These amber rings belonged to my maternal grandmother. She loved big rings. I found the necklace at a flea market. Some of the beads are missing, but the remaining ones are pretty nice.
My paternal grandmother received this pin when she graduated college in 1930. She had a degree in Spanish, which I find strange because I was never good at languages. I love the pearls in the heart shaped part.
These are some easy to make bracelets. I used sterling wire with trade beads. They are fun to wear with just about everything I own.
Rubies and opals are my favorite stones. I found the rubies at the gem show in Tucson in 2006. I strung the two strands of faceted beads separately, but I wear them together, usually wrapped around my wrist. They look great with gold bracelets.
These rings came from the local farmers market. They do have some bakery and produce there, but most of the place is odd little shops. When I spotted the rings in the coin shop I bought them because, well, I love opals.
This is a piece of jewelry that has a pin back as well as the chain. It came from a jewelry shop in an antique mall. I don't know how old it is, but I have had it for 20 years. I really like the way the different kinds of turquoise are used together.
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