Monica's Bead Challenge
The Second Bead Challenge started today, Thursday, September 9. Here's a picture of the kit contents:
Here are the rules for this challenge:
Bead Challenge Rules:
1. Purchase a $10 kit to participate.
2. Use at least 7 out of the 12 kit elements.
3. Add as many other beads as you want.
4. Create a piece of your own design. It can be a necklace,
bracelet, earrings, wearable art or anything else your
imagination dreams up.
5. Submit your finished piece including its name and, if
appropriate, your inspiration for the design no later than 5:00 p.m. October 16, 2010 to
Monica’s Quilt and Bead Creations
77-780 Country Club Dr., Ste C-D
Palm Desert, CA 92211
To participate in this challenge, stop by the store and pick up a kit. If you're located out of town, call the store at 760-772-2400 with credit card ready. We'll add the cost of shipping to the kit and get it out to you ASAP.
First Bead Challenge
In July, Monica issued a challenge to beaders to create a piece using a purchased bead kit (contents 1 Starr May bead, 1 Mother of Pearl donut, 1 lampwork leaf, 2 vintage old metal findings, 5 freshwater pearls, 4 Swarovski bicone crystals, 1 novelty bead, 10 size 6/0 seed beads and 2 small bags size 11/0 seed beads in a mauve and gray colorway) to which they could add their own beads and other elements. Eleven beaders submited entries -- all of them beautiful, as you can see below.
To ensure unbiased judging, two artists, independent from the store, evaluated the numbered (no names provided) entries based on originality, use of the bead kit contents and execution of the chosen technique(s).
Dawn Tonioli won 1st prize, a $50 gift certificate; Margo Boisvert 2nd prize, a $30 gift certificate; and Vickie Woods and Barbara Killough tied for 3rd prize, each receiving a $20 gift certificate.
Thanks to everyone who participated -- whether you won a prize or not, your entries won a place our hearts!
If you can't/didn't make it into the store while the entries are on display, the pictures show the wide variety of designs and techniques born out of the same basic group of beads.
Prize Winners
Dawn Tonioli - 1st Prize
Steampunk fashionistas will love Dawn's whimsical necklace featuring wing nuts and cotter pins along with lampworked beads.
Margo Boisvert - 2nd Prize
After a long hiatus, Margo recently returned to making French beaded flowers. The time hasn't lessened her ability to create an imaginative, charming springtime tea serving, complete with a bird!
Barbara Killough - 3rd Prize (tie)
Barbara combined shapes, textures, materials and shades of mauve and gray to create an elegant multi-strand necklace with French couture-like side embellishments
Vicki Woods - 3rd Prize (tie)
Vicki's luscious cascade of flowers, leaves and lampwork beads hung from straps composed of several different materials begs to be worn with a plunging neckline.
Other Entries (Alphabetical Order)
Barbara Allen
Barbara combined chain and strung beads with kit components to create this delightful charm bracelet
Jan Dolan
Making use of the major kit components as focal pieces, Jan designed an elegant two strand necklace.
Mary Keenan
Lightweight resign chunks make Mary's bold design comfortable to wear. Unique bead woven, geometric shaped earrings match the counterweight on the necklace's back. Inspired by the desert, Mary added to her entry with the lovely hummingbird, sage and flower decorative piece to the right.
Valerie Milot
Valerie chose to embellish her beaded cabochon with elements from the kit, giving this traditional technique a fresh look. Gemstone straps further enhance her design.
Cheryl Starenchak
Though a relatively new beader Cheryl has extensive experience as a knitter. She combined the two techniques in her unique and appealing necklace with knitted straps and embelishment plus a spiral rope and wirewrapped dangles.
Nancy Stuart
Nancy keeps the focus on the lampworked beads hung with distinctively shaped wirework from her bead strung strap in an attractive design.
Karen Woods
Using stringing and wirewrapping techniques, Karen combined borosilicate beads, pearls, crystals, lampwork and seed beads in a dramatic multistrand necklace.