The Battle is Getting Fierce!

The Beadsmith is beginning to post the "Battle" pieces on their group page on facebook.  I cannot share the beautiful pieces, but you can see all of them here:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/274053372682035/photos/#!/groups/274053372682035/photos/

There will be 40 groups of photos.  Each group will show the amazing and creative beadwork of two of the 80 talented beadweaving artists from around the world.  After they are all posted and we have time to pick our jaws up off the floor, then the judging will begin.

Out of the 80 entries, only 40 will remain after the first round.  These 40 will again be paired up with another "battle warrior" and the 2nd round of judging will begin.

Who will be the winner of the battle?  Stay tuned!!

Calling all Kumihimo Lovers

Beadsmith is sponsoring an event on facebook titled "Beadsmith is looking for the best Kumihimo braiders in the land..."

They are looking for photos to be sent to them at kumihimo@beadsmith.com displaying your best Kumihimo work in either of two categories:

     Beaded Kumihimo (braid must be at least 50% beads)
     "Naked" Kumihimo (braid must feature a large focal bead)

You can read more about the great opportunity and the prizes offered by going to the event page on facebook.

I shared 4 of my Kumihimo necklaces with them.  This first necklace features a  cabochon by Artisan Clay.

This necklace features a porcelain sliding pendant by Amazing Porcelain Fantasies.

This necklace was created around a stoneware cabochon by Lisa Peters Art.

This necklace features a polymer clay focal bead and clasp by Mikki Ferrugiaro.

I created these necklaces on a Marudai, but they can be created on a Kumihimo disk as well.  You can purchase Beadsmith's Kumihimo products at most local bead shops.  There is also a link on the facebook event page to get more information about where Beadsmith products can be purchased.

Beaded Impressions Contest - Voting is Open

I entered my Rhythm and Blues freeform bracelet in the Beaded Impressions 2011 Beading Contest, sponsored by abeadstore.com.  Winners win money to buy more beads, and who doesn't need more beads?  Voting is now open and winners will be announced Feb 18, 2011.

My entry is #46 in the Jewelry Category and I need your votes in order to win.  Everyone who votes (even if you don't vote for me) will receive a 10% discount coupon for 10% off any purchase at abeadstore.com through March 15, 2011.

Thanks very much for your support, time and vote!

What Inspires You?

Artbeads.com provided a beading contest entitled "What Inspires You?"  Voting opened today, November 23 and ends Wednesday, December 8. Winners will be announced Thursday, December 16, 2010.

There are two categories - a Necklace Category and a General Category and you can vote for your favorite in each one.  Click on the first name in the group and it will show you the original inspiration and the creation it inspired.  From there you can click on the "next" tab and see all of the beautiful entries in each category.

Congratulations to everyone who entered and good luck!  The prizes are fabulous!

And the Winner Is ... (Plus the Contest Answers)

The winner of my guessing contest is Deborah L. Gray-Wurz, owner of Sneekbead on Etsy.  You can also read more about her on her blog "Bead Indulgences."  Just for posting her answers here on my blog, she wins any dichroic glass item of her choice from my Etsy shop.

The answers to the contest are:

     1.  Millifiore Glass  (although I do admit it looks a lot like Christmas candy!)

      2.  1/8" Diamond Copper Mesh

      3.  Fine Silver Wire

These items are all available from Delphi Glass and are part of their "Ring of Fire Contest."    The contest is open to all artists - not just glass artists.  They also have Pressed Flowers, Mirrored Tiles, Krafty Blok, DG3 Art Gel Glaze, and Recycled Glass Tiles.  All you need to do is purchase one item, create something and enter it in the contest.

The prizes are fantastic.  Grand Prize Sponsor: Jen-Ken Kilns Delphi Ez-Pro Deluxe 15-6 Kiln – Fuse glass and ceramics in one kiln
Plus:

• Choice of instructional video from Glass Craftsman
• Choice of Best-Of Glass Patterns Quarterly instructional CD
• Choice of book from Wardell Publications

All Delphi award winners will receive:

$50 Delphi Dollars

Multi-media craft pack, including KraftyBlok from Diamond Tech Crafts

Choice of instructional video from Glass Craftsman

Choice of Best-Of Glass Patterns Quarterly instructional CD

Choice of book from Wardell Publications

Delphi’s Favorite award winner will be featured on one of Delphi’s catalog covers.

Artfire will award the following:

Free Lifetime ArtFire Pro Account $100 Shopping Spree on ArtFire Free ArtFire Pro Account 1-Year Membership with Graphics Package from ArtFire’s designer

I originally purchased the Dichroic Scrap package and created this as my entry.  I call it "Say It With a Flower."  You can vote for your favorite entry here.  Just click on "View Entries" and choose your favorite.

I hope you will be encouraged to enter the Ring of Fire Contest sponsored by Delphi Glass and Artfire and their Sponsors.  Have fun!

And the WInner Is ....

The winner of the Etsy Beadweavers September Indian Summer Dream Challenge has been announced. Lorraine of TrinityDJ won with her beautiful Indian Summer Sunset necklace.

You can read more about the winner on the EBW Blog and you can see more jewelry created by Lorraine in her Etsy shop.

Parvati's Grace necklace, created by CieloDesign came in 2nd.



Indian Summer Nights by Triz came in 3rd.


The top ten winners are listed on the EBW blog. In reality, everyone that entered was a winner as all of the pieces created were just outstanding.

Etsy Beadweavers August Challenge Entry

All the members of the Etsy Beadweaver's Team are finalizing their entries into the August challenge entitled "Ladies of Style." The mosaic showing all entries will be prepared and ready for viewing and voting on August 9th on the group blog.

Here is my entry into the challenge. I chose to make a simple bracelet combining an old technique with modern bling.

I began with a netting base. Netting, which dates back to well before the Christian era, is the stitch with the longest history. Lacy and soft, netting has lots of open spaces. You can see the diamond pattern on the backside of the bracelet.

To the netted base, I added over 200 6mm Swarovski bicone crystal beads in various colors of blue giving it lots of flash and sparkle - sure to get attention is this day and age of bling. The closure is a new and modern 18" Swarovski Rivoli crystal enclosed in a peyote stitched bail.

If you don't want to wait until August 9th to see all the entries, just go to http://www.etsy.com and search using the search word "EBWC".