Bead Dreams 2012 - Bead Artistry Contest

Tequila Sunrise

So the results are out .. in fact they have been out for weeks ... but I have been overwhelemed with so much that blogging has not been a regular event.  I am happy to report that my entries 'Tequila Sunrise' and 'Melbournian' were not only finalists but place holders .. both of the them in fact! 

When you submit entries to Bead Dreams you pay the submission fee of $US30 and for that you may submit two pieces ... so I submitted Melbournian, just because!  Some of you may already know of this particular piece "Melbournian".  Melbournian will be published in the book Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry (Lark Publishing) (August 2012) she was selected along with my cuff design Magic Carpet Ride.  Thus Melbournian is not only an internationally published piece but also awarded as she is a Bead Dream finalist and Bead Dream 3rd Place winner in the Crystal Jewelry Category. 

 

 

What you might not know is that Melbournian was my 'grief' piece created when we moved from Melbourne, Victoria to Brisbane, Queensland.  My intention was to submit Melbournian to Bead Dreams 2011 but I just became overwhelmed from the move and did not complete her in time.  To date she is my most successful piece of beadwork.

Melbournian

Tequila Sunrise is the piece that I created and submitted for no other reason than Bead Dream's itself.  The bead woven fan design neckpiece took 5 months to design and bead and has won 3rd place in the Seed Bead Category.

 

 

As a first time entrant to this contest I am giddy with delight that I managed to achieve such a feat, twice!!

Tequila Sunrise and Melbournian returned home to Australia this week, complete with their respective ribbons, a box full of Swarovski Elements, the Swarovski magazine 'Sound', a congratulatory note from Kalambach Publishing and the Judges Notes.  I plan to talk about the Judges notes in particular as a separate blog as they are of considerable interest.

 

 

I intend submitting an entry/ies to the 2013 Bead Dreams Bead Artisty Contest.  Ideas have already formulated in my mind, however they need to stay there awhile longer as I am currently preparing beadwork for a new beading book about worldwide beading connections of which I will be a featured beading artist. 

Happy Beading
Mel

Lashed Lilly

Introducing 'Lashed Lily' a sinster name but not really .. the four slender shaped Swarovski Crystal Elements you see in this picture are referred to as Article 6904 - Lily Pendants. I have 'lashed' or rather tied two together to form this faux toggle clasp. An armature has been used to give the right angle woven neck strap shape, it is supple and light. Cyclamin Opal is the colour of the bicones and Silver Shade is the colour of the Swarovski Lily Pendants and the Cosmic Square (Article 4439). Crystal Powder Green is the colour of the Swarovski pearls, these are in various sizes. Seed beads, drops and cylinder beads used are Miyuki and Toho. The silver seed beads (size 11 & 15) that you see are quite expensive as they are sterling silver plated (matt silver). Time taken to create .. way too long in excess of 100 hours as I encountered design obstacle after design obstacle. What you see before you is nothing like I had visualised prior to commencing this piece. But it was the process of designing this piece that I had my 'That's it' Moment'. Watch this space for my new range ..

Latest News: This neckpiece is currently in the US awaiting second round judging in the Swarovski Jewelry category conducted by Fire Mountain Beads & Gems.