The First Colorworks Challenge

The first Colorworks Challenge was held by Step by Step Beads Magazine. The orange-purple-green tertiary triad presents a challenge of bold and striking contrasts, and contest participants had to create a piece of bead jewelry with the predominant colors of that triad (any shades of those colors). Finalists were selected by Margie Deeb, Colorworks author, and the editors of Step by Step Beads. Today I received an email, that read,

Congratulations!

Your work was chosen by Margie Deeb as one of the top ten finalists in our first Colorworks contest! Though you did not win first place, your piece will be showcased in a special Colorworks gallery in the November/December 09 issue of Step by Step Beads. Thank you for submitting such outstanding work!

Best regards,
Leslie Rogalski
Editor in chief, Step by Step Beads

Leslie Rogalski meant my Lush Spring Blues necklace...
Good news is good news!

First videoclip on YouTube!

My first videoclip on YouTube. Enjoy!

World of Beads VIII

The exhibit World of Beads VIII: A 20 Year Retrospective held by
The Bead Society of Greater New York on June, 19-21, had a great success. This three-day juried exhibit featured the unique beadwork of The Bead Society of Greater New York (BSGNY) creative and talented members spanning the 20 years of the organization's existence.


Yoshi Marubashi, Leah Becker, Evelyn Letfuss, Nina Libin, Linda Rettich, Marsha Davis, Masami Sato, Ruth Oisteanu, I listed just a few from many artists whose artwork attracted common attention. All artists brought the excitement, passion and beauty of this timeless art form to the public. Beadwork demonstrations and free workshops were presented throughout the event, other activities included bead vendors, sale of bead books, raffles and a children's table. Congratulations and Bravo to all BSGNY members!

Pictures from the World of Beads VIII

2009 Bead Dreams. Christmas Eve

Necklace Christmas Eve, the finalist of the 2009 Bead Dreams contest and exhibit. I made the base of the necklace using netting stitch of my own design, I used for that vintage Italian bugle beads and seed beads. All elements were made separately: golden three-dimensional flowers with red petals in the center, and golden fringes with red beads and Swarovski crystals. I decided not to create a special clasp for the necklace, I used two ribbons of matching gold and red colors to add some more festive accent.


Here is a closeup of Christmas Eve. Materials: Toho seed beads 11/0, Delica seed beads 11/0 and 15/0; vintage Italian bugle beads size 2, Swarovski crystals, pearls size 3 and 5, ribbons. Techniques: peyote, netting, coral, right angle weave stitches, embroidery.

That's my second Bead Dreams final in a row, I'm so excited and happy!

Convergence Exhibit - B&B Show

Another video by Sara Hardin. This one is on the Convergence Exhibit, the International Society of Glass Beadmakers' juried exhibition project.

2009 Bead Dreams Blue Ribbons

Sara Hardin from Phoenix, Arizona, has posted a video on 2009 Bead Dreams Blue Ribbons.



Congratulations to all winners!

I tried Artbeads.com

I understand that jumping from one media to another, from one style to another, or even from one supplier to another is not in favor of my business, but I cannot sometimes resist if I see something unusual and interesting, and want to try new materials and beading supplies. Recently my attention was attracted by canvas on wood pendant from Artbeads.com. I found a lot of such pendants, but the red-almost-black seemed to me the best one.

Though I've never used such pendants I decided to play with that one, moreover I had in my trunk matching polymer clay beads (I made them a few years ago but had no idea where to use them) and bright red coral beads. Carmen! That's the name of my future necklace that came to me! I was a simple string, that I accented it with the narrow golden ribbon.


In a couple of days I continued my research, and created another version of Carmen: the same polymer clay and coral beads, and seed beads. I decided to let the strings go where they want, and it turned out to be a free-form necklace.


I guess, my first try of pendants from Artbeads.com is successful, it was great to play with colors and materials to focus the pendant! The only thing I don't like is that the silver-color bail doesn't match the pendant color palette, yellowish bail would be better I think.