Bead my Valentine 2011

'Bead my Valentine' Beading Contest  WINNERS! 

This contest clearly demonstrated that Valentine beading isn't always about jewelry, as the expression of love can be displayed in other forms of beaded art as well. There were 96 entries in this contest and once again we were happy to leave the judging to a panel of experts.  What a hard job it was for them!  Each and every entry becomes a bit "personal" to those of us at Happy Mango Beads who downloaded the images, read and transferred all the descriptions and prepared the cd's for the judges.  We cannot say enough how much we appreciate all the thought, hard work and creativity that went into each work of art.  To those of you who did not win a prize please know that this was a very hard-to-judge contest and if it we're possible to make everyone a winner, we surely would!  PRIZES: Our overall grand prize winner won a $100 gift certificate to Happy Mango Beads and all 10 category winners each won a $25 gift certificate.

"Romance in Bloom is an 18" necklace that combines bead weaving and stringing to create an original design perfect for any season. The inspiration for my necklace came from the hand-painted ceramic focal bead. Using a mix of Delica beads and light rose crystals, I enhanced the focal bead to mirror a large, colorful flower. Framing the focal bead, I stitched 2 beaded leaves using the blend of Delicas and deep green seed beads. Down the main vein of each leaf, features fire-polished Czech glass beads in a two-tone (crystal and light pink.) I then strung the necklace combining green seed beads to match the veins of the leaves, with light rose crystals and a few mother of pearl accent beads in green and tan. The clasp is a Swarovski Crystal toggle that features sparkling rose crystals. The overall look of Romance in Bloom is a soft, romantic feel. It takes the mind away to a walk through a beautiful rose garden - soft pinks, vibrant greens and delicate flowers that leave an impression on all who see them. The colors are reminiscent of a bygone era and bring forth a feeling of love."   Dawn Doucette

Roses are Red (flowers) – Jonnie Weeks "A Rose by any other Name"
"This was my first attempt at making a French beaded flower. It's a simple, but tedious process, that takes a little patience, and a LOT of seed beads. After I finished beading it, it didn't take me long to decide to make it into a necklace, and a simple golden chain was all it took. A real statement piece that's just right for a night out on Valentine's Day."   Jonnie Weeks

Unchained Melody (chain, wire) – Taniruth Ranit "A Vintage Inspiration for Valentine"
"My idea for my entry in this contest was to make a viking weave stroke to cover up the surface and put a coiled wire on top and use crackled beads to form a flower around it while for the embellishment, I use brown pearl and golden yellow Swarovski beads."   Taniruth Ranit

Puppy Love (animals, birds) – Sadie Ellis "Lovebirds"
"This lovebird necklace includes a gold-plated centerpiece, real turquoise and apatite gemstones, Czech glass, and Toho seed beads."   Sadie Ellis

Second Time Around (recycled, re-purposed) – Linda Sullivan "Dangling Hearts"
"This memory wire necklace wraps 'round and round' your neck! Over 3 feet long, it is loaded with Wedding glass beads from Mali, other rare tribal beads, coral, obsidian, howlite, marble, and much sea glass .The largest dangling heart is approx. 2" long."   Linda Sullivan

Love Makes the World Go Round (ethnic) – Lynn Walz "Swahili Love Flower"
"The 14mm copper heart was formed as a pendant. I wired Ugandan paper beads (beadforlife.org), tiny red glass beads onto the copper and shaped the beads into an African flower. The backdrop was a flower of the tiny glass beads. This cockscomb or wool flower is known by its Swahili name – Mfungu. The heart shaped pendant is fastened to a crocheted red and copper colored silk ribbon and has a copper clasp."   Lynn Walz

Peace & Love Man! (hippie, funky) – June Wilson-Billing "Summer of Love"
"Charm bracelet incorporating silver-plated findings, glass beads and wooden flower buttons."   June Wilson-Billing

Love Thy Mother Earth (natural, organic) – Tara Roth "Tangled Love"
"I crocheted this necklace using red coral (4 different sizes), Swarovski crystal, glass heart beads, glass leaf beads, various Czech glass beads, glass seed beads and white heart trade beads (among others) using 26 gauge antiqued brass wire. I finished it with an antiqued brass floral toggle clasp."   Tara Roth

I Heart You! (hearts) – Alicia Sova "Crystal Diamond Heart with Ruby Necklace"
"The “Crystal Diamond Puffy Heart with Ruby Necklace” is the third piece I created for this contest. I decided to enter this one because it is unique and special, just perfect for Valentines Day. Instead of just using flower and heart beads I made a puffy heart pendant out of 73 pieces of 5mm Swarovski Crystal Xilion Bicone AB then strung 8mm Metal Bead Caps, 8mm Ruby Red Rose beads, and 8mm Firepolished Ruby AB for the necklace which made it look classic and gorgeous. Clasp is made from DB38/size 11 (Dark White Gold 22kt) and metal heart clasp."   Alicia Sova

Loves me like a Rock (gemstones) – Regina Santerre "Roses for my Sweetheart"
"A dozen red Coral roses that never fade, a sterling silver 'sweet' heart with embossed flowers wrapped in a circle of lime green chalk Turquoise and completed with a sterling silver toggle."   Regina Santerre

Love Shack – Tanya Wiles "Key to my Heart"
"I crocheted this necklace using black sewing thread and a mix of beautiful Czech glass beads in pink tones. The focal point is the beautiful metal lockplate and key set, attached with strands of bead crochet (of course)! Each bead along the edge is offset from the bead on the opposite edge, for balance and sparkle. The necklace is directly crocheted onto gunmetal chain in the back, so the length can be adjusted. It attaches with a matching gunmetal lobster clasp."   Tanya Wiles