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Bead my Valentine 2011

'Bead my Valentine' Beading Contest  WINNERS! forumhandmadewithlove.jpg

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.

Comments from the judges:
  • "The only thing that could have made the job of judging this contest more enjoyable would have been the opportunity to personally handle each piece.  So many entries were so expressive, and what a difficult time we had choosing the winners!" 
  • "I love Valentine's Day and I love hearts and the color pink, so this was tremendous fun for me and I thank all of you wonderful artists, and Happy Mango Beads included.  So much unique wire work, beautiful pendants, that wonderful wine bottle stopper!  Fabulous work!" 
  • "I only wish there were more categories that entries could have filtered into, thus making more winners.  Yes, it was a difficult contest to judge and all 3 of us had to give serious consideration to composition, colors and uniqueness."

Watch the Bead my Valentine beading contest music video here.

Grand Prize Winner!
Congratulations goes to Dawn Doucette for "Romance in Bloom"

"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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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