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Trash to Treasure 2010
'Trash to Treasure Beading Contest' WINNERS!
This contest caused some serious 'out of the box' thinking and the entries show it! Creating environmental awareness by making jewelry was our goal and what a success it was - as many news sources picked up the story and hopefully the 'fad' will continue. It was a daily thrill at the Happy Mango Beads office when photos were being downloaded, we all loved seeing what would come next. PRIZES: Our overall grand prize winner won a $100 gift certificate to Happy Mango Beads, the 2 honorable mentions and all 5 category winners each won a $25 gift certificate, plus 5 additional entries (alternates - that were high contenders in the judging process) won $15 gift certificates. We plan to do another similar contest in the near future so keep in touch!
Comments from the judges: "I actually felt a little emotional about this contest. Such awesome creations and so very hard to judge, you all are winners!" "Such a fun contest to judge, yet very difficult with all the wonderful art. I wish there were more categories so I could have picked more winners!" "I hope this contest inspired others to think of our Earth as they create jewelry, it certainly has me!"
Watch the Trash to Treasure beading contest music video here.
Grand Prize Winner!
Congratulations goes to Allison Cooling for "Vintage Bookworm Bracelet"
Honorable Mention #1 - Lorraine Johnson "Just Bobbin"
"I designed these earrings from some old buttons, sewing machine bobbins w/thread and beaded safety pins that dangle. My inspiration came from the buttons of which I have many and they prompted the idea to use sewing items!" Lorraine Johnson
Honorable Mention #2 - Jeanne-Marie Mellor "Trashy Elegance"
"The recycled items in this necklace are muslin and brown felt scraps, computer wire, plastic hooks from pairs of socks I've purchased, a sorbic cap that came in a prescription bottle, paper scraps, chipboard and cantaloupe seeds. Beads include a shell pendant, bone spacers, red vein marble, white calcite, quartz, lepidolite, leopard skin jasper, reseda cloisonne, gold spacers and white pearlized seed beads. I made the rectangular 'beads' from muslin scraps which I burned designs into and dipped in several coats of non-toxic polyurethane, then stitched reseda cloisonne beads, a small donut disc bead and leopard skin jasper into the design and backed the beads with soft brown felt scraps. I made the oval beads with chipboard and paper scraps which I edged with silver micro beedz and added the cantaloupe seeds. I then dipped them in several coats of the non-toxic polyurethane before adding the leopard skin jasper hearts. I used small olive-green bone spacers for the top-holes of these 'beads'. The focal piece is made from a sorbic cap rolled in silver micro beedz, bone spacers, a white calcite bead and a shell pendant. I beaded the plastic hooks with white pearlized seed beads and then added the gold spacers to the holes of the hooks before attaching the beads." Jeanne-Marie Mellor
I used portions of an aluminum can, carnelian beads, and wire to make these earrings. I really liked the design or shape of the logo on this can so I cut it out. I did not want the name on the logo to show so I rubbed it out with steel wool and also rubbed the remaining design a little to give it a rustic and antique look. I used other parts of the can to create the center piece on which I added a carnelian bead with wire." Jasmin Mitchell
Heavy Metal - Ann Tudor "Time to Maudify"
"This is a necklace made with my husband's stepfather's gold coin watch as the centerpiece with lots of "treasures" dangling from it. There is a zipper pull, dice, Mexican peso, citrine dangle from an earring, watch piece, mini spark plug, one of my lampwork beads (Maudies), enameled copper rings, a tire valve along with other various items. I have collected tidbits of treasure since I was a little girl, now I have figured out what to do with them! Make jewelry!!!!" Ann Tudor
Is that my old windshield? - Linda Velleco "Spiral"
"This necklace is made up of recycled glass beads, Thai vermeil beads and a focal component made up of hammered brass wire cold connected to a brass tube (from the local hardware store)." Linda Velleco
Compost Happens! - Pamela Domzalski "Autumn Along Kancamagus"
"I was inspired by the one of a kind leaf pendants offered on the Happy Mango website. So beautiful, natural and unique, the leaf pendant made a perfect focal piece for my necklace. I wanted to enter the "Compost Happens!" category because I love natural elements due to their unique one of a kind quality. I decided to title my piece "Autumn Along Kancamagus" after the Kancamagus Byway in New Hampshire, home to the most beautiful fall foliage. I used the scenic views of Kancamagus as inspiration for the color palette of my piece, deciding on the richly copper painted Aspen leaf. The other natural, organic and sustainable materials used in this piece are amber chips, betel nut, wood and hemp cord." Pamela Domzalski
No Earlybirds! - Elena Willets "World Travelers"
"This was fun! I started with a necklace that had been my grandmother's but was damaged. I de-constructed it and added coins from the British Empire that my mother had collected. I added keys that I found at garage sales and in my junk drawer, along with beads to represent the global nature of beads in general. My aim was to reflect the love of travel of three generations of women." Elena Willets
I'm not a dang hippie, I just want to enter this contest! - Sabrina Koebel "Autumn Rose"
"I designed this copper/brass charm bracelet using several pieces of old junk jewelry that were cast off by co-workers at the school district where I work. I've also included my lampwork beads as well as some new items (gorgeous velvet crystals!) to freshen it up. My inspiration is and always has been my sisters. We're an eclectic mix of girls. When you put us all together you get a gorgeous piece of jewelry." Sabrina Koebel
Alternate - Lara Holland "Spokes"
"I used to build bicycles and have seen how many parts go to waste in the tuning, refurbishing, and building process so I began to make jewelry out of the parts. This bracelet is made of a bicycle spoke which I bend and create a tension clasp bracelet. To add a little flavor I've wire wrapped many of the bracelets in rondelles or other various small beads." Lara Holland
Alternate - Rachelle Reis Branum "Sustainable Spiral"
"More than half of these beads I made myself using fabric & yarn remnants, electrical wire, vinyl tubing and paper." Rachelle Reis Branum
Alternate - Jessica Lee Blacknall "Ever-Blooming Orchid"
"I believe that eco-crafting encourages reuse, which is good for the environment, and creativity, which is good for the soul. With that and the theme 'Trash to Treasure' in mind, I took to my garage and dug through some old silverware to craft a necklace. The result is Ever-Blooming Orchid. This orchid necklace features a stainless steel spoon hammered flat and the handle down on itself to create a pendant. Thin wire is wrapped around the top of the pendant, then circled around on itself to create a vine effect on the sides. Glass beads complete the orchid by peeking out as petals from under the sides of the handle as well as lying on top, where they sparkle as the light hits them. This pendant is a fun mix of hard and soft, creating the shape of an orchid that will never wilt." Jessica Lee Blacknall
Alternate - Sadie Ellis "Paper Clip Earrings"
"To make these earrings I found a new life for the paper clips on my desk. I paired them with hematite donuts, Toho seed beads, and silver-plated ear wires." Sadie Ellis
Alternate - Cat Jackson-Mead "Machinist's Collar"
"When I aimed my flashlight toward the back of the machine shop, an unexpected blue glint caught my eye. I was not expecting to find this: a collar made from stainless steel wire, woven into a framework for broken watch bands, rusted washers, and other metal objects I could not identify, accented with glass beads. Was this completed by a bored machinist, waiting for a necessary part to arrive? The result of finally emptying the jar labeled “Shiny! or might be useful some day”? Or a symbol of office, abandoned when the shop closed? Perhaps the number of washers hung from the front indicated levels of seniority. I may never know; I visited only days before the wrecking ball arrived." Cat Jackson-Mead
