Bead + Fiber Gallery, 100 Under 100: deadline 11/01/09
This is the second annual holiday show.  Bead + Fiber seeks artists who produce original work in a range of prices, with at least one item $100 or under.
Stringing winter challenge, Inspired by Art: deadline 11/06/09
Challenge yourself by creating a piece using stringing or simple wirework techniques based on a title provided by the editors of Stringing. All entries will be posted on the website, and readers will have a chance to vote on their favorites.
Fabrications Six, a jewelry and textile exhibition: deadline 11/14/09
Crossings is calling all textile, …read more

Fall Challenge Title: Around the World
Deadline: September 7, 2009
Challenge Rules: One entry per person, please (so send your best work!). Submissions must be of the type you would see in Stringing magazine—in other words, projects created using simple stringing, crimping, wireworking (simple loops, wrapped loops, jump rings), and simple knotting techniques. If in doubt, see Stringing 101 (it’s in every issue of Stringing) for a list of acceptable techniques. Projects created using beadweaving or other non-stringing techniques (such as netting; peyote, brick, right-angle weave, and square stitches; bead embroidery; chain mail; and macramé) will not be considered for winners.
To enter, …read more

The Land of Odds is holding their annual contest called All Dolled Up: Beaded Art Doll Competition.  Here is a gorgeous entrant from 2007, that won Runner-Up.
Azure, created by Ralonda Patterson
This year, the contest is to create a Beaded Art Doll by manipulating beads and forms into an imaginative tactile and visual 3-dimensional representation of this year’s theme: Earthen Mother.   The grand prize this year will be a $1000 gift certificate for the Land of Odds.
All the rules can be found through links on this contest page.
Deadline: August 31, 2009

I received word recently that Autumn Arbor has made the first cut in the Fire Mountain Gems 2009 beading contest. Now I have to send it in for the next round of judging.
Sometime later this summer I’ll see if I can write up a basic tutorial for the piece.  I didn’t take process shots like I normally do, so it’ll be a little sketchy.  Still, those who have some bead weaving experience will probably find it easy enough to follow.

Last year, my over-the-top piece called Andromeda’s Pearls won first place in the pearls category. I don’t really think …read more

I can’t remember if I showed you this bracelet earlier or not.  I made it using one of the many available bracelet blanks from Rings & Things.  And some finds from Home Depot!  I called it Always Time for Cats.
I just received word yesterday that my design was one of Polly’s Picks.  Polly is the catalog editor, and each year she gets to chose some pieces that she likes but that were not official award winners in the Your Designs Rock contest.  It’s official enough for me!  Thank you, Polly.  You can read more about my design at Rings & …read more