Pick Me!

"The important thing is to dare to dream big,
then take action to make it come true."
-Joe Girard

Ever heard of Bead Star? Last year at this time I entered several pieces into the contest. I didn't make it in, but one of my pieces submitted went on to be featured in the Winter 2008 issue os Stringing. Not a total loss. Quite a good thing, actually.

This year, faced with an expanded time frame and armed with the winning designs from last year, I attempted to enter in all nine categories: Crystals, Glass, Seed Beads, Pearls, Stones, Plastics, Metal, Heart, and Under $25. Okay...so I only had time to submit in 6 of the 9 categories. But that is pretty good for working on it only in the month of April, right? (Expanded time frame...HA!)

Today, while perusing some of my favorite stops in the blog-dom, I came across my design for "Besame Mucho" on the Humblebeads blog. I used Heather Powers' fabulous Klimt-inspired bead for my "Kiss" themed Master Artist series creation.

So I quickly hightailed it over to the Bead Star website and the voting is now open. And the Bead-gods are smiling on me because I have pieces in three of the categories:

#10 in Glass - entitled "Koi Pond", inspired by Matisse's painting The Goldfish and with ceramic disk beads from Jangles. You might remember that I blogged about it here.

#6 in Heart - entitled "Good Advice", created with a heart pendant and word beads also from Jangles. (Found the picture!)

#5 in Seed Beads - entitled "Besame Mucho", inspired by Klimt's painting The Kiss and featuring a pendant from Humblebeads and 24kt gold charlottes from Itty Bitty Beads and crystal mixes from Fusion Beads. And I just recently blogged about it here.

But more than my three pieces I am so excited to see that some of my newest friends have designs in the contest as well. I encourage you to vote for your favorites, but you should really check out these awesome designs:

The awesome polymer clay necklace by Lorelei Eurto in Plastics category #7.

And the lush stylings of Heather Powers of Humblebeads in Stones category #8 and Pearls #11.

What I love about these gals is that they seek ways to incorporate the work of other artists into their pieces. Do check them out at their respective blogs.

What can you do? GO VOTE!

The top 5 in each category will be featured in the 2009 edition of Bead Star available in December. And the top designer chosen from all the first place finishers will be crowned the 2009 Bead Star with the cover spot.

All you need to do is go to the Bead Star website here, enter your email address, and start picking your favorites. Only one entry per email address so make your choices wisely (and I have given you my top favorites in six of the nine categories!)

Check It Out::http://www.beadingdaily.com/beadstar/

Enjoy the day!