2003 Bead Arts Awards Winners - Lapidary Journal & Step by Step Beads

Lapidary Journal: Gems, Beads, Jewelry Making and more

2003 Bead Arts Awards

Rachel Weiss won Best of Competition with this piece (pictured at right), titled Mahalakshmi, of Delica and Soho seed beads, gold-filled faceted 25 mm beads, and faceted smoky quartz droplets.

The necklace was constructed using brick stitch, based on and inspired by Gujarti ceremonial beadwork. Some of the symbols in the piece include: peacocks, the goddess Mahalakshmi (goddess of the hearth and wealth), two women in saris churning butter, elephants, and a banana tree. The double-sided neckpiece can be worn with either side facing front; the piece opens and closes at the shoulder with two beaded buttons. The entire piece took almost 500 hours to complete. Photos: Christine DeCoker.

As far as jewelry forms go, beads — though small — are undeniably big. One of the oldest forms of adornment, beads have been around longer than the written word. Now there’s a new entry in the long and fascinating history of beads — the debut of the annual Bead Arts Awards, sponsored by Lapidary Journal and its new sister publication, Step by Step Beads.

Here are the winners of the inaugural competition, employing techniques and materials that clearly demonstrate the range inherent in beadwork, from layered and lovely lampworked glass to intricately stitched and woven seed beads, from the most modern clays to the most traditional of methods made famous by the Huichol Indians.

Entrants submitted pieces in six categories, falling in three separate divisions. The first division, Beads, covered loose, single beads, or bead sets, in three categories — “clays” (including metal and polymer clays, or other moldable products), glass, and other/mixed media. The second division covered Bead Jewelry, with three subdivisions: bracelets, necklaces, and other. The final division was Beaded Objects, which included both functional (other than jewelry) and nonfunctional objects. A separate Best of Competition piece was chosen as well. Pieces were judged by an independent panel of judges (see “Our Distinguished Judges”) on the basis of excellence in design, visual appeal and impact, originality, and execution.

More work by our winning bead artists is featured in the Lapidary Journal Designer Gallery section!

To enter the 2004 Bead Arts Awards, entry forms can be found online, and are also available for download online here. And maybe next September, your design will be gracing our cover!

Mahalakschmi, by Rachel Weiss

Best of Competition, Bead Arts Awards 2003

Bead Arts Awards 2003 Winners
Best of Competition: *Mahalakshmi* , Rachel Weiss

First Place: Susan Breen Silvy
Second Place: Inara Knight

Susan Breen Silvy, 1st place, glass beads

Susan Breen Silvy
First Place, Glass Beads
Enameled States, from Silvy’s keum-boo series. The bead is made of Moretti glass, enamels, sterling silver, and 24K gold. The hollow lampworked bead is given an enamel overlay, horned dots, and riveted sterling silver tubing with a 24-karat keum-boo design on the interior of bead hole. 2-3/4" high x 7/8" deep; bead hole is 13/16" diameter. Photo: Jeff O’Dell.

2nd place, glass beads, Inara Knight

Inara Knight
Second Place, Glass Beads
Lampworked bead of soda lime (soft) glass with dichroic glass and silver and gold leaf inclusions; Knight used copper electroform to decorate the surface of the bead. 2-1/2" x 1". Photo: JD Photography.

First Place: Carl Stanley
Second Place: Nanako Mizushima Regur

Carl Stanley
First Place, Clay Beads
Sherman Bead #3, Open Mind Spirit, constructed of silver Precious Metal Clay®, enamel, silk fibers, 22K gold, and sterling silver tube and wire. The sculpted PMC® with hollow cone is kiln-fired. The pieces were enameled and fit together with gold pins. The enamel was ground to achieve a matte finish, and a patina was added. 4-3/4" x 1" x 1". The bead is made in two pieces and fit together so that a small chime can be placed inside, making a delicate sound when the bead moves. Photo: Carl Stanley.

2nd place, glass beads, Inara Knight

Nanako Mizushima Regur
Second Place, Clay Beads
Ocean Dreams, made using fine silver PMC®, polymer clay, fine silver strips, and metal foil. The silver pieces were molded, folded, appliqued, and layered. The polymer was used to create clay mokume gane, cut and shaped. The artist comments: “I thought of the cool, shimmering colors of the sea for these summery jewelry pieces. The heaviness of the fine silver is balanced by the light polymer.” Photo: Lee Hovey King.

First Place: Erica Druin
Second Place: Madeline Weston Lewis

Erica Druin
First Place, Other/Mixed Media Beads
Fusion, a hand-raised bead with 24K gold cloisonné and basse-taille enamel on 24K gold and fine silver. 1-1/8" x 1-1/8". Photo: Bob Barrett.

Madeleine
Weston Lewis
Second Place, Other/
Mixed Media Beads
Capitale, of sterling silver, Mexican fire opal, and sapphires; hand-cast and finished. 17.4 mm long; 5.5 mm circumference. Photo: Ralph Gabriner.

First Place: Bob Darchi
Second Place: Cele A. Rix

beaded objects - 1st place, Bob Darchi

Bob Darchi
First Place, Beaded Object
Metallic Butterfly, made using a dried gourd, freshwater pearls, amethyst, seed beads, and picture jasper. Darchi used the technique of the Huichol Indians, wherein the beads are placed, one at a time, into wax. 10" x 6-1/2" x 2-1/2".

2nd place, beaded objects, Cele A. Rix

Cele A. Rix
Second Place, Beaded Object
Leapin’ Lizards Belt, made of 11° seed beads, needlepoint canvas, and a buckle fabricated of sterling silver. “This is a technique I call ‘beadlepoint,’ in which seed beads are sewn onto a mesh base, the piece backed with leather and finished with a binding stitch.” Photo: Karen Carter.

First Place: Jody Petersen
Second Place: Russell Trusso

Donna Zaidenberg's 1st place winning bead bracelet, No Connections

Donna Zaidenberg
First Place, Bead Bracelets
No Connections, with glass seed beads, Delicas, freshwater pearls, lead-free silver solder, made using an Ndebele stitch. 8-1/2" x 3/4". Zaidenberg says, “I like options — choices. This bracelet allows me to make each bracelet different by changing the ends.”

beaded bracelets, Alicia Shems, 2nd place, Color Waves

Alicia Shems
Second Place, Bead Bracelets
Color Waves Bracelet, made using 4mm fire polish, Delicas, 12° cut seed beads, antique glass button, constructed using a right angle weave and added embellishment. 1-1/4" x 6-1/4" (excluding closure). “With this bracelet, I attempted to capture the way color can move and dance.” Photo: David Freedman.

First Place: Hyun Jee Suh
Second Place: Russell Trusso

bead necklaces, 1st place, Forest Necklace by Jill Ackiron-Moses

Jill Ackiron-Moses
First Place, Bead Necklaces
Forest Necklace, made with polymer clay, Delica 11° beads, acrylic paint, and glass beads. The artist used sculpting, carving, painting, and peyote stitch. 18" long. Photo: Hap Sakwa.

bead necklaces: Organic Desert, 2nd place

Laurel Kubby and Dallas Lovett
Second Place, Bead Necklaces
Organic Desert, with seed beads, sterling silver wire, and pearls, joined using wire work, herringbone stitch, and peyote stitch. 20" long with 5" pendant. “This piece was inspired by the colors and shapes of the Southwest winter desert.” Photo: R. Diamante.

First Place: Hyun Jee Suh
Second Place: Russell Trusso

Chelsea Stone, carnival rings, 1st place - other bead jewelry

Chelsea Stone
First Place, Other Bead Jewelry
Carnival Rings, made of fabricated silver, lampworked Moretti glass, enamel, and gemstones. 1/2" x 1" x 1" to 1" x 1" x 2". Photo: Roddy Glover.

susan jo rochlin, 2nd place, other bead jewelry

Susan Jo Rochlin
Second Place,
Other Bead Jewelry
Garden of Delight, made using fresh flowers under acrylic, pearls, glass beads, and seed beads on a suede backing. The artist employed a peyote stitch and added embellishments. 1-5/8" x 2". Photo: Ralph Gabriner.


WENDY ELLSWORTH Wendy Ellsworth has a career in beading that spans over 32 years. She teaches classes in off-loom beading techniques around the U.S. and abroad, including Lapidary Journal’s Bead Fest 2003. Her work can be found in major gallery exhibitions of contemporary fiber, beadwork, and basketry, as well as in numerous books and periodicals. Check out her Web site: www.ellsworthstudios.com.
CELIE FAGO Celie Fago is a studio artist and teacher living in Bethel, Vermont. Her work combining Precious Metal Clay® with polymer clay is known for its innovative use of these materials. Celie’s jewelry has appeared in numerous exhibitions, magazines, and books. She is one of seven Senior Instructors for PMC® worldwide. She, too, is teaching at Lapidary Journal’s Bead Fest 2003.
LARRY SCOTT Larry Scott began his career as a beader in the early ‘90s, traveling throughout Europe to study different beading techniques. He has been featured in Bead and Button and presented a lecture hosted by Fire Mountain Gems at Lapidary Journal’s Bead Fest 2002.

More work by our winning designers is featured in the Lapidary Journal Designer Gallery section!

For information on entering your jewelry in the next competition, click here!

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