Voting is Up! What do you think?

According to some of the earlier forum posts, it sounds like many of you were eagerly waiting for today's voting to begin. Now that you've seen our top 20 finalists in each category, what do you think?

I was amazed--and inspired--by the caliber of projects entered. Were you?

If you are one of the finalists--congratulations! If you entered and were not a finalist, I hope you had fun and will enter next year--it was very hard to narrow down each catagory to only 20!

I invite you to share your feedback--this is very exciting for us here at BEAD STAR headquarters. We hope you share the excitement.

Vote on!

-Danielle Fox, Bead Star editor

Other than not seeing any of my submissions in the finals, I thought the pieces were all nice, and I look forward to seeing which designs make the magazine.  I was a bit disappointed that there was no way to preview all the designs without having to go straight to voting, but after giving it a bit of thought I think this was a good way to do it.  I also liked that the pieces had no identifying info; letting the jewelry speak for itself is best.

I look forward to trying again next year.

 

The work in the gallery is very nice, and there were some pretty cool and inventive things in there, esp. in the under $25 section....

But I saw a few patterns going through the gallery that were very familiar from books and magazines.

Little dissapointed about that - because unless the person entering it was the person published with it, I think that it defeats the spirit of the competition...

just my 2 cents! great job to all who came up with their own new and innovative designs!

 

 I, too, did not find my designs among the semi-finalists, but I think it was handled well.  No identifying info for the artists at this stage and so on.  Now that these decisions have been made, are those of us who submitted designs free to sell our creations?  As I recall, the BeadStar rules specifically said that nothing could be for sale during the contest.  I have a show tomorrow and would like to add these pieces to my inventory.  I will do that unless someone tells me today that I am still restricted.  Thanks.

Sandra

 Yes, Sandra, you may now sell your creations. Thank you for asking--that's a good question.

Best,

Danielle Fox, BEADSTAR editor

I was thrilled to see one of my entries make it to the finals in the glass catagory! Looking through the other entries to get a sense of my chances of winning, I thought the judges did a great job in choosing a wide variety of different styles--something to appeal to everyone. While its often fairly easy to say, "that one will probably win" or " that one won't be a winner," I had absolutely no idea which designs will be the winners. They are all really good, and whether I win or not, I am honored to be among them! Great job, judges!

I was also quite thrileed to see one of my piece make the finals.  The buzz that this contest has created seems unique - I've had a good time chatting with designer friends about the contest (several of whom are also in the finals) and looking at all of the entries.  Of course, it would be wonderful to place (frankly, there are so many great pieces that I have my doubts as to my chances there, but I'll continue to hope for the best).  However, participating in the event has been a very happy experience.  Thank you for holding this contest.  I hope it proves to be so successful that you repeat it next year.

 

I, too, noticed a few pieces that seemed familiar from books or magazines.  I am hoping that those pieces were just created by the original designer and entered into the contest... 

All the entries were great, and there were a few categories where I had quite a hard time picking just one to vote for!!!  Good luck to everyone!

 

 Maybe it was just creative coincidence that made the designs look familiar? I hope so!

I have to say that (had I been eligible to enter the contest) I wouldn't have entered a design that was previously published, or even a close relative of it - even if it was my own design. I'd want to enter something completely original that the judges would never have seen before. But I haven't read every single issue of every single stringing magazine there's ever been, so there is always the possibility that I would come up with something that somebody somewhere has made before. It's very hard to be truly original!

I was impressed by the general standard of entries, and good luck to all the finalists! It should be a great magazine when it comes out.