Top 10 reasons for finalist selection

 I love the clear valid reasonings behind some of the guidelines more than the guidelines themselves. *laughz* If you read through the list and stilll don't understand, then please ask someone else for specific help or advice. I think that they are pretty darn clear, but sometimes when my brain goes to the bahamas without me, I do tend to confuse myself. I can screw up the simplist instructions when my brain heads to the Keys too. When I am like that, I don't feel bad about asking one of my Beadie-Buddies to help me straighten it out in my own mind. Nice simple rules always work best and without losing parts of info, you can't get munch simpler. I'm Compressed(impressed, but a late friend said it this way *grinz* In loving memory of a big dumb gooney goo goo mo fo) with the simplicity of them all. Good job guys!

 Billy ;o)

I agree Billy, the instructions were quite clear. Most of these issues were addressed in the contest rules. When all else fails, read the rules, people! However, there are always gray areas, like how simple is too simple, and how complicated is too complicated. You never know quite what is crossing the line.

And then we get too emotionally attached to our work as well, and think even though it doesn't quite fit within the guidelines, we'll enter it anyway, because it turned out really good. So we get to thinking it might not matter too much if something has just a tiny bit of beadweaving, or something is not really jewelry.

The photography issues are the most difficult, because you can be the greatest jewelry designer ever, but not know anything about photography or have any kind of equipment to do a decent job. And in this competition, you are being judged completely by the photo of your piece--not the real thing.

Erin

 It's great that everyone has found the list of criteria for winning a contest so helpful and illuminating! You bet your beads we will post this for next year, to remind people of the tips for submitting a good entry from design to photo.

Erin is mostly right --we judged on what the photo showed us of a piece, but we did not judge on the photo itself. I hope that makes sense.

Best advice: this is the digital age. get used to it, embrace it!  We all have to keep up with the technology in use. Make it a priority to get a digital camera, learn to use it, and learn to take decent, well lit, clear pictures using a tripod and the right settings. Learn to upload clear photos to the web and how to save them on your computer. Don't wait until you face a contest deadline to learn!

For some contests and craft shows you absolutely need a professional to shoot your work. Our contests will never require more than what you can learn to do yourself with a minimum of expense. .

For Bead Star, your photos needed only to be good enough to actually SHOW your work. For the magazine itself, all actual winning pieces are sent to us to be shot by our pro.

Congrats to all finalists and have fun voting! You can imagine how tough our job was to narrow down to these!

Leslie, editor in chief, Step by Step Beads, Creative Jewelry and Bead Star

Leslie,

now that the finalists are up, what is the address (both email and physical) to submit our receipts for the under $25 category? I can't find anything in the rules.

Erin

Billy, I love your "brain went to the Bahamas" comment!  I always say that my train of thought left without me.

 Jeni ans Bily-- hee hee, I always say the train is still boarding at the station! but I like the idea that it's off diving in the bahamas without me better!

just found this post - thank you so much. now I have a better idea about why some of my pieces were not selected. I can't wait until Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Thanks for the tips. I realize my downfall. Your suggestions will help me in the future.

 Even though I didn't enter this contest, I find these negatives helpful for my own creative skills. Thank you!

Rose