Bead Star 2009

Dec. 8 is the big day!

Erin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:43:01 GMT

I just found out that Bead Star 09 will officially be on newstands December 8th! Only a month more to wait--I am super excited to see all the winners. And I believe that will be the official start of the 2010 contest as well. If its like last year, they will post the rules for the upcoming contest in the magazine with deadlines, categories, etc.

I wonder if anything will change this year, or if it will be essentially the same contest?

Erin

Beading Daily earring swap

MaryG — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:49:13 GMT

How great!!! I just received my swap earrings -- really nice --three crystal turquoise tubes linked together --they are great! I tried to contact the designer Jeri Bonvie at Dragon Designs from the info at the bottom of the enclosed card but no luck! Perhaps it's the computer operator... who knows? Thanks so much for this great opportunity. I hope the recipient of mine likes what I sent as much as I will enjoy my new acquisition.

Best regards from Mary Greely at Visibility in Portland, Maine

Beaders contest?

Hajer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:53:52 GMT

Hello,

I know that I'm too late, but what is bead star? kind of contests?,.........sounds really nice

beadstar winners??????

michelle — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:14:52 GMT

maybe i missed it so if i did, does anyone know if they have released the winners list yet?

Winners are a secret!

Leslie — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:36:06 GMT

I'd love nothing better than to shout out the names of our Bead Stars , but we have made the winners promise not to tell, so the issue itself will be a grand reveal! Sorry--I know how eager everyone is to see the work!

Leslie

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

Top 10 reasons for finalist selection

Leslie — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:16:57 GMT

I love that you are all so eager to learn the chosen finalists, and we’re bursting to reveal! It was a challenge to select only 20 from each category. Of course I can't leak anything, but I can tell you that a majority of the submissions were NOT chosen as winners for reasons that entrants could easily have improved.

As the day for voting draws closer, keep these things in mind as we did in selecting the final winners.

Top ten reasons why entries might not have been chosen:

10. Was simply too simple. This was a design contest. Though probably lovely when worn, a classic strand of pearls does not a competition winner make.

9. Was entered in the wrong category. A mistake in your entry form, no doubt, but we could not second guess. For any contest, please read the rules and enter thoughtfully and carefully.

8. Was too complex to be written in a single page of instruction. That was stated in the rules--must be able to fit on one page. Some stunning entries would have been way too lengthy (and advanced for readership) for the Bead Star magazine. Entering the right contest for your work is as important as what you enter. We have many contests appropriate for more advanced construction, check “Contests” on the home page.

7. Did not use a majority of the category materials. The rules require a predominance of that category material or technique. If you entered a multi-strand of pearls with a single glass bead in the glass category, it probably didn’t float.

6. Was not jewelry. Nice purse embellishment, but not in this contest. It had to be jewelry.

5. Was not finished jewelry. Some gorgeous individual beads, but they had to be presented as a focal bead in a piece of jewelry to be considered in this contest.

4. Had bead weaving. As a lover of seed beads, I know the compulsion to stitch those jewels together. But the rules state, only simple stringing, wire work and crimping techniques are acceptable in Bead Star. Many of you who worked peyote or other stitches into your entries may hear from editors about future projects, but your entries were not chosen if they had seed bead stitching.

3. The rules say no more than one entry per category. Single entries in each category are fine, just not more than one in any given category. Several people renamed the same piece to enter twice in a single category. Tsk. Tsk. But fear not: duplicate entries clearly by mistake were not held against you.

2. Not original. If your entry clearly copied a design we recognized from print or a classroom project, and was not an original use of materials of technique, it was not chosen. We see and publish a lot of designs as editors. Nice craft, pretty beads, perhaps, but "been there, done that" designs didn't make the grade.

1. The number one reason entries were booted: poor photography. We had to wonder if some people looked at the photos they entered before uploading them. Quite a few were almost unrecognizable: tiny images, completely blurry images, or shot in the dark. If you use Photoshop, learn to use it right and do not over do it. Some entries were so high contrast we could not identify the materials.

Contrived photography was also a possible strike against an entry. Over-propped shots distracted and obscured the jewelry. Though some shots did not deter us if the piece was truly outstanding, overall, shots with tons of flowers, poorly chosen backgrounds, or the artists name and logo emblazoned larger than life were passed over. Don’t shoot on your rumpled bedspread, or something that camouflages the piece itself. Dark chain on rough tree bark, for instance, is not the best choice.

Please note, this was not a photography contest, and most contest entries should be on completely simple, light or dark backgrounds. Finalists and winners are not chosen based on photos no matter how clever or professional.

Do not rely on us during a contest to teach you how to use a digital camera, take adequate shots, or upload the correct size. We’re sorry we could not personally answer the flood of questions regarding your individual photos.

That said, we recognize the HUGE need for instruction on how to shoot your own work, so stay tuned. We’re working on a way to get that information out to you! Meantime, we suggest you practice, practice, practice!

Thank you all again for the tremendous response to the 2009 Bead Star contest. Enjoy the finalists’ gallery, which will open for voting starting May 15^th.

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

Receipts for Under $25--don't worry!

Leslie — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:12:55 GMT

Don't worry if you did not send receipts for your Under $25 finalist entry. Your chance of winning was not affected at all! Voting was solely done by readers and viewers online. Should you be notified that you are a winner, we will need to verify your receipts and you will be told again where to send scans, copies or faxes of the receipts.

Leslie

FInalist emails

Leslie — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:51:58 GMT

Please note: if you were a finalist and had your work posted as such, and you receive an email saying you were not a finalist, it means you were not chosen as a final winner. We apologize for the confusion.

Winner notification coming

Leslie — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:27:25 GMT

We are waiting for final approval of our legal documents to send our winners! Like last year, winners will be asked to keep their status a surprise until the issue is published, and must return a signed document saying they will keep the secret.

You will also receive a notice if you did not win.

Every entry is an achievement, and you should all be proud of your efforts. The creativity and craft impressed us greatly, and we thank every single entrant for making this an outstanding competition!

With gratitude and congratulations to all,

The entire Bead Star Staff

Receipts from ALL under $25 finalists needed!

Leslie — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:51:42 GMT

All Under $25 finalists must send receipts. If you submitted them already through the initial contest entry form you must resubmit. Under $25 finalists have two options to send receipts:

Email clear (clear, clear, clear!) jpeg scans of receipts with "contest receipts" in the subject line to: jdickerson@interweave.com

Snail mail a copy of all receipts with your name and title of piece to:

Interweave Bead Star, 300 Chesterfield Blvd, Ste 100, Malvern PA 19355

Thanks, Erin, for the notice that this info was hard to locate.

what are your favorites?

Erin — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:05:48 GMT

Ok, so now we are all sitting around anxiously waiting to find out who will win Bead Star this year. To pass the time and do a little speculating, I thought it would be fun to find out what entries were everyones favorites. No fair listing your own entry, though!

I love #8 in stones and #13 in hearts. The glass category is so hot I can't choose a favorite. I love about 5 of them equally.

Does anyone want to venture a guess for best in show this year?

Erin

NOTIFICATION OF ELIMINATION

S2 — Sat, 23 May 2009 01:06:13 GMT

I am a little disappointed that I was not notified that my entry was eliminated. I'm new to all of this and had no idea that the onus was on me to check results. I was under the impression that the entrants would be kept abreast of the ongoing results.

I felt I should have at the very least been notified of my elimination, since I put much effort into participating. I felt as some of the entrants, that my chances of winning were slight.

I just happened to be searching for some sort of update, and low and behold, I was surprised to find that my entry was eliminated. I don't mean to sound like a sore loser, I'm not, but I certainly would have appreciated a notification of elimination.

See all the 2009 finalists!

Leslie — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:21:30 GMT

There is now a link on the Bead Star page to allow you to simply view all the finalists. catgeory by category. http://www.beadingdaily.com/beadstar/

To view only, click the "See the 2009 Finalists" link.

To vote, you must click the "Vote Now!" button.

Good luck to all the finalists! You're all winners!

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

GO VOTE!! IT'S UP AND I VOTED

Sue B — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:42:31 GMT

I was up at 5:40 this morning and the contest was up for voting. So I did my duty and voted. I am waiting to hear if any of the gals or guys here at BD made the finals. I wasn't included in the finalest but then again I really didn't expect to be, hoping but not expecting.[:'(] Now that I seen the entries I think I should have entered mine in the under $25 not that it would have made a difference.

I think they have some really nice things included in the finalest this year. It wasn't easy picking just one in each category. Good job judges!

How to submit receipts for under $25

Leslie — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:50:36 GMT

Only finalists will be asked to sbmit receipts for the under $25 category. Hang on to your receipts until finalists are chosen. At that time, finalists will need to scan their receipts or send copies in via snail mail.

Leslie

editor in chief

Step by Step Beads, Bead Star and Creative Jewelry

BEAD STAR UPDATE!

Leslie — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:56:09 GMT

Wow, wow, wow! All the over 2000 entries to Bead Star were wonderful, and showed how passionatly creative a community we are. Beading Daily members, you have your work cut out for you to choose the winners from the finalists we determined to be the 20 most outstanding entries in each category: Stone, Metal, Pearls, Crystals, Seed Beads, Plastic, Glass, Hearts and Under $25.

Watch for the voting link to post on May 15th!

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

EARLY BIRD WINNER CHOSEN!

Leslie — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:02:58 GMT

Contratulations to...we'll reveal her name once she replies to our E-mail telling her she's a winner! Selected at random from over 1200 entries, this lucky winner will receive a $100 gift card and have a photo of her project shown in Bead Star. Way to go...Ms. Early Bird, and way to go everyone who is sending entries. It is going to be challenging to choose winners, I can just tell already.

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

Wrong sizes photos?

Leslie — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:51:42 GMT

Many people are fearful they did not size their images correctly. Since it's impossible for us to confirm each individual inquiry at this time from more than 1300 entries, please follow this advice:

If you believe you sent in a size that was WAY off our specifications, resubmit your entry BUT RENAME YOUR PIECES with the number 1 at the end. (Nameofpiece1) This way, we'll know that is the version you wish us to see. We see duplicates of text names clearly on our spreadsheet of entries, and we will only look at your new images.

Test your image by emailing it to yourself or to a friend. Does it open in a size that is manageable (bigger than a postage stamp but smaller than the entire page) and shows your work? Then it's good.

Remember. Your photo is what members will see to vote on should you be chosen as a finalist.

If you sent in an image but never got confirmation, your image was probably TOO LARGE. Resize it, rename it, send yourself a test email, and then resubmit.

Good luck!

Leslie

editor in chief

Size your photos

Leslie — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:45:31 GMT

How to size your photos--and what the heck is dpi?

To submit the correct size images to Bead Star--or any of our title--here are some digital image basics.

The short answer is--image sizing is something you do in your image software. Sizing options are in there someplace when you choose "save as". Image software includes Photoshop, ACDC, Preview, and so forth. Many cameras come with their specific type of image editing software.

The long answer:

When you save any image as a jpeg, you have options to save it in specific sizes, both in dpi (that's the resolution, stands for dots per inch) and in the space it takes up on your hard drive or disk (that's the amount of bytes, KB, MB and GB increments). When you click on "save" or "save as" in your software appplication find the menu options to edit your photo in your image application (Photoshop, for instance.) You should see places to edit or change the sizes of how you save the image. Choose 72 dpi and size your image at 640x480. (Don't worry about what that means for now, we just need that size.) See if this keeps your disk size at 500 KB or under. If you are larger than 500 KB, resize the actual print size, canvas size or image size of your photo until it is 500KB. You probably want to save the larger version for yourself with a different file name, for your own future use, call it "original" or something. Then, make sure to save the smaller file for Bead Star with the proper naming conventions as directed in the rules. Make sure you have selected the "jpeg" option. Then, remember where you save it, and when you submit your form, you can browse your computer to find that new, smaller image.

If anyone has clarification or better advice, please post!

Thanks!--Leslie, editor in chief

Question about materials...

SarahM — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:18:55 GMT

Can I not enter something if it's made of natural (seeds) beads? It's made up of seeds and sterling silver... should I just enter it under metals?

Thanks!

Enter Bead Star today!

Leslie — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:26:18 GMT

There’s still time to be the winner of Bead Star 2009!

Imagine your work being beautifully photographed by a professional and published in the next Bead Star, with national recognition by the bead community for your artistic achievement. Imagine your work on tour, displayed at Bead Fest Santa Fe, a source of inspiration for thousands of people. Win one of several fabulous prizes, worth hundreds of dollars! Plus, have the chance to donate your work at auction to raise money for the American Heart Association. But to win, you must enter by May 1^st, 2009.

Better still, enter by April 24^th and have a shot at our early bird prize drawing of $100!

Here’s what Valerie Aharoni, our 2008 Fire Mountain Gems Grand Prize winner had to say:

It’s so easy to apply. I just followed the clear guidelines. I had just placed an order with Fire Mountain Gems the day before I found out I won their Grand Prize! When they called I thought there must be a problem with my order. I was so surprised when I won—I had not told anyone I’d entered! My friends always liked my work, but I dismissed their admiration a little bit because they’re friends. Now I have so much confidence, I’ve started a blog, and opened several online shops.

It’s easy to enter before the May 1st deadline, just click here for rules and the simple online entry form.

On May 15^th editors will announce 20 finalists in each category, and post finalists on beadingdaily.com. Then voting goes live and you choose the winners! Vote online between May 15^th and May 30^th. Winners will be announced June 15^th.

Enter today—you could be a winner!

Bead Star heart category question

Nerissakbb — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:28:29 GMT

Hi Leslie

I was wondering if I could use metal heart components for my heart entry. The rules state;

Designs created with a heart bead, heart beads, or beads made into a heart motif. The heart(s) must be the focal element(s) of the design.

Does this mean we can only use beads for the heart components? I am also using chain & glass beads in the necklace.

Thanks

Bead Star last chance to win $100 early entry prize!

Leslie — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:30:56 GMT

HURRY!! Friday April 24th (midnight) is the deadline to have a chance to win our $100 prize for early entries to the Bead Star contest! Just think how many beads, yards of wire, tools, clasps, books or subscriptions to your favorite magazines you could buy with $100!
Enter today!

Can't wait to see your work!

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

Why no macramé?

beadbrains — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:19:10 GMT

I would really like to submit some projects to your contest and some of them are macramé. I just wrote a book on it and have some simple, lovely projects that would be awesome for your competition. For example, one uses seed beads, lampwork and soft flex and crimping. The only knot used is a square knot. Is there a prejudice against macramé? Thanks for your time.

Cathi

Finished Jewelry required

Leslie — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:37:40 GMT

Hello Bead Star hopefuls! I have been so tempted to take a peek at all the entries coming in, but have resisted...with a few exceptions to answer inquiries. On one review I noticed some individual beads. They are fabulous...but we need finished, complete designs!

Turn those beads into focals in necklaces, bracelets, earrings or rings and resubmit, quick!

Good luck!

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