Beadwork Magazine Challenge 2003

~ Bead An Element ~

Beadwork Magazine Challenge 2003

Every issue of Beadwork Magazine includes a challenge by Bead Boy, Dustin Wedekind. I decided to try the challenge for the Dec 03/Jan 04 issue, entitled "Bead an Element". One of my entries, Sea Dreams bracelet, was chosen for publication and Bead Boy sent me a certificate declaring me a "Master Beader"! I was somewhat disappointed at the layout - it looked like they were trying to scale my bracelet to match a necklace from another beader, who also was featured on the page, so my bracelet was almost too small to see. So I am including a scan here so you can see the whole thing! I'm also including the text (which Beadwork didn't publish) and my other three entries (which they didn't select).

Bead An Element: Water

Sea Dreams by Karleen Page.

This is a free form sculptural peyote piece. I began with a peyote curl and just started doodling. I got some inspiration from the latest BeadWork article about pleating and gathering beaded fabric and also spotted a button closure like the one I used.

This is a side view showing the wave-like centerpiece. The design is composed entirely of glass seed beads with a vintage molded button closure.

Bead An Element: Air

Summer Sky by Karleen Page.

I call this style "symmetrical free form" because the pattern of the feature beads is regular, but the peyote stitch pattern around them is free form. It reminds me of white fluffy clouds in an azure sky. The feature bead is a "Tornado" bead by Juanita Floyd, which is a whimsical reminder of the variableness of weather. The design is mostly composed of glass seed beads and glass ovals, with blue pearls.

Bead An Element: Earth

Earthy Vines by Karleen Page

A combo of Labradorite Teardrops, Smoky Quartz glass Bicones and Bronze Iris Charlottes to celebrate being grounded by beads!

Bead An Element: Fire

	Happy Day is a whimsical creation featuring my husband's polymer clay beads. His name is Jim Page and he calls himself GemClay Creations.
		Happy Day Detail. Hubby didn't use any kind of forms or molds to make this pendant, he sculpted it by hand from polymer clay.

WOW: I guess you can say I "rose to the challenge" Bead an Element: Water, Earth, Wind and Fire: the four elements!

I enjoyed this challenge and would do it again as soon as inspiration hits! I'm thrilled that one of my pieces was chosen and published as well.