This is going to be a LONG post, so settle in with a cup of something delicious (and some pie, maybe?) and get ready for some serious eye candy! (Click on each photo for larger views.)
First, I'd like to again thank my panel of judges (read more about them here). They had a truly huge job to do! Today, I spent several hours pulling all the badges together and coordinating the emails, photos, and blogs, and while it is indeed a time-consuming task, it was a beautiful one and well worth it.
As with a lot of good things, I started with a plan and it just grew. I started with these categories for the judges to vote on:
:: Grand Prize ::
:: Judge's Choice ::
(favorite of each judge)
(favorite of each judge)
:: Best Use of Seed Beads:
:: Best Wire Work ::
:: Best Use of Fiber ::
:: Best Use of Color ::
and then some that Zack and I would pick ...
:: The Out of the Box Award ::
(most creative use of bead soup)
:: Zack's Choice ::
(my son Zack picks his favorite)
:: Out of the Hat Winner ::
(I draw a name out of a hat)
I ended up with one Grand Prize that was pulled out of a hat from all those chosen by the judges, and a Best Use of Seed Beads/Wire Work/Use of Fiber/Use of Color for EACH judge. I then added a "Lori's Hat" category where I picked my personal favorites and then drew a name from THAT hat (as opposed to the "Out of the Hat" which is one winner from ALL the entries).
And then I couldn't stop and had some Runners Up. I had to stop then or I would have an epic pile of mail to get out the door! You can click here to see what some of the prizes will be, and since there are (are you ready for this?) ....
.....well, I'm going to beg each winner to post what they get on their own blog and in the Bead Soup Cafe to save me some time! But here's a big pile of goodies, and it's JUST the beginning.
I hate it when you have to wait and wait to see who wins the Grand Prize, so I'm going to go ahead and list that person first!
by
Kris Lanae Binsfield
As you can see, Kris won several awards and this earns her bragging rights as the GRAND PRIZE WINNER of the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party® contest. Congratulations, Kris!
I hope you'll agree this was well worth the wait! Preparing and writing this blog post took a ton of time, but you guys put in a lot of your creative time as well as your heart and soul into your work, and I hope you'll join me again next year for the 8th Bead Soup Blog Party®!
Beaducation, Kris Lanae Binsfield of Cherish Designs
(see above, Grand Prize winner)
Fusion Beads, Emma Todd of A Polymer Penchant
Kalmbach Publishing,
(voted for entire body of work)
Lima Beads, Tania Spivey of Moobie Grace
(voted for entire body of work)
Nina Designs had a tie!
Nina Designs, Silvia Serricola at Pipa the Latest
Nina Designs, Malin de Koning at Beading by Malin de Koning
PJ Tool Jewelry & Craft, Melissa Mesara at one-eared pig beads
Both Beaducation AND Kalmbach Publishing chose
Both Fusion Beads and Nina Designs chose
(that's three wins with two pieces for Debbie -- way to go!)
Lima Beads, K. Hutchison of Jumbled Hutch
PJ Tool Jewelry & Craft, Lily Krist of Handmade by LilK
Beaducation, Eva Sherman of Eva Sherman Designs
Fusion Beads and Lima Beads chose
(see above, Grand Prize winner)
Nina Designs, Kristina Hahn Eleniah of Peacock & Lime
PJ Tool Jewelry & Craft,
Beaducation and Lima Beads chose
(a Facebook entrant!)
Fusion Beads, Stefanie Teufel of Stefanie's Sammelsurium
Kalmbach Publishing,
Nina Designs, Agi Kiss of MoonSafari Beads
PJ Tool Jewelry & Craft, Heidi Kingman of Heidi Kingman Jewelry
Beaducation, Tari Kahrs of Pearl & Pebble
Fusion Beads, Agi Kiss of MoonSafari Beads
Kalmbach Publishing, Christina Miles of Wings N Scales
(voted for entire body of work)
Lima Beads, Keren Panthaki of Vas Dea
Nina Designs, Megan Milliken of MaeMaeMills
PJ Tool Jewelry & Craft, Dana Hickey of Wind Dancer Studios
Dish made by Adlinah Kamsir of DreamStruck Designs
Chosen by Zack as his absolute favorite,
Pulled out of a hat of alllllll the entrants,
(a Facebook entrant!)
I took all my absolute favorites
(and that was TOUGH to narrow down)
and then drew one out of a hat.
And last but not least,
WOW.
PLEASE take a moment to thank our sponsors -- Beaducation, Kalmbach Publishing, Fusion Beads, Nina Designs, Lima Beads, and PJ Tool Jewelry & Craft for their time and contributions. This would not be NEARLY as much fun without their hard work and enthusiasm.
Winners, I'll be pinning your photos for you in the contest board, and emailing you over the next couple of days with badges and information about how to claim your prizes! I'm doing the majority of the mailing, so bear with me!!!
(powered by pie)
Lori Anderson creates jewelry and bead kits as well as collaborative mixed media art with her son, Zack. Visit her shops by clicking here. She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party® and author of the book Bead Soup.
