Contest! Why?
I can't speak for other beadmakers, but I sport a certain amount of vanity. In particular, I really enjoy seeing what jewelery designers create using the beads I've made. So, motivated partly from a desire for eye candy and partly from a need for a designer gallery on my website, I'm sponsoring a jewelry design contest:

When?
from June 21^st through July, 31^st, 2011. Saturday, July 30th will be the last day to drop your contest entry off at Knits & Pearls. Store hours are M-Th 10am - 7pm, F & Sa 10a - 5p.

Who?
You, silly. Also, anyone else who likes making jewelry with lampwork beads.

What?
You make an original jewelry design using the $5 contest grab bags I've put together (on sale at Knits & Pearls through the duration of the contest) and other materials from your stash. I didn't want to make it too easy, and I wanted to make the contest beads really affordable, so I'm making you turn my bead seconds - the ones that made me a little sad when I took them out of the kiln, but structurally perfect in every other way - into works of beauty ... or at least works of interest.

The jewelry will remain your property in both the physical and intellectual sense.

How?
You can enter your piece in person or by submitting a high quality digital photo to my Facebook page, but Julie prefers to see your piece in person. If you submit a photo to Julie's AutEvDesigns Facebook page on the last contest day, Sunday, July 31^st, you can drop the actual piece off at the store on Monday, August 1^st.

Where?
All projects submitted for consideration will be posted in the Designer Gallery that I will create.

Tell Me About The PRIZES!
I will be awarding Gift certificates for my Etsy store to the first, second, and third place entries. The value of each certificate will be $30 (1^st place), $20 (2^nd place), and $10 (3^rd place).

The criteria which I'll use to judge the entries are:

Criteria	Weight
Prominence of lampwork beads	30%
Creative use of materials	20%
Balance of simplicity and interest	20%
Refinement of technique	20%
Finishing	10%

Click here for a more detailed contest rubric. If you want to see the rubric in a slightly different format, check it out on my blog. If you have any questions, please e-mail Julie.

Wondering Where To Start?
If you need some help developing new techniques or refining the techniques you already have, consider taking a class from me at Knits & Pearls in Arden Hills. See the class schedule for more details.

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Good Luck! Please e-mail me if you have any questions.
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