SmittenBeadsBlog: March 2013

I thought I would take a little time out today from getting ready for the BIG BEAD SHOW at Sandown Racecourse (yes I am working over the Easter weekend) to tell you about our fantastic earring competition that took place last weekend over in the Beads Smitten Group on Facebook.

The brief was fairly simple - Make a pair of earrings and if they happen to have some Smitten beads in there then extra brownie points will be awarded. The earrings were judged on a) Buy-ability: would I buy them. b) Wear-ability: how practical are they. c) The wow factor: speaks for itself really. d) Finishing: how well the piece has been made. e) (last but not least) Design: the overall look of the piece.

I was absolutely gobsmacked at how good all the entries were and the task of judging was truly testing! We had 28 superb entries but the wining earrings had just that little something extra that made them stand out. We have 80 members in the group now and I have to say it's so friendly, helpful and creative I could never have imagined it would take off so well. I am so happy to be a part of it, the next competition will be rings!

Here is the winning design by by Manda Jane Rodwell of Silver Storm Jewellery - created in copper and featuring one of my favourite Smitten beads the ruby vega pinwheel flower.... Manda sold these before the competition was even over but luckily she has promised to make me another pair :0) I'm sending Manda a little parcel of Smitten loveliness as her prize.