Enter the Bead Arts Awards and See Award-Winning Beading Inspiration

Our 2022 Bead Arts Awards Competition is open for entry! Artists of all levels are welcome to enter the competition. Show off your best beadwork and your favorite techniques, from showstoppers to art pieces to just downright clever designs. Prize winners will be selected in each category: seed beads, multi-hole beads, and crystals, with cash prizes! Plus, award-winning beadwork and artists will be highlighted online and at Bead Fest 2022.

Award-Winning Beadwork

To inspire you to create your best work for the competition, feast your eyes on three award-winning beading designs that offer beautiful artistry, originality, visual appeal, and impact. These qualities make each work of art an outstanding example of beading, even though each of them is very different. We’d love to see your bead arts! Find advice for entering beading contests in 5 Tips for Winning Bead & Jewelry Making Competitions.

Edgar Lopez Designs, Caona, necklace, 43.5 x 16.5, Miyuki round seed beads and Delicas, 6mm round Swarovski, 4mm Swarovski bicones, Swarovski fancy round, oval, and drops, cubic right-angle weave, peyote stitch, right, angle weave, square stitch, netting variation. Caona means gold flower in the Taino language; design inspired by a native princess from the Caribbean. Photo: Edgar Nuñez

Young Widow, self-portrait, 64-1/2” x 31-1/2”, beads, found objects, thread, canvas, velvet ribbon, bead embroidery. “Before my husband died, he made me promise to keep making art. This is the first piece I didn’t get to show him. At sundown, I still listen for his work boots.” Photo: Aldo Rominger

Dragon of Mordiford, set, 6″ x 3″ dragon and wings; 6″x 10″ with chain, copper, fine silver, brass, gold-filled and Argentium Sterling wire, silver, and copper beads, labradorite, rainbow moonstone, Swarovski crystal, wire weaving, coiling, chain making. Head attached to wings with latch system and can be worn separately; earrings and tail on extension chain. Photo: Debbie Benninger

Show Off Your Skills

In 2022, the winning Bead Arts Awards entries will be featured online and during Bead Fest in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Cash prizes will be awarded in these categories:
• Seed Beads sponsored by Fire Mountain Gems and Beads
• Multi-Hole Beads sponsored by Barrel of Beads
• Crystals sponsored by Dreamtime Creations

We can’t wait to see what you make!

Originally published 4/8/2022.

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