Beadaholic “New Zealand National Creative Jewellery Making & Beading Designer Awards 2009”.
For the second year running, Beadaholic has given talented New Zealander's a chance to show case & promote their artwork, skills and designs. This provides an important platform to bring the national beading community together to recognise & reward excellence in our Art form.
We have had a tough task with many amazing designs spread across a huge variety of skills and disciplines, making the task of choosing winners very difficult. All judging is done blind so we don't know who has created the pieces & the choices are not influenced. So the winners are.....
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1st place Prize for Overall Excellence in Open Category
$500 Gift certificate from Beadaholic NZ
"Dragonfly Ring"
Artist: Debbie Edmonds (weebleworks)
Dragonfly ring is made with Art Clay Silver & sculpted by hand.
We loved the concept, originality and skill displayed in this piece- it is truly breathtaking in real life- well done Debbie! |
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2nd place prize for Overall Excellence in the Open Category
$200 Gift Certificate from Beadaholic NZ
"Ashes in our Mouths"
Artist: Karen Irwin (Paradise Glass)
"Jewellery as a social commentary. Handmade fused glass cross & Dog tag with razor blade inclusion & handmade lampwork bullets. Swarovski crystals representing fire in night sky, gunmetal chain with rubber cord woven through representing barbed wire fencing"
Whilst using the art form as a social commentary Karen has also succeeded in making a stunning piece of jewellery original in its conception and would be at home in any high quality gallery. |
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3rd place prize for Overall Excellence in the Open Category
$100 Gift Certificate from Beadaholic NZ
"Beaded Scarf"
Artist: Hannah Topless (CHI-RHO)
"Inspired in a dentists waiting room by a fellow patients beautiful scarf, Hannah has translated the idea of a scarf into a beaded wearable necklace"
Using a huge array of beads and weaving/beading techniques, Hannah has pulled off this complex idea fantastically, creating a fun and functional piece of wearable art. |
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Creative Merit Prize
$50 Gift Certificate from Beadaholic NZ
"Hotchpotch Minx"
Artist: Jen Meiklejohn (Jenzdesigns)
"Using a combination of techniques with Black silk satin cord fashioned into a Chinese prosperity knot, button knots & sliding buttons knots. Netted acrylic beads and a flower pendant & a button beaded together to become a reversible pendant"
We loved the different ideas and use of the different materials in this piece that worked well to create a fun and fashionable piece that would be sure to attract comments for the wearer. |
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Technical Merit Prize
$50 Gift Certificate from Beadaholic NZ
"Seaweed and Sea Shells"
Artist: Lois Cowan (Cowan Designs)
Using a mix of seed beads, shells, pearls, semi-precious chip beads and buttons, Lois has created a fun piece creating a instant recognition of underwater theme. The work and time taken with all the stitching has paid off with a very well made and presented necklace. |
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Wire Work Merit Prize
$50 Gift Certificate from Beadaholic NZ
"Ethereal"
Artist: Jen Meiklejohn (Jenzdesigns)
"20ga Silver Artistic wire hand formed into a flower design with 28ga crocheted leaves. Approx 100 jumprings made into a type of chainmaille chain. The clasp is also hand formed using 20ga silver wire"
This is a super cute example of what can be made with wire. Wire is often a heavy looking material to use but Jen has managed to make her design feel light and delicate. Well done ! |
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Handmade Glass Merit Prize
$50 Gift Certificate from Beadaholic NZ
"NZ Theme Dichroic Pendant"
Artist: Debbie Homan
"Dichroic glass pendant was made using COE90 glass kiln fused to create this unique art piece. The multi coloured dichroic, black-based piece has a silver topper clear kowhaiwhai and then a final clear topping. The kowhaiwhai design is exclusively Debbie's and we love the fluidity subtlety placed over the vertical lines.
The Care and skill taken in creating this piece would make any kiwi of NZ-fond person proud to wear this pendant. |
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Polymer Clay Merit Prize
$50 Gift Certificate from Beadaholic NZ
"Neptunes Cuff"
Artist: Sian Coxon (Miss Scarlet)
"Sian has recently started working with polymer clay & has been experimenting with incorporating clay beads and other media. The disks are all handmade by Sian with Studio sculpey from a lace cane"
we love the combination of colours and seed beads with polyclay! |
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Mixed Media Merit Prize
$50 Gift Certificate from Beadaholic NZ
Artist: Karen Irwin (Paradise Glass)
Steampunk Necklace using recycled earring, swiss watch movement, watch parts and belt buckle with handmade glass droplets, brass chain, clasp & key charms.
This is such a funky piece of jewellery- super modern and eyecatching |
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Glass Bead- Handmade Merit Prize
$50 Gift Certificate from Beadaholic NZ
"Adoration of the Magi"
Artist: Helen Moore (Mooreglass)
Helen handmade this glass bead with inspiration from the decadence and rich colours often seen in Renaissance frescoes in Italy.
We adore this bead- the depth and gorgeous rich colours really made it stand out. |
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Non-Jewellery Beadwork Merit Prize
$50 Gift Certificate from Beadaholic NZ
"Reef Totem"
Artist: Lj Harvey
Inspired by her trip to the great barrier Reef, Lisa-Jane sought to capture the memories in a desktop aquarium. The beads and fused glass base are 100% made by Lisa-Jane and give credit to her extensive skills as a glass artist. |
