Subscribe Today!
800-448-0865

Give Step by Step Beads as a gift!

Step by Step Beads is published bi-monthly by Interweave Press.

Our other publications

New Books from Interweave Press

Bead Romantique
by Lisa Kan

Designing Jewelry with Glass Beads
by Stephanie Sersich

Simply Modern Jewelry
by Danielle Fox

Open to any bead artist. Entries must be submitted by the designer/maker, or in cases of collaborative work, the principal designer/maker.

Deadline for entries: May 1, 2009

Announcement of Winners:
Winners will be announced in Step by Step Beads and showcased on the web.

Enter the Bead Arts Awards - Fill in the online form here:
http://www.stepbystepbeads.com/contest/beadartsentry.cfm

See our 2008 Bead Arts Awards Winners

DIVISION 1: Bead: loose, single beads or bead sets (pairs and suites)
Subdivisions
• 1a) CLAYS (including other moldable products)
• 1b) GLASS
• 1c) OTHER & MIXED MEDIA BEAD (beads containing at least 50% clay or glass may be entered as clay or glass.)

DIVISION 2: Bead Jewelry
Subdivisions
• 2a) BRACELET
• 2b) EARRINGS
• 2c) NECKLACE (simply strung pendant beads should be left loose and entered in Division 1 as Beads)
• 2d) OTHER

DIVISION 3: Beaded Object, functional other than jewelry or nonfunctional

DESIGNS: Designs must be original and executed.
MEDIA: Any medium or combination of media is acceptable.

JUDGING
Judging will be by an independent, outside panel of judges whose decisions will be tallied by Step by Step Beads and Step by Step Wire Jewelry editorial staff are final. Any ties in tallying will be decided by Step by Step Beads and and Step by Step Wire Jewelry editorial staff and are final. A first and second place winner will be awarded in each division. There will also be a Best of Competition award. Winners will be notified individually by mail or e-mail.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Excellence in Design; Visual Appeal and Impact; Originality; Execution.
Judging will be by an independent, outside panel of judges whose decisions will be tallied by Step by Step Beads and are final. Any ties in tallying will be decided by Step by Step Beads and are final. A first and second place winner will be awarded in each division. There will also be a Best of Competition award. Winners will be notified individually by mail or e-mail.

Entries: One bead, piece of bead jewelry, beaded object, or set per entry only. Each entry must be submitted in the form of slides or digital images as detailed below. Transparencies other than slides and images scanned onto acetate sheets are not acceptable. You may submit as many entries as you wish, but each entry must be accompanied by its own entry form and fee of $25.

To enter:
Fill out the online entry form - http://www.stepbystepbeads.com/contest/beadartsentry.cfm
Do not print out a blank form and fill in the information by hand. Entry forms must be filled out online. Handwritten entry forms will not be accepted.

Then:
1. Print a paper copy of your completed online entry and enclose it with a print of the submitted image (from the same negative or digital file) showing the finished bead, bead jewelry, or beaded object.

2. A slide or photographic print should show your entry in its entirety on a simple background. You may include an optional second image showing a close-up but no more than two images per entry will be judged. Please label slides and prints with the bead division number and subdivision number, and an arrow pointing up to indicate viewing direction, your name, and photo credits.

3. Entry fee
A $25 entry fee paid by check, or complete credit card payment information should be enclosed for each entry. If you paid online when submitting, please include that information as well.
Multiple entries may be submitted together in one mailer but each entry should be contained within its own interior envelope, and on separate CDs if digital. Please do not staple slides to entry forms. Multiple fees may be paid with a single check, but please do not include any other fees such as subscription renewals in that check. Make checks payable to Step by Step Beads.
All entry materials (both online and mailed entry forms and enclosures) must be received by May 1, 2009 (a postmark will not suffice). For confirmation of receipt of your entry, please send it via registered mail or a carrier that will confirm receipt; Step by Step Beads will not. Please keep copies of all entry forms, slides and CDs as they will not be returned.

4. Image guidelines

Please choose one of the following options (slides OR digital images):

SLIDES
A slide or photographic print should show your entry in its entirety on a simple background. You may include an optional second image showing a close-up but no more than two images per entry will be judged. Please label your slides with your name and an arrow pointing up to indicate viewing direction.

DIGITAL IMAGES
Enclose a clearly labeled Mac/PC formatted CD showing your entry in its entirety on a simple background. You may include an optional second image showing a close-up but no more than two images per entry will be judged. The image must be a high resolution 300 DPI tiff or jpeg format file; a flattened image; and 6 to 8 inches on the longest side. If you are submitting more than one entry, please put each image on a separate CD.

Transparencies other than slides and images scanned onto acetate sheets are not acceptable.

5. Mail entries to:

Step by Step Beads
Bead Arts Awards
300 Chesterfield Parkway, Suite 100
Malvern, PA 19355

WINNERS
The Best of Competition will be awarded to the entry deemed best overall, and First and Second Place winners will be named in each division. Winners will be notified individually by mail or e-mail. Winners will also be published in the January/February 2009 issue of Step by Step Beads.

Because we may request winning pieces for new photography, keeping entry pieces available where possible would be appreciated, although it is not required.

Slides or digital media only! Do not send actual beads, jewelry, stones, or objects. Submissions without an accompanying online entry will not be accepted.

Questions or concerns? Contact Kristen Gibson at (610) 232-5715 or e-mail kgibson@interweave.com.

Disclaimer: Submitting an entry constitutes granting Interweave and Step by Step Beads the right to reproduce the image in print and online in announcing winners, creating award posters, in promoting the Bead Arts Awards, and for other editorial and promotional purposes. All entrants agree not to hold Step by Step Beads responsible for the protection of original designs once published.

Enter the Bead Arts Awards here:
http://www.stepbystepbeads.com/contest/beadartsentry.cfm