On May 31, 2021, 47 entries for our first MOB Challenge: Wings & Stings were chosen by our panel of judges to move to the final round of judging that will determine the winners of the following prizes:

There will also be a People’s Choice Award. This award will be decided after the opening of the exhibition as it will be chosen by votes during the Grand Opening Gala and museum attendees. The prize is a $150 Caravan Beads Gift Certificate.

All 47 entries will be exhibited at the Museum of Beadwork for our grand opening exhibition in 2022.

Click the link here to see the complete list of names of artists and a gallery of all 47 entries. Please keep in mind it's up to our judges to determine the winners of prizes in August (and the People's Choice award later), so these are just some of the Directors' selections that we wanted to give you a closer look at!

It was so hard to choose from the incredible array of our favorites, but here are some of them!

These images are property of the Museum of Beadwork. Please do not use without permission and image credit.

"The Gathering" by Carolyn Schaal

"In the garden, 'The Gathering' begins and ends with insects. A
combination of beading techniques were used for this piece, peyote, brick stitch, herringbone bead embroidery, and Saint Petersburg."

"Beetle Juice Jar" by Heidi Kummli

"While teaching a class on beaded objects, I came across this lovely metal jar. I thought it would be great for this challenge. I had some hand carved and painted bone beetles, just waiting to be used. Bead embroidery techniques were used in the design. I also made a metal beetle to add for fun."

"Polyphemus Moth Collar" by Karina Summer-Smith

"This wide collar features a representation of the Polyphemus moth on a background of leaves and branches. Included are six resin cabochons: four specially cast cabochons to create the distinctive 'eyes' on the moth's wings, and two multi-chrome cabochons as a focal point and on the clasp that shift between umber, gold, and green."

"Firefly Queen" by Melanie Chouinard

"The Queen of the Fireflies lights up the night with shimmering beads and a glowing green light. This Firefly Queen was made using a variety of Miyuki seed beads, drops, and bugles in an array of techniques : bead embroidery, flat and tubular peyote stitch, netting, brick stitch, flat and cubic right angle weave, tubular and flat herringbone, and freeform. The beads are supported by a metal armature and a bulb containing lights. The base hides a battery pack inside that can be turned on with the flick of a switch to light up her abdomen."

"OGG: Old Green Grasshopper" by Melanie Christie

"This vintage Marx “Happy Hopper” ride-on toy has been transformed with
thousands and thousands of Miyuki seed beads, bugle beads, and tila
beads. He is further embellished with vintage rhinestones, Czech glass
buttons, Swarovski crystals, rhinestone chain, and vintage reflectors."

Stay tuned and visit our Exhibitions page for the full gallery of the submissions, and keep an eye out for the announcement of the prize winners in August! Thank you to everyone who submitted entries for this contest, we were stunned by the creativity, thoughtfulness, and uniqueness of each entry.

- Museum of Beadwork, 6/1/2021.

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