The Best of KGI Worldwide Design Contest 2010
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Kristal Wick - Kristal Wick Creations1st Place Winner
Denver, CO
Tribal Odyssey - I have no idea how long it took to create this piece, many episodes of Desperate Housewives… It was a dark gloomy time in my life - very somber and introspective. I wanted to create something that reflected my inner soul's journey. I find it healing to work through inner struggles through my art; thus Tribal Odyssey was born and features dozens of my signature hand painted silk beads.
Tatiana Van Iten2nd Place Winner
Hanover, IN
Princess Sofia - I learned beading from my grandmother in 1959 (at the age of six), and have been pursuing this art ever since then. Because I have been beading for such a long time, I know lots of tips and secrets that allow me to work quickly and without mistakes. I believe it would be shameful to keep all this knowledge to myself, and so I teach beading classes at bead festivals and publish instructions in beading magazines.
I make most of my necklaces free-hand, with no pattern, and each of them is unique. Also, I try to invent a new technique for each necklace that I make for a contest. I use a variety of materials including freshwater pearls, gemstones, lamp work glass beads, wood and leather, and fossil specimens collected with my husband. Lately, however, I have been using more and more CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements because they give my necklaces a sparkling brilliance and life that I just don't get with other materials.
The necklace Princess Sofia which I submitted for this year's KGI Contest was inspired by a beautiful girl named Sofia Mikulasek, whom I met before she was born. The color I chose for the necklace reminds me of the roses blooming everywhere in Sophia, Bulgaria.
The barrette with a big butterfly you can attach to a scarf or wear separately.
Caito Amorose - Moonwater Designs3rd Place Winner
Pittsburgh, PA
Crystal Bridal Flower - When developing a new design, I like to think outside the box. This is especially true of my bridal accessories. Passionate about nature and exotic cultures, I believe that love transcends all boundaries. My inspirations have emerged anywhere from the Pacific Northwest's rugged surf to the afterglow of a sunset in the middle of the Sahara desert.
When I hold CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements, my hands tremble with a creative excitement as they are eager to unite the various shapes to fashon a totally new and unique design. I marvel as the dancing light of the crystal plays with color and reflects across the room and into my imagination. Closing my eyes to their luminous winks, I hear whispers of inspiration and my mind's eye immediately envisions an endless array of nuptial ornament. CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements rouse the romantic in me like nothing else out there!
Andrew Thornton 4th Place Winner
Bolivar, PA
Crystal Caterpillar Bracelet - On a recent search for fairies with my niece, we came across a fuzzy white caterpillar. What a magical find! We were careful not to touch it, as we weren't sure if it was of the stinging variety, but marveled at this fuzzy little creature inching along. I decided to translate this woodland wonder into a piece of jewelry. I think the opalescent crystals capture a certain quality of light that translates well as tiny movement. The crystal moonlight reflects that and enhances the bracelet. There are over 400 wire-wrapped 4mm CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski bicones with handmade headpins.
Erica Bapst - Adorn Jewelry and Accessories 5th Place Winner
Canandaigua, NY
Moon Shadow - As a designer I have always loved exploring the juxtaposition of subtle detail, and bold composition. In this sculptural necklace I have combined both elements with large Crystallized Swarovski pearls, over 1400 tiny Crystallized Swarovski hot-fix flat backs all meeting together with shimmering Crystallized Swarovski round beads. Utilizing the art of random placement I have graduated not only the density of the hot-fix flat backs, but color and size shifts as well. The hot-fix flat backs begin to merely drop into the background as you walk around this necklace, taking it in as a full 360 degree sculptural form, creating a mystical glitter that almost appears to emit directly out of the pearls. The colors gently shifts from dark brown to brown in the pearls and from silver shade to golden shadow in the crystals, creating an added depth and mystery to the twisted chain-pattern drop in the back.
Kat WestHonorable Mention
Pompeii Sunset - The name of this piece was inspired by the "Volcano" Swarovski crystal centers. I have been coveting a Moghul diamond necklace that was selling for thousands, and thought, "I can do this in beads, and make it in Technicolor". Large #3265 crystals are alternated with vintage rivolis. The accents are 2mm rounds, and sequins in 3mm and 4 mm. Seed beads in 11 and 14 help join the crystals. I employed bead embroidery and flat and tubular peyote stitches. Rivolis were captured without gluing. The cherry on the sundae is the invisible clasp.
Francine Girimonte - Les Bijoux LLCHonorable Mention
Happy Teardrops - Beautiful CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements in Large Jet AB Round Beads and Twist Beads in Chili Pepper, black and crystal ab Briolette Beads, crystal ab Ball Pendant Beads, lovely Sterling Silver spacer beads and end caps and the focal bead is a very large Venetian Glass Bead in shades of amber, black, white and chocolate complimented by large brushed Thai Sterling Silver Briolette Beads. Large sterling silver lobster clasp finishes the piece.
My name is Francine Girimonte and I raise money for cancer research by designing one of a kind, unique pieces of jewelry using the finest Bali and Thai Sterling Silver, CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements, Venetian Glass, Designer Lampwork and Dichoric Beads and cultured Pearls. 15% of my profits is donated to help find a cure for Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma. This is my passion and I love what I do and why I do it!
Elisabetta Cavagnino Honorable Mention
Brilliant Saxophone - Elisabetta is an Italian girl born with a deep love for arts and creations in her blood. She had created things out of paper since she was a child. In the year 2000, she started her discovery of decoupage, wax works, cartonage, sculpture and in 2005 she started to create jewelry. She began with the simplest of all techniques (stringing) and continued to learn more difficult techniques such as wiring and soon became extremely fond of it. Ideas came to her at any moment. Deep urge makes her create and transform her ideas into works of art. She is a professional graphic designer and in both her job and her passion - jewelry making - she can express herself.
Beatrice Childress Honorable Mention
Aquaria - I am a self-taught beader. I love putting what I call "order in my word" with my beadwork. Aquaria came about because my good friend challenged me to design a piece and enter this contest. Aquaria is very light and easy to wear. I think it is a suitable design for anyone from a bride to a girl attending the prom. I let Crystallized Swarovski Elements (in 4 sizes) take me on a journey. The rest of the necklace is done with Japanese 15/0 seed beads and delicas in a palladium finish using fireline.