Sunday, October 31, 2010

Winner, British Bead Awards 2010


I am so very pleased to announce that my piece, "Geology", has won First Place in the "Other Finished Bead Jewellery" category of the 2010 British Bead Awards. This piece is a personal favorite of mine, so I couldn't be happier.

I'm also quite happy, as this is actually a piece that failed to place in a different contest earlier this year (followers of my blog may recognize it).

In the past couple years, there has been a lot of interesting writing in the blogosphere about jewelry design contests and what it means for artists to put themselves out there to enter contests - and how it feels if their pieces do not make the cut. Most of this dialogue has been in connection with the Bead Dreams competition (in fact, if you are not already familiar with it, I highly recommend you visit "Didn't Make it into Bead Dreams - But Still Winners!" on Facebook which contains photos from interested contributors of the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous designs I have ever seen), but I think what these artists have to say ring true for any contest or submission process.

I don't think there could possibly be a person out there who doesn't feel at least a little depressed to receive a notice of rejection, whether it be for a magazine project, book proposal, contest or what have you. An artist always has an investment in what she creates and a sense of pride (or at least she should!) - it's hard not to take it personally when someone tells you that the piece doesn't fit or isn't exactly what they're looking for. I think it's so important in these instances to remember that judging any design is subjective and that not all judges will agree on what makes a piece outstanding or even use the same criteria for what makes a piece suitable for a particular category of design.

I've done pretty well by the contests I entered in 2010, but, believe me, I've had my fair share of rejections, too, including the one for which "Geology" was originally entered. However, as I said, I really like this piece - I had and continue to have a positive feeling about it. So, when I had the opportunity to enter it in the British Bead Awards, I moved forward. And I think the award is much more meaningful to me, as a result of this history.



As if that weren't enough, I have also earned Second Place in the "Metal Clay Jewellery" category of the 2010 British Bead Awards for "Words of Love". I created this piece specifically to enter the British Bead Awards. As I mentioned earlier, the design was pretty experimental for me - one of those concepts I wasn't sure anyone but me would actually like, so I'm quite excited to have placed with this design as well.

Thank you so much to Bead Magazine and to the judges of the British Bead Awards. I'm so grateful to have been a part of the Awards this year, and - my favorite part - I can't wait to see the other finalists' designs when they're published later this winter!

16 comments:

diane hawkey said...

Thats awesome. I am happy to see you get the recognition you deserve.

TesoriTrovati said...

Congratulations Melissa! Quite an honor indeed.

It is really hard to put yourself out there and enter contests and challenges and such. I look at it as a personal triumph just to enter. I don't do it to win or even place. It that happens it a happy accident. But that doesn't stop me from loving my pieces even if the judges or editors don't.

Thank you for sharing your triumph from a disappointment.

Enjoy the day!
Erin

Melissa J. Lee said...

A thousand thank yous for your comments. I can't believe you're still checking in on the blog. Due to circumstances, I haven't made a single piece of jewelry or touched any metal clay since the end of August. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your company and kind words!

Melissa J. Lee said...

A thousand thank yous for your comments. I can't believe you're still checking in on the blog. Due to circumstances, I haven't made a single piece of jewelry or touched any metal clay since the end of August. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your company and kind words!

stregata said...

Congratulations - and so very deserved. Your designs are absolutely outstanding!

The Little Bead Shop said...

Woo hoo!!! Congratulations again :) xx

Regina said...

Congratulations, your designs are so exceptional and unique!

mairedodd said...

your work is unique and beautiful, i am so thrilled for you to have won these honors... and you are right about how rejection feels - our work is personal, so it feels like a rejection of ourselves... thank you for your insight on that...

Erin S said...

You totally deserve to win, Melissa. Your work is consistently fabulous. As for the other contest where you didn't place, we all know that specific contest is decided by the votes of the general masses, and they tend to lean much more toward traditional designs. I love that you are hard core contemporary!
Erin S

Michelle Mach said...

Congratulations! It is hard to keep putting yourself out there. I hope readers of your blog will see that perseverance is just as important as talent.

Melissa J. Lee said...

Thank you all so much! Michelle - yes, that's exactly what I was trying to get at. It's so hard to do in practice, but I think it tends to be worth it to take a longer view of things.

sandi m said...

Congratulations Melissa!
So glad the folks across the pond recognized the beauty in your piece. I love designs where you create "outside the box" yet retain a classical feel.

Contests/submissions are like customers ~ not everyone will like everything you design, so I don't take rejection personally because I know someone else will come along and have a different opinion.
You certainly proved that!

sandi

Ann said...

Wow! Congratulations! They are 2 awesome pieces!

JeannieK said...

Congratulations Melissa. You give us all hope and encouragement.

Unknown said...

I loved that design the first time that I saw it. I'm so glad that it got the praise that it deserves.

One Second Needle said...

Congratulations! What wonderful work.