The Tiara Challenge: Results

The photos were sent, the votes have been tallied, and beadshop.com’s Tiara Challenge is officially at an end! We had so much fun creating our own tiaras as well as seeing all of yours. We kept it simple: purchase a tiara frame or comb from beadshop.com and decorate it however you saw fit! We allowed three votes for each beadshop employee to use, so each member pored over the photos and voted for their three favorites, not knowing who created which masterpiece, and the overwhelming winner was…

First Place

“Where Mermaids Play,” created by the fabulous Faye L. from British Columbia, Canada!! Her gorgeous design takes us on an underwater adventure. Silvery seaweed, beautiful blues and greens, charms, pearls…it’s an amazing piece and everyone just loved it. It’s unique, and very eye-catching! We adore the asymmetry and height, as well as the dangling charms and sense of whimsy. Faye's use of color and ability to transport us to another world had vote after vote cast for her crown. This tiara takes the cake and the first place gift card of $75 to beadshop.com. Congratulations, Faye!

Faye used silver holiday decorations as “seaweed,” as well as ribbon. She also wire-wrapped lots of beads and charms from her own stash. We suggest:
Silver Tiara Frame and Silver Craft Wire

Gambian Shells

Love Bravely Mermaid Pendant

Sea Gem, Sea Pony, Star of the Sea Charms

Beach Comber Button

Pearls

Currents and Tide's Out Recycled Glass Beads

Mist Briolettes

Second Place

In Second Place we have this lovely piece that reminds me so much of Queen Elizabeth II’s Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara when worn with emeralds…a personal fave of mine! But this beader’s inspiration came from the Swedish royal family: The Connaught Diamond Tiara. The real-life Tiara has diamond drops inside diamond wreaths of Forget-Me-Nots, which has been echoed here with pretty silver drops and climbing seed bead vines. In sleek silver and stunning emerald green I am dubbing this masterpiece “The Danish Diadem,” as it was made by the lovely Gitte L. from Denmark. Hammered metal hoop components are supported by wired seed beads in lush green and silver. Hanging inside each hoop is a beautiful filigree drop. It looks just stunning on Gitte herself, with her red hair and sweet green eyes.

Gitte used:
Silver Tiara Frame and Silver Craft Wire

Silver metal hoop components

Silver filigree drops, we suggest briolettes or charms or even the Belle Epoque Connectors.

Silver 6/0s

Emerald Green 8/0s

Third Place

 Rounding out our winners is the “Nature’s Princess Tiara” from Cindy B. of Florida. Cindy’s Circlet is simple yet elegant and with her signature exquisite beadwork and attention to detail. Her color story is just breathtaking and her stone “spires” transport us to a fairy realm in a secret forest where this Princess surely must live. Perfectly placed, her crystals sit amongst the faceted sparkle of Czech Glass fire polish beads and silver wire work. We are so inspired, Cindy! And we think you look SO cute in your design, too! Wold you believe she has never made a tiara before? Incredible work!

Cindy used:
Silver Tiara Frame and Silver Craft Wire
Cindy's own Natural Point Crystals

Czech Glass 3mm Fire Polish in Crystal Orange Rainbow, Pink Crystal AB (we suggest Luster Transparent Pink) and Dual Lustered Blue Green

Now, for the honorable mentions…we were blown away by all of these pieces as well and we’re so happy to those who participated! We wanted to thank everyone for creating, inspiring us, and being a part of this challenge…and, because you are all winners in our minds, we are also awarding a prize to the rest of our participants: a $15 gift card to beadshop.com for each of you. Thanks you again and enjoy these creative crowns!

Jane U. from Oregon made such an incredible showstopper! It was a very close fourth place. We love that Jane took inspiration from our Office Tiara Challenge to create her very own “Liquid Sunshine,” brought on by her appreciation of the Pacific Northwest’s unique weather. I couldn't have written a more lovely description than Jane herself:

“Here on the coastal end of Oregon, we have learned to appreciate the nourishing —if sometimes seemingly endless— rain  living in a temperate rainforest brings. Once the rain clears, all is awash with sparkling drops of liquid sunshine.

My entry features piles of clearing clouds in silver-filled wire with a golden Labradorite cabochon sun flashing rays of fire-polished beams while a passing shower falls below.”

In Florida, Trish P. created what we are calling “Beaded Blossoms,” using wired 8/0s and melon beads to make petals and flowers and adding Czech glass leaves from her personal stash. This is a floral arrangement that won’t wilt! We all fell in love with it’s ethereal beauty. “You do realize I only want to make more, right?” Trish said!

Melanie G. of Manitoba asked if a comb could be used instead of a tiara frame…and knowing she would make something stunning we of course said “yes!” Drawing inspiration from Pantone’s 2017 Fall Colors, Mel used Fireline to sew her selection of seed beads, Czech leaves, Daisies, and more to her comb. The addition of 4mm Copper Plate Fire Polish to the clear facets from her personal stash really stands out. We’ve dubbed this the “Czech Comb” and we adore it!

This is just too cute and really so perfectly made! Joanne S. of Virginia made this whimsical “Not a Perfect Pumpkin,” or so she says…what isn’t perfect about this? A plump little pumpkin has been wired with seed beads and Czech glass. Citing her love of Autumn as her inspiration, Joanne wired away…she claims to not be a wire whiz but we beg to differ! Your had work paid off, Joanne, this is splendid!

Last but certainly not least are Kendra D. of California and her friends and family. Kendra celebrated her 70th birthday in style with not one but two Tiara-making parties! Friends and family gathered to create together, and we thought the idea was just FAB!

 Kendra made two tiaras, one at each party. We judged only one entry per person, but we did want to showcase both of her tiaras! On the left, “Flowers for her Seventieth” and on the right, “Vintage Glass.”

Also from Kendra’s parties:

Christie G. in “Lots of Pearls Tiara”

Betsy I. wearing “Celtic Spiral”

Marilyn R. wearing “Ocean Waves”

We loved each and every entry, all of the creative spirit, and all of the fun! Thank you all so much for participating and for being such wonderful customers and friends!

Happy beading!