List of Current Articles: Just click on the one you want to read
1.) Antiquing in London
2.) October 2001 trip to the Czech Republic
3.) Upper Midwest Bead Society Bead Challenge
4.) The Great Czech Two-Hole Bead Wars
5.) The Demise of the Rivoli

UMBS is proud to announce the following awards for the Bead Challenge: (Click here for pictures of top 3 winners)

$150 -1st place Dragon Sculpture - Guarding the Hoard by Ann Walker, England
$75 - 2nd place Doll with Mirrored face by Marya LeMieux Vafaei-Makhsoos (celticat), Cambridge, MN
$50 - 3rd place Garden Sculpture by Carla Abler-Erickson, St. Paul, MN
$125 People's Choice Dragon Sculpture - Guarding the Hoard by Ann Walker, England

The following entries were also in the top 11, but did not win any prizes:

Thank you to all the UMBS members and non-members who requested the approximately 60 bead challenge kits and a special thank you to the 22 people who actually completed the 23 entries (that's right, someone actually purchased two kits and did two entries). Thank you also to the three judges (Robin Atkins, Nancy Eha, and Nancy
Potek) and UMBS members who assisted with the challenge.

Criteria: Each kit contained nine different kinds of beads, in very challenging colors. Entrants had to use at least 50% of each kind of bead, but could add anything else they wanted and could make anything they wanted as long as the surface was 80% beads.

Judging: As it was received, each entry was assigned a number to have the judging be anonymous. The People's Choice Award was voted on by UMBS members at the April Monthly Meeting. The First, Second and Third place judging took place two days later. The three judges evaluated each piece independently based on a score-sheet with guidelines of points to be awarded for creative design, color and workmanship. The three score-sheets for each entry where totaled, with the awards being given to the ones with the highest total scores. The score-sheets with the judges' comments will be returned to each entrant with their entries. The judges were very impressed with the quality of the pieces entered.

Prizes: Checks will be mailed to each winner within two weeks.

Entries: UMBS member entries will be available for pickup at the next monthly meeting on May 5th. Entries received via mail/UPS will be packed and returned by traceable mail sometime before the end of April.

Questions: Should be directed to Doris Coghill, 16451 Pueblo Blvd, Jordan, MN 55352, phone 952-492-2493, deesplace6@beadsbydee.com