The Wirelace Challenge winners have been chosen

These wonderful WireLace creations made choosing difficult, but the voters have spoken and the winners have been named.

First place goes to Christi Friesen for her "Lady Godiva" necklace.
Second place goes to Nora Farnsworth for her "Chocolate Waves" necklace.
And because the voting was so close, there's a three-way tie for third place: Jamie North's "Chocolate Present" necklace, Vinda Robison's "Chocolate Guardian" necklace, and Shirley Rufener's "Dark Chocolate with Sprinkles" necklace.

Congratulations to the top vote-getters and all the talented finalists!

Lady Godiva

The winner!!

Lady Godiva
by Christi Friesen

There are times when you just want to wear something a little more dramatic.
The drama in this necklace comes from the polymer focal piece, which was created to perfectly complement the chocolaty tone of the WireLace.
Additional accents of beads, crystals, found objects,vintage and reproduction vintage findings add depth and richness. More WireLace visually and literally connects the strung portion to the sculpture piece.
It also lends a loosely flowing drape,in contrast to the crisp lines of chains, beads, pearls which make up the stringing part of this piece.

Chocolate Waves

Second Place

Chocolate Waves
by Nora Farnsworth

I love the lacy ribbon effect of WireLace. I wanted to capture that ribbon effect by stitching seed beads and crystals along both edges of the 12mm chocolate WireLace and fluffing them up into waves. The blue color of the AB crystals and seed beads catches the light like sea foam on the crest of waves. The lace is stitched onto a dupioni silk cord with seed beads stitched randomly up the cord like bubbles rising from the foam. The necklace is finished with borosilicate glass end caps that mimic the chocolate color.

A Chocolate Present

Third Place

A Chocolate Present
by Jamie North

Inspired by my family's tradition of elaborate bow-making, the wonderful ribbons of WireLace were a logical application to this project. Combining delicious Chocolate WireLace with air blue opal and light sapphire AB crystals and delicate filigree caps provides a feminine touch. The unusual colors in the jasper stones, complemented by light blue angelite and chocolate lava coins, add an edgy twist. Delicious without the calories!

Chocolate Guardian

Third Place

Chocolate Guardian
by Vinda Robison

To create a Chocolate Guardian, I split 12 mm WireLace to cover the fabric that I chose for my dragon to create the look of scales. I covered an orange Swarovski rivoli to make a chocolate covered orange - my favorite treat! I curled or spread 1 mm and 2 mm WireLace around the head, neck, and tail spines. This is my original design and it is the first beading piece that I have done without a kit or instructions. I am fairly new to beading, I primarily create art quilts.

Dark Chocolate with Sprinkles

Third Place

Dark Chocolate with Sprinkles
by Shirley Rufener

I’ve recently begun adding WireLace to my polymer clay work. I have a book out — "Polymer Clay Mixed Media Jewelry" — and I wish I had discovered WireLace before it was published. The title for this piece came easily after I finished my necklace using chocolate, blush and aqua WireLace® with silk and aquamarine Swarovski Elements. I also included an Alacarte open clasp in my design. I simply filled it with polymer clay, inset point-back Swarovski crystals and baked. The clasp itself became a beautiful design element.

Lace Surprise

The other beautiful finalists

Lace Surprise
by Elizabeth Del Monte

I wanted the wire lace to keep the beautiful ruffles it gets when you expand it and, surprise, the idea of using resin to accomplish this effect came to me. The brown color of the picture in the pendant reminded me of the chocolate lace color, so some red and aqua beads later “Lace Surprise” was born. The pendant frame, bulky chain, and wire links from SLK’s Industrial Chic collection provided the perfect balance for the “wire lace links”. The beads include coral, agate, quartz, glass, and lamp work. This piece is perfect for a turtle neck, don’t you think?

Turquoise hat

Turquoise hat
by Leeann Puleston

I have been in the jewelry business for several years. I ran across WireLace about seven years ago and fell in love with it. Now I incorporate it into my designs along with my dichroic glass. When I started felting this spring, WireLace along with my dichroic glass pendants are natural additions for my style of embellishment.. This hat is my first attempt at a needle/wet felted hat with WireLace added post felt. WireLace also works well adding it right into the wet felting process.

Whimsical Chocolate S'mores

Whimsical Chocolate S'mores
by Lina Sokovsky

Taking delicious chocolate as my theme and inspired by early-summer campout fun, I crafted polymer clay beads to represent marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers for this whimsical chocolate s'mores necklace. Luscious waves of Chocolate WireLace are anchored by small marshmallow beads and tiny cracker-crumb seed beads, while graham cracker and chocolate bar pendants, secured by tiny WireLace bows, lead the eye to the tasty s'more sandwich, curly drizzles of melted chocolate and delectable marshmallow pendants in the center. Delicious!

Choc Full of Surprises

Choc Full of Surprises
by Laura Timmons

Choc Full of Surprises is delicately crocheted Chocolate WireLace embellished Swaorovski Elements. This purse contains the three most important elements in a beader's life:
1. Chocolate WireLace - can you think of anything more sensual?
2. Swarovski Elements - to always have sparkle in your life
3. Chocolate - the fifth food group.

Chocolate Euphoria

Chocolate Euphoria
by Tatiana Van Iten

I called my necklace Chocolate Euphoria because it conveys the feelings of a person who has eaten a lot of chocolate – so much that a rainbow appears in her eyes. I dedicate this work to my mother-in-law, Helga Van Iten.To created this necklace I invented three new techniques for making flowers, leaves and bead embroidery using WireLace. I tried to use a minimal amount of glass and seed beads so that the spaces in the necklace were filled with WireLace.

Rocky Road

Rocky Road
by Diane Whiting

It might be the path we are following, or the reward we give ourselves, we all encounter multiple rocky roads in our lives. Using layers of the 20mm Chocolate Wire Lace, I’ve captured the Swarovski Elements in a bracelet that evokes both a cobblestone pathway and the yummy ice cream we all love, as a reminder of the challenges and rewards in life.

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ERIN JAMERSON from FLORIDA said:

The artists creativity is awesome; such wonderful 'out of the box' ideas translated by their imaginations. Chocolate with Sprinkles is my favorite.

Great design Erin

Submitted: 6/15/2011 5:11:04 AM (CST)

MARIA WELCH said:

Absolutely love the Dragon. Fabulous

Submitted: 5/31/2011 3:45:15 PM (CST)

BOBBIE MITCHELL from WASHINGTON said:

When I look at pieces like this I look with an eye that is wondering "Would I wear it?" The Turquoise Hat is very gorgeous but it would have to lose the dangling feathers (even though they are very pretty). My favorite piece is Jamie's Chocolate Present. Beautiful and very feminine. The centerpiece in Lady Godiva is really unique.

Submitted: 11/11/2010 8:28:38 PM (CST)

DENISE F CLEVINGER from VIRGINIA said:

I prefer "A Chocolate Present" by Jamie North. The bows are lovely and it reminds me of the box o Whittmans Sampler's Iget every Christmas. It maakes it both loely and reminisent of Christmas's past! and it's earable without being overstated!

Submitted: 10/12/2010 6:51:06 PM (CST)

ANGELA GASKELL from COLORADO said:

I agree with Shelley from California, Chocolate Euphoria is so beautiful. I am happy to see all the projects and creativity. Their technical showmanship is inspiring.

Submitted: 9/11/2010 2:13:16 PM (CST)