I’ve been looking forward to 1st April for several weeks now…not because I was planning an April Fool’s joke, but because it’s the day that Battle commenced for 192 incredible bead designer/makers from 35 countries around the world. I count myself incredibly privileged to be in that company this year. The ‘Battle’ has been organised by Steven Weiss of the Beadmsith company (large worldwide supplier of beads, tools and all thing bead related, for anyone not in the beading world!). It runs on Facebook. All 192 participants have been invited to take part and all are already known for beading designs that have featured in magazines, fashion shoots and all manner of other places.
Roughly speaking, the battle rules are to take two months to make a piece of wearable beadwork, then photograph it. The photos will gradually be revealed as the battle rounds progress. In battle round 1 we have been divided into 3 groups. Within each group, every member is paired against an opponent, so in each pairing, one person will be knocked out. The survivors are then paired up for further knockouts until a talented few reach the final. At this point all three groups are combined into one for the last knockout rounds to find the ultimate winner. Judging is by the other contestants and also by the public. For round 1 we get to show four photos of our piece, more photos are revealed in each subsequent battle.
We already have a great spirit of community forming, even though we will be knocking one another out. Last year’s pieces are truly awe-inspiring, so it feels like a real privilege to be a part of this. My first round opponent is a finalist from last year, so I know I have a very tough challenge ahead of me! It is an amazing opportunity for all of us to promote beadwork to the world and to show just some of what is possible. For me personally, it’s a wonderful challenge to stretch myself as far as possible, to dream something amazing and then challenge myself to make it. I’ve been planning for weeks now, although not allowed to pick up a bead to make anything! So, that’s why I’ve been waiting in such excitement for 1st April when I get to play with the beads. I know that however many ideas I have in my head, the finished piece will end up being very different. I expect to find that the beads don’t behave themselves in reality as I predicted they would in my head, so that will force me to change plans. Other plans will just evolve, so this whole two months is going to be about a process of evolution and growth…hopefully for me as a designer as much as for my battle piece. Of course my actual strategy has to remain top secret, but I will keep you updated here as I progress!
