Awards

2009

• Finalist

  
  KGI Worldwide Design Contest

2008

• First Place

  
  Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Design Competition
  (Timepiece category)

• Fifth Place

  
  Swarovski Be Naturally Inspired Design Competition (Professional category)

• Honorable Mention

  
  KGI Worldwide Design Contest

2007

• First Place

  
  MJSA Vision Award Design Competition (Crystal Distinction category)

• Second Place

  
  MJSA Vision Award Design Competition (Crystal Distinction category)

• Second Place

  
  Swarovski Bright and Beautiful Design Competition

• Third Place

  
  Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Design Competition (Swarovski category)

• Finalist

  
  Bead & Button Magazine Bead Dreams Design Competition (Finished Jewelry category)

• Finalist

  
  2006-2007 Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Design Competition (Swarovski category)

2006

• Best of Competition

  
  Lapidary Journal Jewelry Arts Awards

• Viewer's Choice

  
  Beadazzled: Where Beads and Inspiration Meet

• First Place

  
  MJSA American Vision Award Design Competition (Crystal Distinction category)

• Second Place

  
  Step by Step Beads Bead Arts Awards (Other Bead Jewelry category)

• Third Place

  
  Swarovski Let Your Sparkling Ideas Come True Design Competition

• Finalist

  
  2006-2007 Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Design Competition (Necklace category)

2005

• First Place

  
  2005-2006 Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Design Competition (Crystal category, Shell category)

• Second Place

  
  Swarovski Cultural Fusions Design Competition

• Second Place

  
  2005-2006 Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Design Competition (Non-jewelry Wearable Art category)

• Third Place

  
  2004-2005 Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Design Competition (Non-jewelry Wearable Art category)

• Finalist

  
  Bead & Button Magazine Bead Dreams Design Competition (Non-Wearable Art category, Seed Bead category)

2004

• First Place

  
  2003-2004 Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Design Competition (Pearl category)

• Finalist

  
  Saul Bell Award Design Competition (Beads category)

• Finalist

  
  Bead & Button Magazine Bead Dreams Design Competition (Seed Bead category)

Exhibition Participation

• 2009 WeddingChannel Couture Show, Premier International Bridal Market, New York City
• 2006 Pageant of Adornment, Spirited Away Gala, The Bead Museum, Washington D.C.
• 2006 18th Annual Juried Art Show, Monroeville Arts Council, Pittsburgh, PA
• 2006 Beadazzled: Where Beads and Inspiration Meet, Beadazzled Galleries, D.C., MD, & VA
• 2006 OH+5 Regional Juried, All-Media Art Exhibition,
  Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH
• 2005 National Juried Bead & Fiber Exhibit, Delaplaine Visual Arts Center, Frederick, MD
• 2005 Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, Mid Atlantic Juried Art Show,
  New Castle, PA
• 2005 Diva and Friends: A Handmade Soiree - Tribute to Pittsburgh
  Fashion Design, Pittsburgh, PA

Media

• 2005 Featured Artist, That's Clever!, HGTV

Publications

• Beadazzled: Where Beads and Inspiration Meet, by Penelope Diamanti
• earrings, earrings, earrings!, edited by Barb Switzer
• Fire Mountain Gems and Bead catalog and trade magazine ads

Employer

• Frick Art & Historical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Instructional Experience

• DIY Design Contributor, Simply Beads magazine
• Jewelry Instructor, Exhibition Programs, Frick Art & Historical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• Jewelry Instructor, Pitt's Informal Program, University of Pittsburgh, PA

Education

• 06 - 08/1986 Institut Catholique de Paris, Paris, France
  European architectural design and French language study program
• 1986 Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
  Associate Degree in Specialized Technology of Interior Design

Independent Studies

• 2003 - 2005 Stained Glass Design, Pittsburgh, PA
• 1996 - 1998 Basket Weaving, Newport, OR