About her design process, Valerie reveals that "the embellishment on the crown was ripped out twice. The first time I was not happy with the way the beads laid over the bottom layer. The second time I adjusted the colors. It was the band that took weeks. Initially I thought to swag short ropes around the band. That did not produce the subtle elegance and richness I was looking to achieve. Rip it out. Try another swag effect, nope, yet another. After about a dozen different configurations, I decided this was a poor design choice. So then I tried embellishing with a bead in every 'hole' left by the net weave. WOW---perfect! Then, I added Swarovski 2mm rows across the brow to catch the light. It took another ten hours to complete this portion. Ah---the fringe. First, I tried a straight fringe, but it caused the band to bunch and look uneven. Too many threads. Worked on this for three days. Nothing was hanging properly. Forget about it. Went back to my polymer for a day. Cleaned my work table and area, twice. Reorganized. Put on Burn After Reading and while the actors played on the screen, I rummaged through my pearls and rediscovered the tiny perfect cornflake pearls I had stashed. I noodled out a modified fringe that worked! Sensuous when worn. Feels great and the gentle sound---I adore it!"

In addition to freshwater pearls, Valerie used size 13 charlotte-cut seed beads, size 11 seed beads and 2mm-4mm round beads by CRYSTALLIZED™ -- Swarovski Elements to create this fun, fringed headpiece.

Polly’s Picks are designs our editor especially likes despite the fact that they did not win a formal prize. These designs are often simple, practical and/or whimsical examples of how to use Rings & Things components well.

View more 2009 Polly's Picks. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!