Toho Challenge 2025

I’m so excited that I can finally unveil my entry into the Team TOHO Beads 2025 Challenge: SUCCULENT GARDEN

What is the Toho Challenge?

Each year, Japanese seed bead manufacturer TOHO beads chooses a selection of bead designers to send a beautifully curated box of beads to. The Toho Challenge is in partnership with Czech bead producer Starman Beads, so as well as tubes of precision Toho seed beads, the boxes also contain a selection of Czech glass pressed beads.

The theme is different every year and open to the interpretation of the designer. Designers are encouraged to create beautiful works of beadweaving, using just the beads and colours within the box. There is no judging element to the challenge, but the submitted pieces are displayed on the Team Toho Facebook page, and then displayed at galleries and in exhibitions over the course of the year.

Toho Challenge 2025 theme

The theme for the challenge was Sonoran Sunset. My piece homages the beautiful colours, textures and shapes found among succulents. I adore creating floral-inspired work, so recreating the spiky vegetation of the Sonoran Desert was immediately where my mind went.

When looking at the finished piece, I picture a host of varieties of spiky succulents gathered together, nestled among rocks and the sand of the desert floor.

I used several of my own existing designs for the individual components, including my Jilly Blooms, Super Rings, Delicate Daisies, Kawaii Cacti and Riccio components but brought these together for the first time for a unique statement necklace.

Design inspiration & challenges

While each component itself is symmetrical, just like in nature, the sprawling, asymmetric design of the necklace reflects the way these plants would grow in their natural environment.

Incorporating all of the colours in the box was a challenge, but using the rose gold tones to tie the elements together became the key. I love that the colours chosen by Team Toho for the challenge not only reflect the colours of the sunrises of the Sonoran Desert, but also aptly match with the tones seen in the vegetation of the landscape.

Techniques used include cubic right angle weave, peyote stitch, right angle weave and CRAW with 2-hole beads.

Travelling the world

Now, my finished necklace will travel the world. Its first stop was as part of Venice Art Week. It was displayed as part of a group of Toho beads work at Biblioteca Civica VEZ from Sept 13-21 2025. You can see photos from the exhibition on the Toho Facebook page.

If you loved the colours shown in the Toho Challenge box, then beaders can get their hands on Mini Kits featuring a selection of the beads from the main box. You can then get involved, by submitting your piece to the Team Toho Facebook page to be included in the Mini Kit Gallery. Team Toho may even pick their favourite pieces to join the featured designer team next year!

Unbox my beads with me!

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