January is traditionally the month for setting new goals, and the best goals to make are those that challenge you to move beyond your usual boundaries - without throwing your entire life off balance. If you're struggling to come up with a doable new beading goal, why not plan on entering a design contest?

Here are some fun ones to consider:

Flex Your Creativity Beading Design Contest sponsored by Softflex. (Stay tuned for their announcement of this year's entry dates.)

Halstead Bead Business Development Grant. This is a serious contest for artists with a plan to turn their hobby into a business.

Bead Arts Awards by Step-by-Step Beads/Beadwork magazine.

Treasures of Toho Contest. Sign up for this one at your local bead store.

Rings & Things Your Designs Rock Contest by the popular supplier Rings & Things.

Fire Mountain Gems annual contests - and they have a few!

Beading Daily's Bead Star contest, modeled after popular contest reality shows.

Use the Muse contest, where you're asked to create a design using a preselected set of materials.

Just don't forget what I said about keeping your life in balance if you decide to tackle one of these. Choose a contest that suits your skill level and style, and set a schedule for yourself for planning, design, completion, finishing touches, and submission. And have a good time!