Nashville, TN -- The folks who run a jewelry design school in Nashville are trying to find the most skilled bead-stringers around -- by having them submit their ugliest necklaces.

It sounds contradictory, but organizers of "The Ugliest Necklace In America" contest say it takes a great artist to make something that is truly ugly.

Warren Feld of the Center for Beadwork & Jewelry Arts says only the best jewelry designers are able to overcome the basic need to avoid ugliness and use their skills to create something hideous.

For example, he's gotten necklaces featuring beads made from matted dog fur and lama dung, but both were arranged too prettily to make the finals.

So which necklace is the ugliest in America? You can cast your vote at landofodds.com, which features pictures of the top 10 -- including a lopsided necklace made of a deer jawbone banded with orthodontic loops and a twine necklace strung with a rotten banana peel.

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