JEWELRY DESIGN CHALLENGE: Lark Books teams up with Rio Grande

[Brigitte Martin]

Lark Crafts is teaming with an outstanding partner, the jewelry-making supplies company Rio Grande, to sponsor a fantastic challenge contest for jewelers that celebrates the great new book from Lark Jewelry & Beading: Jewelry Design Challenge!

In this book, 30 leading artists take up the challenge to create a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry using the same nine basic materials (with the option of adding a wildcard element). Top jewelers, including Todd Reed, Marlene True, Biba Schutz, Thomas Mann, and Davide Bigazzi, present their amazing creations, along with step-by-step instructions about how the pieces came to fruition. Jewelry Design Challenge is a beautiful volume of cutting-edge inspiration.

Now, we present you with the challenge: Use some or all of the following nine basic materials — and add a wildcard if you wish — to create your own original piece of jewelry:

• 18-gauge sterling sheet, 3 inches (7.6 cm) square
• 18-gauge copper sheet, 6 inches (15.2 cm) square
• 1.6 mm sterling tubing, 6 inches (15.2 cm) long
• six 5 mm black and white pearls (1/2 drilled)
• 15 copper washers, various sizes from 1/4 to 1/2 inch (.6 to 1.3 cm)
• 20-gauge sterling wire, 36 inches (91.4 cm) long
• medium fine silver mesh, 6 cm square
• 1.8 mm round Greek leather cord, 36 inches (91.4 cm) long
• 20-gauge copper wire, 36 inches (91.4 cm) long

Need some or all of the materials? They can be found athttp://www.riogrande.com/MemberArea/projectItems.aspx

Thomas Mann's piece in Jewelry Design Challenge

Why do it? You mean, beyond the pure challenge and wonderful fun? How about this prizing: The grand prize winner will receive a $1,500 Rio Grande gift card PLUS a library of 10 Lark Jewelry & Beading books. One second place winner will receive a $1,000 Rio Grande gift card and a library of 5 Lark Jewelry & Beading books, and one third place winner will receive a $500 Rio Grande gift card and a library of 5 Lark Jewelry & Beading books. Read all the details in the Official Rules; the contest is open only to legal residents of one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.

Candie Cooper's piece in Jewelry Design Challenge

Here’s how to enter: Send a good photo of your jewelry piece along with your name and email address to [e-mail]. Deadline for receipt of entry is November 30, 2010, at 9 p.m. EST. Winners will be asked to send in their jewelry piece for photographing at Lark Crafts for publicity purposes.

So take the Jewelry Design Challenge! We’re excited to see the jewelry design you create with your artistic vision and spirit.

Tod Pardon's piece in Jewelry Design Challenge