update

I entered the Jewelry Arts Awards last week. I entered the new brooch in my previous post, and a brooch from last year. I did well with rings in the past, but this year I didn't have any rings that I felt were worth entering.

I am working on a few new pieces using aluminum and other materials. One with thin stainless steel cable, and another with ebony. I will see how these pieces turn out and then decide of I want to do more with those materials.

I am also working on some prototypes of jewelry made from folded sheet metal similar to the folded vessels I have done. I have been thinking about doing this for a few months, but I have only now just started working on designs. I have done several paper models for earrings, and one model out of 4" x 4" 22 gauge (0.64mm) copper. 4" x 4" sounds kind of big, but when it's folded up it's only about 1.25" wide and a little under 1.5" high. 22 gauge was the thinnest sheet I had, but it was too thick when I folded it up and the edges were binding. It also seemed kind of heavy. So I need to get some thinner metal, probably 26 gauge for earrings.

2009 Jewelry Arts Awards entry form

I emailed some one at Jewelry Artist to ask them about the 2009 Jewelry Arts Awards entry form since the 2008 entry form is still up. She said to use the 2008 entry form. Entries are due March 1st.

publications

Someone told me my Bubble Ring was used in the announcement for the 2009 Jewelry Artist magazine Jewelry Arts Awards in the Feb issue. I went to Barnes & Noble tonight to get that magazine and while I was there I looked at the book The Jeweler's Studio Handbook by Brandon Holschuh which was recently released. Brandon contacted me last year for images of my work to use in his book, so I wanted to see which ones, if any, he used. There is a photo of my Bubble Ring in the gallery section. I love seeing my work in print. Unfortunately in the artist listing my website is listed as jonryan.com, without my middle initial, which is not my website.

Entries for the 2009 Jewelry Arts Awards are due March 1st. The entry form will be here, but as of today it is still showing the info for 2008. I will enter 2 or 3 pieces. I haven't decided which yet. It's $25 per entry. Its kind of expensive considering there's no actual prize other than having your work published.

Jewelry Arts Awards

The 2008 Jewelry Arts Awards winning pieces are now posted on the Jewelry Artist magazine website. They will also be in the Sept 2008 issue which will be out very soon, if it's not out already.

2008 Jewelry Arts Awards

I found out today that I got 1st and 2nd place in the rings category in the Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist Jewelry Arts Awards. The winning pieces will be published in the Sept issue of Lapidary Journal.

1st place:


2nd place:


I got 1st place in the rings category in 2006. Last year I didn't enter because I missed the deadline. I had marked it on my calendar as April 1st when really it was March 1st. So it's good that I had 2 pieces win this year to make up for missing last year.

2008 Jewelry Arts Awards

The entry form for the 2008 Lapidary Journal Jewelry Arts Awards has finally been posted. Its due March 1st, 2008.