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Wow nice carvings KJ - BL - Kurt
good work !

TY OS!!

Some of the pieces, the ones that could be worn. http://www.theridgenews.com.au/story/32 ... ry-awards/

Looks as though you were all up against professional cutters.

I see there was only one entrant in the "non professional award" so I am wondering if yall were actually judged and or entered in the right category.

I suppose it depends on the definition of professional. In my book, if you sell your work, you are a professional. If you don't sell, you are a hobbiest or amateur. There is no way I would consider any of "our" entrants to be non-professional. Perhaps the contest needs better categories?

I really debated that. Wasn't sure if I wanted to be labeled as a non professional. But the criteria, to enter the non-pro, was that to have had "no professional training to qualify as a Professional Jeweller" for which I would have qualified. But, I would have needed to submit a notarized & signed statement.

That was only for one certain category KJ.

I choose Pro category simply because the past years seemed rather boring in the Non-Pro categories. Now I'm told that what we got to see is not what was actually there. Regardless, by what is/was shown, I still see the Pro-category more of a challenge and would have chosen it.

KKHK wrote:That was only for one certain category KJ.

Yes, designer wear for males I think only had one entry. Not carving. I entered carving non-professional, abstract . i,even went to the local notory and she read the form over, and grilled me if I ever took a class that would make the statement false and notarized the statement. It wasn't difficult, the hardest part was figuring out where she was supposed to sign it and title, etc.

Lydia wrote:I suppose it depends on the definition of professional. In my book, if you sell your work, you are a professional. If you don't sell, you are a hobbiest or amateur. There is no way I would consider any of "our" entrants to be non-professional. ....

Lydia, I don't sell mine and never took a class. Maybe if I started selling them I could afford some classes and become professional!

It doesn't matter, I tried and didn't even get recognition... Maybe because the carving, maybe the polish, maybe ? Doesn't matter, I'll try again next time with a new one. (wonder if it was because mine was ethiopian? Naahhhh... )

They finally put up the winning entries (pictures). Still mistakes there, but at least something....
http://www.iojdaa.com.au/2015-awards-2.html

Overall, quality of material won out over creativity. I think one of the pieces featured in the recommended of the non-professional section does not even qualify in that category. Maybe its just me, but where the heck is the butterfly?

And the professional figurative category? Thats the best there was?