The lazy days of summer are upon us but you must be thinking a few months in advance. Coming up in the next few months are the deadlines for the Spectrum and MJSA Vision Awards... so start dreaming.

I love judging design competitions. You get to see work that represents the dreams of artists.

Often commercial success was not a factor in the creation; just pure, unadulterated joy of creation. You get to see such a wide collection of jewels -- from the sublime to the ridiculous -- that it cleanses your view like a sorbet does your palette during a fine meal.

Competitions are challenging, inspiring, interesting and often enlightening for the entrant as well as the judge.

I always look for the WOW factor -- the design that will make me feel renewed. Like I haven't walked a hundred trade shows, read a thousand magazines and seen a million slides.

Both Spectrum and Vision Awards have lots of varied categories and surely one or more would fit your work perfectly. Enter these competitions for the fun of it, the challenge of it and for the possible publicity.

We all need your creative spark!


To read about the MJSA Vision Award:
http://www.jewelersresource.com/members/111.cfm

To read about the AGTA Spectrum Award:
http://www.jewelersresource.com/members/112.cfm