Did you know that there really are no two complex snowflakes that are alike? Really! This scientific fact totally amazes me and I was thinking about how I would create a snowflake out of wire and maybe use a few crystals to add some icy sparkle. Often both geometry and symmetry are important factors while designing and making a piece of wire jewelry, and I realized what a cool contest this could be!

So our winter contest is to challenge you to make a snowflake using traditional wire jewelry making techniques. Your snowflake entry can be made of any type of wire and has to include a selection of crystal beads and/or large-holed freshwater pearls you have purchased from wirejewelry.com and can also include whatever other embellishments you would like, such as glass, fiber, etc. The only thing your snowflake cannot include is the use of glue, solder, epoxy or any adhesive besides the wire itself. You might decide to make your snowflake into a pendant, a stickpin, a special ornament for your holiday tree, or any other decorative item you desire. It can be pink, blue, or colored like a rainbow and could include cabs too, like snowflake obsidian or dendrite opal, etc.

Note: If you do not completely follow the rules, your piece will not be qualified as an entry and will be rejected.

Example: You made a beautiful snowflake but you did not send a picture of the back of the design; or you did not purchase the pearls and/or crystals from wirejewelry; or you did not include the step--by-stepout directions; therefore your design was rejected as an official entry into the contest.

To qualify your snowflake design as an official entry, these are the rules to follow:

• You must purchase a selection of large-holed freshwater pearls and/or crystal beads from wirejewelry to use in your snowflake design
• Create your own original snowflake design using only traditional wire jewelry techniques.
• No solder, glue or any type of adhesive is allowed
• Name your entry
• Send us two good pictures, one of the BACK as well as the FRONT
• Include the step-by-step directions, both written and photos as well as a list of the supplies used such as wire gauges and tempers, and any embellishments, etc. Click Here for an example of how the step-by-step directions should be.

Snowflake Contest Prizes Include:

• Grand Prize ("Wired Workshop Weekend"  A $650 prize )- Our personal guest at one of our Wired Workshop Weekends during 2010 (Does not include transportation) - Learn More About The Workshops
  
  
• Grand Prize WS Staff Choice - A Complete Beginner Series DVD Set - A $245 prize* and a personalized review of your unique project by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong
  
  
• Popular Vote - $100 Gift Certificate to wirejewelry.com and a personalized review of your unique project by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong
  

Deadline for All Entries is February 28,2010

Register Your Snowflake Entry Here!

As I said before, I was thinking of making a snowflake design when the idea for this contest came to me; and as I wouldn’t ask you to do something that I wouldn’t in the design field, here is my finished piece. I’ve titled this decorative comb ‘Winter Carnival’. It would be a beautiful hair accessory for a special event like a winter wedding, prom or a Winter Carnival Ball.

The snowflake measures 3-3/8 inch from pearl tip to pearl tip and is constructed using a combination of 20g and 22g Square, and 20g ½ round, all half-hard argentium silver wire. The crystal beads are 4 and 5mm round and the two types of large-holed, freshwater pearls are 5mm round and 7mm long. The attached comb is clear plastic.

* If you have already purchased the Beginner Series DVD Set, then you will be able to choose one of our other DVD Sets.