Rings & Things invite you to show them your favorite handmade design — it can be anything made from six categories including glass, gemstone, alternative materials and more. Winning entries (with credit to the designer) could be featured in their catalog and promotions. That’s exposure to more than a million people per year worldwide.

Entries accepted from 1 February through 29 February 2008. Winners announced the first week of May. Be aware that by submitting an entry, you give Rings & Things permission to use images of your piece in print and online publications. Visit the site to learn more.

The 2008 METAL Inclinations International juried exhibition will include selections of the most exemplary fine metal art created by metalsmiths, silversmiths, goldsmiths and jewelers all over the world. This strictly digital show will be trend setting.

The jurors for the Metal Inclinations exhibition are: Michael Monroe, a well-known and highly respected figure in the crafts community, now head of the Bellevue Art Museum in Seattle, Washington, former head of the American Craft Council and former curator-in-charge of the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery in Washington D.C. Otto Kazli, an internationally acclaimed jeweler, curator and academic, heads the Jewellery Department at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, Germany. Susie Ganch is currently Assistant Professor and Head of the Metals Program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virginia.

Deadline for entry is 30 June 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

B W Simon, organizer of the Bench Jewelers Conference and Expo, is calling for bench jewelers to enter the fourth annual Bench Jewelers Passion Award Design Competition. The competition is open to all professional bench jewelry artists and designers, and winners will be announced at the Bench Jewelers Conference and Expo to be held from 24-27 April in Los Angeles.

Submissions can be entered in two divisions: one for finished jewelry and one for CAD renderings. Jewelers may enter both divisions, with one piece per category in up to three categories per division. Photographs of finished jewelry or CAD renderings must be submitted via the Internet along with a completed entry form. To submit entries, visit BW Simon’s Web site, Bwsimon.com. The deadline for submissions is 15 March.

Are you currently training for a career in graphic design? This competition will enable you to showcase both your technical and your creative graphic design skills. The competition places you within the world of the graphic designer. Competitors have the opportunity to work to a design brief and plan and submit work to a deadline, as expected from a professional graphic designer. The competition enables you to demonstrate your creative and technical skills whilst allowing you to develop and showcase your abilities

This competition is intended for individuals aged 16 and over, who are either following a graphic design training program in further or higher education, or working within or associated with the graphic design industry. Deadline is 28 February 2008. Visit the site to learn more.

You can also enter in the fields of Architectural Stained Glass, Fashion Design - Ethic 2008, Jewelry, Photography, Video, and more.

The American Jewelry Design Council is accepting applications for its annual New Talent Contest. The winner is awarded a booth in the prestigious New Designer Gallery at the July Jewelers of America Show in New York City. The winner receives professional support from members of the AJDC on making the step to larger markets. The entire jewelry industry eagerly awaits the New York debut of the AJDC’s pick. The winner is the focus of extensive media attention. This high-profile exposure has helped propel the careers of past winners.

Applicants must be a designer/owner of a jewelry manufacturing business, produce in the United States and have never exhibited at a JA Show. Selection is based on originality, craftsmanship, innovation, marketability and cohesiveness. The names of all finalists are submitted to the JA selection committee for consideration as a candidate for the New Designer Gallery. Winner and finalists are honored at an awards ceremony during the show.

Deadline for submission is 15 January 2008. For more information and/or to download an application, visit ajdc.org.

At Right: First Prize Winner 2007 - by Julia Vogl and Maggie Ollove.

Yes, it’s that time again - time to create the ugliest necklace you can dream up and enter it into the 6th Annual Ugly Necklace Contest. First prize is a $992.93 shopping spree on the Land of Odds web-site, and a Runner-Up prize of a $399.07 shopping spree on the web-site. The contest is open to both U.S. and international submissions. After all - there are Ugly-Necklace Jewelry Designers hiding out everywhere. Oh - and the necklace must be 75% made up of beads.

Entering is easy. Take three good color snapshots or scans of your necklace, and write a short poem about it. You’ve got from now until 15 March 2008 to enter. Visit the Land of Odds site to view all past winners, to learn more about the contest, and to read the rules.

The American Jewelry Design Council (AJDC) is now accepting applications for its annual New Talent Contest, a competition being held with Jewelers of America (JA) that honors a designer for his or her originality, craftsmanship, innovation, marketability and cohesiveness.

To qualify for the award, applicants must be a designer or owner of a jewelry-manufacturing business, produce in the United States and never have exhibited at JA New York before.

Deadline for submission is 15 January 2008. To download an application or to gather more information, visit the AJDC Web site.

Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) is now accepting entries for its 17th Annual Vision Awards Design Competition, a contest that recognizes the talent and innovation of designers who have influenced the future of jewelry design. Winners will receive up to $1,000 and will be honored at the MJSA Expo New York show on April 13, 2008. Winners will also receive recognition in the MJSA Journal, on MJSA Online and in other trade publications.

All entries must be postmarked by 30 December. Visit the site for details.

Via: National Jeweler Network

Jeweller Sarah Keay has been commissioned by A&C Black to write: Jewellery Using Textile Techniques for their “Design and Make” series. For the opportunity to be included in this book, please either submit images of relevant work or a brief description for a step-by-step jewelery project that utilizes one or more textile techniques.

Deadline is Friday 1 December 2007. Visit the site to learn more.