WJA Twin Cities Announces Design Winners

JCK Staff -- JCK Online, 10/28/2009 10:55:48 AM

Four Minnesota jewelry designers were selected for the Twin Cities People's Choice Awards during the Designer Showcase hosted by the Women's Jewelry Association - Twin Cities in September.

The Designer Showcase, held at Studio Vincent in Minneapolis, promotes jewelry design talent in the upper Midwest to area jewelry retailers. The event co-chairs were Janel Russell, Janel Russell Designs and Nancy Moeller, R.F. Moeller Jeweler.

The People's Choice Award winners are:

First Place: Danny Saathoff, Robbinsdale, MN

Starting with mostly discarded bits of scrap, Danny organizes and builds individual elements that tell a story. The individual artifacts create an historical richness, while the aged patinas and rusted metal, most of which were meant for the scrap heap, contribute beauty and texture.

Second Place: Stephen Vincent, Studio Vincent, Minneapolis.

SV Studio Collection's minimal, exquisite precious metal jewelry uses conflict-free Lazare Kaplan diamonds and precious/semi-precious gems, hand set in platinum 950, palladium, and 18k gold.

Third Place Tie: Julie Burkhart-Haid, Burkhart Design Studio, Hudson, WI

Julie's contemporary micro-mosaic and mini-mosaic design, inspired by nature and vernacular art, uses 14k and 18k set with diamonds colored stones.

Third Place Tie: David Lee, david lee jeweler, Mason City, Iowa

David's handcrafted jewelry, each bearing a unique serial number and his personal signature, focus on the beautiful, durable, and timeless designs.