This year’s winners of the fourth annual Saul Bell Design Competition, sponsored by Rio Grande, Albuquerque, N.M., were honored during The JCK Show ~ Las Vegas. Designed to “challenge designers to unleash their imagination and create innovative designs,” according to Rio Grande, the contest honored 10 winners across five categories—Gold/Platinum, Silver, Beads, Precious Metal Clay, and Hollowware. Additionally, three people received Honorable Mention awards.

This year’s grand-prize winner is Elizabeth Gualtieri, Zaffiro, Portland, Ore. Her creation, “La Floraliere,” in gold and platinum, features a blue pearl from Australia. Gualtieri received a $10,000 Rio Grande gift certificate for her accomplishment. (All award-winning designers also received limited-edition sculptures from New Mexico glass artist John Healey.)

Other first-place winners, who received $2,500 Rio Grande gift certificates, included Marilyn Bailey, M.E. Bailey Designs, Hendersonville, N.C., Silver category; Rika Mouw, Rika Designs, Homer, Alaska, Beads; Ivy Solomon, Ivy Woodrose, Oak Park, Mich., PMC; and Daniel Huynh, San Diego, Calif., Hollowware.

Second-place winners, who received $1,000 Rio Grande gift certificates, were Anisa Stewart, Mark Loren Designs, Fort Myers, Fla., Gold/Platinum; Maria Kiernik, Maria Kiernik, Berkeley, Calif., Silver; Felice Killian, Felice Killian, Charleston, S.C., Beads; Gordon Uyehara, HonuDream, Honolulu, Hawaii, PMC; and Induk Kim, Lawrenceville, Ga., Hollowware.

Honorable Mention went to Kas Mahfood, Kas A Designs, Jefferson City, Mo., Gold/Platinum; T Lee, T Lee Fine Designer Jewelry, Minneapolis, Minn., Gold/Platinum; and John Carnes, John Carnes Designs, Saugerties, N.Y., Hollowware.

For information about the 2005 awards or to view the list of finalists, visit the Rio Grande Web site at www.riogrande.com.