Winner $300 First Prize, Small Wonders/Jewelry category, sponsored by Boye and the Crochet Dude Brand.
Designed by Karen CK Ballard: I call this my NC Necklace, because it was inspired by Prudence Mapstone’s freeform crochet jewelry class at the 2011 Greensboro, NC CGOA Conference and incorporates gemstones (rose quartz, smoky quartz, amethyst, citrine, blue lace agate, aquamarine, fluorite, garnet, and amazonite) I found at Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, NC. I used jewelry techniques for mother-of-pearl chain, sterling silver clasp, and Ultrasuede backing finished with Miyuki “pearl” seed beads.