Where are the rules?!
Plain enough to see
OK, here it is - the last competition of the year. The December 2016 Competition.
The Brief:
There isn’t one - almost anything goes. Any pen or pencil (or sets thereof) that you have made yourself. The only thing that is disallowed is purchased “pre-made to fit” blanks.
We’re looking for your best work, not your weirdest or wackiest, and it can be slim or fat, kit or kitless , fountain pen, rollerball, ballpoint or pencil, or a matching set in any combination. It doesn’t even need to be turned – you might prefer to use polymer clay for instance, (although not a “pre-made to fit” one) or whittle it with your knife. But we’re looking for your nicest work.
Don’t worry if you’ve not been at it very long and you feel you don’t stand a chance. There’s a prize on this occasion just for entering. Yes, there are some seasoned makers here, but some of the nicest work and original ideas often come from the less experienced, so please don’t be put off. Experience is not necessarily proportional to talent, so please do feel you can join in, if only to push yourself and gain more experience.
The Closing Date:
I may get into trouble for this in certain quarters, but to give those with busy pre-Christmas schedules a fighting chance, this comp is being extended by one week into January, so entries must be in by midnight on Saturday 7th January
The Prizes:
Assuming there is a good number of entries, prizes will be awarded for the top three places, plus runners up prizes. And for this, the final competition of the year, the prize pot is massive.
1st place – Axminster Evolution compression mandrel set (MT in winners choice) plus two Beaufort Mistral pen kits , fountain pen (or rollerball) and ballpoint (or pencil) – (kit type in winners choice), plus 15 x Neil Lawton assorted wood pen blanks.
2nd place – Two Beaufort Mistral pen kits - fountain pen (or rollerball) and ballpoint (or pencil) – (kit type in winners choice), plus 10 x Neil Lawton assorted wood pen blanks.
3rd Place – One Beaufort Mistral pen kit - fountain pen, rollerball, ballpoint or pencil – (kit type in winners choice), plus 6 x Neil Lawton assorted wood pen blanks.
Runners up – Every entry not in the top 3 will be deemed a runner up, and will also be awarded a juicy pen kit prize, (no- not a Mistral, a Tempest) so you win just by entering (this could get expensive)
There’s more – if you’ve entered any of the competitions this year, or are entering this one, you get 1 point. If you’ve entered more than one competition, you’ve got a point for each. Those points are going to be turned into money – gift vouchers to be exact, so the more points you have, the larger your gift voucher will be – it’s just a small thank you from the Forum, for your support in the competitions over the last year.
The rules:
There aren’t many rules really, mostly guidelines, but what few there are, are these. I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything but if time proves that I have, I’m afraid I reserve the right to amend or add to them:
The closing deadline is set in tablets of stone. Get your photos in to me via email or PM by midnight GMT on 7th of January or I’m afraid you will have missed the boat.
Photos must be on a plain white background with no visible props. Props are a clue to identity and will disqualify your entry.
You must have a post count of at least 10 before you can enter, and only one entry per member, which must be your own work.
Purchased “pre-made to fit” blanks are dis-allowed.
Your piece must not have been published or appeared elsewhere before the end of voting.
Photos preferably landscape please (but that’s not a hard and fast rule), and send a wee description with it too. Try to aim for 800 pixels wide and if there are any special features, you can include a close-up. You can send up to 3 photos. It’s up to you how you set out your finished piece to photograph it, but remember, a poor or hurried photo can make the best of work look average. There is plenty of advice on photographing your work here on the Forum, and previous competitions have even suggested sensible and preferred ways to stage your work. Sound advice and definitely worth a read.
Good luck to one and all.
View attachment 32723
Least I know for next time. Doh.