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Winners of Austin Jewelry Design Contest Announced
Jamie Turner Designs is among the winners of the local “Austin Shines” contest, hosted by Eliza Page, a jewelry store in Austin, Texas.
Austin-based brands Jamie Turner Designs and Claire Sommers Buck Jewelry won first place awards in the “Austin Shines” jewelry design contest.
Austin, Texas—Eliza Page, a fine jewelry store based in Austin, Texas, has announced the winners of its “Austin Shines” awards, a jewelry design contest aimed at spotlighting local talent.
Jamie Turner Designs won the “Judges’ Shining Star” award and Claire Sommers Buck Jewelry won the “People’s Choice Shining Star” award. Second place awards were also given in each category, for a total of four winners.
Each winner was awarded a cash prize, business consulting, a one-year membership to the Austin chapter of the Women’s Jewelry Association, and a six-month residency at Eliza Page.
Jamie Turner Designs won the “Judges’ Shining Star” award and Claire Sommers Buck Jewelry won the “People’s Choice Shining Star” award. Second place awards were also given in each category, for a total of four winners.
Each winner was awarded a cash prize, business consulting, a one-year membership to the Austin chapter of the Women’s Jewelry Association, and a six-month residency at Eliza Page.
Claire Sommers with her jewelry display at an event celebrating the “Austin Shines” winners at Eliza Page (photo credit: Rick Kern)
Patrick Dobbs (middle) of Jamie Turner Designs with Eliza Page founder Elizabeth Gibson (right) (photo credit: Rick Kern)
Jamie Turner Designs was founded by Texas native Robert Turner and master jeweler Patrick Dobbs.
Turner started collecting gemstones in the early 2000s and began designing his own pieces in 2017.
He partnered with Dobbs in 2020 and the two launched their business, named after Turner’s daughter, Jamie, in 2022.
Native Texan Claire Sommers Buck is the creative behind her namesake jewelry brand. Her designs are inspired by ancient world cultures.
Her jewelry is handmade in her East Austin studio, with nationally sourced gemstones and metals.
Her affection for handcrafted goods developed at a young age from being in her parents’ ceramic studio, and in 2009, she attended Penland School of Craft in North Carolina, where she refined her metalsmithing skills.
The winners’ jewelry collections are available to shop at Eliza Page in-store and online until Oct. 31.
Also available for purchase are original designs created by the contests’ finalists as part of a challenge to design a piece of jewelry using a salt-and-pepper diamond provided by Eliza Page.
All proceeds from the sale of these pieces, which were donated to the store, will benefit the Center for Child Protection, a local children's advocacy center.
The center utilizes a trauma-informed approach to support children who have been physically or sexually abused or who have witnessed a violent crime.
It is the only nonprofit in Travis County dedicated to investigating and prosecuting crimes against children.
Eliza Page, founded by Elizabeth Gibson, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Gibson introduced “Austin Shines” in 2010 and re-instituted the contest this year in celebration of the milestone.
To learn more about Eliza Page and the “Austin Shines” winners, visit the store’s website.
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