[Gene Tru]

Steve,
I definately like your idea of a contest where beginners would have as good a chance as the experienced engravers of winning. Or even a competition just for beginners would be good too. How about a contest amongst beginners, where those in the contest need to submit at least one (one is a minimum)plan or drawing or original design and then transfer to metal of choice and complete the engraved transfer once a week for as long as the contest goes on? In other words a contestant will be required to submit a drawing, transfer to metal and finish engraving that design each week of the contest. To be submitted to the forum In a tutorial like fashion in that entrant's own thread to be judged by all viewing members. Members can somehow post a grade or vote on a 5 star basis. Members can only vote once on each contestant's new submissions for that week (if a contestant submits more than one entry that week then so much better for that contestant-he stands to collect more stars, if a contestant does not submit something one week then no problem, he just doesn't get any stars that week), but they can vote on more than one contestant's work. ( They may give contestant #1, 3 stars, contestant # 2, 4 stars and so on.) At the end of the contest, the entrant with the most stars wins. Contestants are barred from voting for themselves to prevent unfairness. Contestant can make his/her entry as simple or complicated as the person feels comfortable with, depending on confidence and time etc.

Just an idea, but could be fun and interesting to watch over the period of a few weeks.The more paticipants, both contestants and viewers, the more interesting this could be.

Gene