This was my entry into the very last national Jewellery competition in New Zealand some years ago. I understand sponsorship to hold such competitions is difficult to obtain.
My piece has examples of all sorts of my work. casting (in Art Clay pure silver and copper) I created the moulds 1st using polymer clay, not hard, then formed and kiln fired the metal clay pieces. Not hard and I find this method of "casting" safer and easier to carry out if working alone than traditional methods of casting. I rolled the "wing" pattern into recycled copper using a rolling mill and autumn dried leaves. I have
traditionally set the garnet.