Contest!!

Any engraver worth his salt knows that problem-solving involves a succession of steps, rational and otherwise, with the goal of producing high quality work. When these steps fail, the Master has instructed us to take extraordinary means. Some of these cannot be printed here. At the tail end of our battle, when all are brought low before an unsolvable mess, the Master has one final pithy phrase to impart: "Pray over it!!" he would roar as he stormed off and out the door, not to be seen for a very long weekend. In the spirit of praying over it in the absence of the Master Engraver, we feel that many engravers would feel imspired if they had a special place to go to when they have reached the end of a lonely and unsuccessful struggle with die-wipe problems, spraying ink, registration troubles--on and on we could go; one trouble leading to another.

Therefore we announce an Engraver's Shrine Contest! Submit your design and we will place it online for all engravers to critique. At the end of a special period of time, the winner will be announced by decree and the monument will be built for the benefit of all die-stampers. Die-stampers at a distance may have to pray at this shrine online. There will be a small administrative fee for this privilege.

The Entries

This entry, by Jim Henry, is rendered in front and side views. Note the stepped arrangement of the votive candles and the tasteful Vase for Whatever.

Next, below, we have an entry by prominent Mankato landlord, Anthony Anderson.

The curved stairs are a nice touch. This next blueprint is by the Chancellor of the North Mankato Port Authority. His name is also Anthony Anderson.

Feel free to send us your comments on these entries.