4TH ANNUAL FIRE IN PLACE CULTURED OPAL CHALLENGE WINNER IS... by Holly Gage
- Holly Gage
- Sep 10
- 6 min read
Every year, my husband, Christopher, and I host a Fire in Place Cultured Opal Challenge (FIP), inviting artists to push the boundaries of creativity, craftsmanship, and storytelling using Healing Phoenix Lapidary’s stunning FIP cultured opals. This year’s entries were nothing short of stunning examples of what can be done with the Fire in Place Cultured Opals. Each piece is a testament to the magic that happens when imagination meets new innovations and techniques.
What We Looked For
We challenged artists to create pieces that were innovative, functional, and balanced in design with a high degree of excitement. They need to display a unique use of gem setting techniques with impeccable bezel craftsmanship with no cracks, gem haze, visible imperfections, or distortion. Finally, the photography MUST highlight the beauty and sparkle of the gem used. In other words, a bad photo was a bad entry.
But this wasn’t just about the final product or even $225 worth of prizes; it was a learning challenge. We asked artists to share their process, their learning, and their journey. And they did.
And the Fire in Place Cultured Opal Winner is... LauraKay Whiticar Darvill
LauraKay’s piece was fantastic storytelling through Metal Clay. Inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, her pendant explored the tension between “Old Money” and “New Money,” symbolized by the East Egg and West Egg. At the heart of the piece was Gatsby’s yearning—his gaze fixed on the green glow of Daisy’s dock lantern, represented by a luminous 8x10 mm Green Fire Fire in Place Cultured Opal. What a great choice!
The pendant, measuring a bold 3” x 4.3”, was rich in symbolism and detail. The left side shimmered with the opulence of the Roaring Twenties, while the right side offered a more restrained, classical elegance. The green opal glowed like a beacon in the mist — capturing the essence of longing, hope, and the elusive American Dream. LauraKay says, "Creating all the parts and then assembling them was a real challenge, and adjustments were made continually. And I love the glow of the Green FIP Opal."
LauraKay’s work stood out not only for its technical execution, but for its conceptual depth. It invited viewers to linger, ponder, and connect. Do you recognize some of the symbolism used?
Honorable Highlights
While LauraKay took the top prize, every artist brought something unique to the table:
Ann Adkins – Sword of the Spirit
Ephesians 6 was Ann's inspiration, with a lot of rich symbolism in her depiction of the battle of good vs. evil, and so the piece was engaging, suggesting you explore each element to understand how they interact.
The sword represents the strength of spirit, and the snake is the bad guy. The sword is meant for Royalty, thus the hilt is made of gold bronze, and bejeweled in a 6mm Bermuda Ocean Cultured FIP Faceted Opal, accompanied by (2) 4 x 6 mm Cool Mint
Cultured FIP Oval Cabochons.
The top bezel is carved, as is the hilt and the snake. The body of the sword is .950 Silver and designed and cut on the Cricut, which she has mastered and teaches others to use. Then soldered to molded angel wings in Fine Silver. The 6 mm Black Fire Cultured Opal has a thin-set bezel, and its red fiery glow represents the striking of the snake. The pendant is
2.14 x 1.75" with a hidden bail.
Ann says, "Metal Cay and Metalsmithing techniques were used for this piece. The Opals held up beautifully through 2 firings and soldering!"
Lisa M. Barnes –
Radiant Heavens
Lisa’s piece had a dreamy, ethereal quality, creating a ring highlighting the 8 x 10 mm Green Fire Cultured Opal Cabochon. She said the Green Fire Cultured Opal spoke to her because the color and movement reminded her of the Northern Lights. She expanded on this concept to include stars in a swirling galaxy. The ring was made from ProjectX 960 Silver Clay with clear and Peridot CZs to accentuate the Opal.
Lisa says, "Since I used a high-shrinkage clay, I created the piece in two firings. First, I made the ring with embedded CZs, and added the top swirls in Metal Clay. I fired at 1600°F for one hour in vermiculite for support. After making prongs from Metal Clay Syringe for the Opal, which was her first time trying this, she refired the piece at 1600 for 30 minutes. She forgot to cover the opal in vermiculite as suggested, but it survived just fine! I tumbled the piece using Holly’s suggestion of painting frisket over the Opal to protect it, and finished by adding a light patina."
Marnie Ehlers – Romance Éternelle It was Marnie's first time using one of the Fire in Place Cultured Opals, and she says, "It was everything it was promised to be!"
The design was intended to evoke a sense of nostalgia, conveying a quiet sentiment and timeless beauty. Marnie's design, with its graceful syringe-drawn filigree, which she masters beautifully, cradles the luminous 10 x 5 mm Pink Blush Faceted Marquise Cultured Opal.
The pendant was made from Silver Metal Clay Syringe applied over an investment base. The base was made from polymer clay, and then a 2-part mold was used to make the investment form. The back that the dome sits on was made using a hand-carved polymer texture plate.
Monique Perry – Luna Moth
Monique had a beautifully refined quality to her piece. The Pink Opal seemed to us to represent the moon as the luna part of the description, and she allowed the Green Fire-Cultured Opal gems to highlight the eye spots on a moth.
This piece incorporates 3 FIP Faceted Opals, one 5 mm Pink Blush Cultured Opal, and two 3 mm Green Fire Cultured Opals. Created with Art Clay 999. Monique says, "I have fired these [Healing Phoenix Lapidary] Opals before; they are easy to fire and add so much flash and beauty to a design! New to me with this piece was using a nifty tentacle tool I purchased many years ago, but almost never used, for the coil around the center stone."
Donna Yutzy piece had a rhythmic, circular flow that drew the eye. Her use of Opal Shards and Healing Phoenix Lapidary 8 mm Pink Lady Trillion Cultured Opal created a cultural feel that invited deeper exploration into the design.
The Prize Package
The Fire in Place Cultured Opal Winner, LauraKay will receive a treasure trove of materials to fuel her next masterpiece thanks to 3 Sponsors - Healing Phoenix Lapidary, Gage Designs, and Prometheus Hobby Metal Clays:
A selection of Healing Phoenix Lapidary Fire in Place Cultured Opals
2-hour mentoring session with Holly Gage
A variety of Prometheus Hobby Metal Clays in bronze, copper, and more
Her winning piece will be featured on the Metal Clay and Mixed Media Forum banner for 30 days, and celebrated across newsletters, blogs, and social media.
A Learning Journey
This challenge wasn’t just about winning—it was about growth. Artists shared their triumphs, challenges, and their discoveries. From experimenting with new tools to refining firing techniques, each entry reflected a journey of learning and exploration.
And perhaps most importantly, it showcased what’s possible with these new Cultured Fire in Place Opals by Healing Phoenix Lapidary, with tolerances up to 1650ºF. Their fire, durability, and versatility were praised across the board—and the results speak for themselves.
Congratulations to all who entered. Your work dazzled, inspired, and reminded us why we create. Who's ready for next year?
Judging
This contest was quite challenging for Christopher and me to judge, so we were as objective as possible. We used a number system from 1 to 5 for each category, with the weight focused more on innovation and design. Our overall impression of the entries was of surprise and delight at the uniqueness of each piece. We enjoyed the stories they shared about their inspiration, what they learned, and how they created their final work. We recognize the hard work and thought, as well as the large variety of techniques applied.
With the quality and design of these entries, it emphasises what can be done with these heat-resistant Cultured Opals. Our favorite comments were hearing people say how easy they were to use, even after being initially intimidated to try them. Their designs certainly showed off their brilliance beautifully!
Our Sponsors
Healing Phoenix Lapidary: Healing Phoenix Lapidary Prometheus Hobby Metal Clays: Prometheus Hobby Metal Clays
Gage Designs: Gage Designs
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