NORTHWEST HERALD
When Chloe Dingle tried to think of a present for her mom for Mother's Day, she wanted to find something special.
Her grandmother, Carol Dingle, encouraged her to enter a jewelry design contest at Dalzell Jewelers in Crystal Lake, but the competition was stiff.
After years of offering to replicate a ring designed by a child for Mother's Day, the company took last year off due to the difficulty in recreating the incredible styles children are able to imagine, said Eric Blum, store manager. The company reintroduced the contest this year, offering to recreate a pendant for the winning designer. After years of waning interest, Blum said, they received 55 entries this year.
Chloe Dingle, 10, designed a pendant in the shape of a circle, divided into puzzle pieces containing the initials of her family members.
"I thought it was really cool," said Blum, who debated the designs with fellow store employees, ultimately choosing hers as the winner. The pendant was made of sterling silver, with the initials and frame in 14 karat gold.
"The pendant is an absolutely beautiful piece of jewelry, and they did it identical to her drawing," said Chloe's mother, Sally Dingle, who was surprised with the pendant May 8. "It's crazy how amazing it is."
The back is inscribed with wording Chloe wrote on her entry: "All of our puzzle pieces fit together because we are family and we stay all in one."
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