Just so there can be no misunderstanding:

TRADEMASTERS NEWS #224
Date: 1/25/2009 at 13:48
From: the Charites, the Administrators of Crafts
To : Everyone
Subj: Seal of Beauty submissions

We would like to confirm that designs must be approved in order to
qualify for entry into the Seal of Beauty contest.

In light of this, we'd like to encourage trademasters to submit new
designs earlier rather than later, in order to increase the chances of
our getting through everyone's designs. As a prior warning, anything
newly submitted less than 24 hours before the deadline may not be
approved in time.

No new entries will be accepted after midnight GMT on February the 15th.

Penned by My hand on the 5th of Estar, in the year 227 CE.

This should definitely prevent most of the complaining that happened last year. Poor Charites though, they're going to get flooded with submissions now...

(Now, could the admin make it so that trademasters who no longer practice their trade can actually see the designs they're working on? Please?)

It order for it to count towards Beauty, do the Trademasters have to list it in the comments as such?

No need to comment on the designs themselves. In order to enter a design, send a message to the Charites with the number of the design, plus the names of the designer and the cartel.

If this is the case shouldn't the deadline just be changed? What's the point of having a "deadline" if it isn't necessarily going to be a "deadline?"

EDIT: An analogy.

"Your homework is due by next Wednesday, but those who submit it next Tuesday may or may not get credit."

Because they're two different deadlines: one for getting the designs submitted, one for declaring which of the designs in the last year (not only the last week -- some people are using designs already in the system) you want to be your submissions.

Note 'newly submitted'.

All they are doing is making sure last year's fiasco isn't repeated, where half of the designs were't even submission worhy, much less Seal worthy. I think it's a wonderful idea.

This probably will help.

What it means is anyone who's design is on the pending list as of the cut off will not be considered for the Seal of Beauty, even if they've officially messaged the Charites their desire for it to be counted. This wasn't how it was last year.

Unfortunately it also means that the longer it takes you to get said design submitted, the less likely you'll be considered. However, I've the utmost faith in our Charites to do as much as they can - and I'll be keeping a couple pots of coffee brewing in their honour.

I'm still confused on how to actually submit a design for judging, seeing that one cannot message the Charities.

CHARITES. Not Charities.

It's okay, though, I think everyone makes that mistake at least once.

Sure you can... I did it just the other day.

I heard somewhere that each cartel may only submit one design. Is this accurate?

Lol. I probably message them once a week, if I find a design that's messed up somehow, or otherwise need assistance with something. They're here to help, and if they don't want you to bother them, they will let you know.

Just don't abuse it.

For the Seal, yes.

Submit whatever you want cartel wise,and when the item you want considered for the beauty seal is accepted, message the Charites with what design it is, who the artist is that did it, and so on.

Charites. And this entire time I thought it was Charities. Haha