Artists with local connections won two of the top awards at the 16th Annual Western Design Conference that started Thursday at Snow King Resort Pavilion and concludes at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Jackson’s own Michelle Julene repeated her win from last year in the best collection award for her Michelle Julene Couture line displayed Thursday night at the conference’s fashion show. The accolade came with a $1,000 prize.

Metal worker Susan Adams, who has shown her pieces for years at Cayuse Western Americana in town, won best of show. Her entry was picked from work displayed on 102 pedestals and in 62 booths at in the Snow King Pavilion.

Adams entered a silver water pitcher accented by design work such as a detailed log fence. She collected $5,000 for the best-in-show award sponsored by valley residents Foster and Lynn Friess.

“The craftsmanship is unbelievable,” conference event manager Allison Dryden said Friday. “It is almost hard to describe. You have to see it in person.”

On Friday night, the conference planned to hold its jewelry show. The top jewelry prize, the people’s choice award and the exhibitor’s choice award were slated to be announced at 3 p.m. Saturday in the pavilion.

Through Friday afternoon, traffic had been brisk at Snow King, said Nancy McCullough-McCoy, publisher of Teton Home and Living, the official magazine of the conference.

“I think the vendors are very happy,” McCullough-McCoy said. “There’s lots of buzz.”

The other major awards listed below each carried $1,000 prizes.

The Western Spirit Award, sponsored by Gibbs Smith Publisher, went to James Mundorf, of The Drover House. The Wort Hotel-backed Historical Crafts-manship award went to Lester Santos, of Santos Furniture.

James Vilona, of James Vilona Sculptures, was named best metal artist. Supaya Gray Wolf, of Many Tears, won for best leather artist, an award sponsored by GH Leather.

Jeter Case, from JC Jewelers of Jackson, was named best artist in the art-to-wear jewelry category. The best art to wear fashion category went to Stephen Sanders, from Stephen’s of Colorado.

Richard Parrish, of Fusio Studio, won best artist for accents. Dave and Peggy Ganley won the best artist woodworking division, sponsored by Jackson State Bank&Trust.

Two area artists won honorable mention awards: Dan Burgette for woodworking and Mary Mullaney for accents.

The 17th Annual Western Design Conference will be held Sept. 10-12, 2009, in Jackson Hole.