Swarovski 2008 Be Naturally Inspired Design Contest

Last year I entered Swarovski's North American Design Contest - The theme was Be Naturally Inspired. Since Nature is my favorite inspiration, particularly anything having to do with sealife, I thought I would give it a shot!

My inspiration came from one of my favorite things to do - snorkling! Off the coast in Florida from the Seven Mile Bridge is a place called Sombrero Tower. There are moors there for boaters to 'park' and go snorkling.



I could and have spent hours there... lost in the world of incredible corals and fish. So it was that I spent hours 'sewing' beads for this necklace! The shape was hard to come up for a while - I considered a free form shape, natural like the coral reef, but decided maybe a wave shape would be better. I studied photos and drawings of waves, but then again decided against it. Finally, I drew a whale tail shape and decided that would be perfect - feminine and flattering!



My design was entirely bead embroidered with Swarovski crystals and pearls. I was a semi-finalist in the contest and hope to enter again in 2009!