Create Your Style with Crystallized Elements - Design Expressions from Brazil and Russia

40 Designers from around the world were invited to create designs inspired by Russia and Brazil for a book and world tour.  I was one of a handful of American designers invited and I was deeply honored to participate.  In these three designs I explored metaphorical and symbolic design elements to capture the essence of the Russia with the magic of Swarovski® crystal.

 

Snow Princess Crystal Crown
Copyright 2006 Margot Potter for Swarovski® Create Your Style
The Snow Princess is a Russian Folktale about a lonely old couple who long desperately for a daughter of their own.  One winter day they build a snow princess and she magically comes to life.  She brings them great joy until spring comes and she melts, leaving them alone again.  This fantasy crown has snowflakes, stars, pearls and fanciful shapes on long twisted wires while white fur and crystals on wire are wrapped around the base.  The design is meant to represent the ephemeral beauty and magic of the Snow Princess.

St. Basil’s Cathedral Gift Box
Copyright 2006 Margot Potter for Swarovski® Create Your Style
St. Basil’s Cathedral is a prime example of Russian architectural design elements.  The textured, swirled and colorful turrets are instantly recognizable.  In this design, a small section of a photograph of two towers is blown up, cropped and textured in Photoshop.  This image is turned into a photo transfer and attached to all four sides of a paper box with decoupage medium.  The box lid has a large simplicity bead on wire to replicate the shape of the turrets.  The images are then partially crystallized and framed in crystal chain.

Baba Yaga Necklace
Copyright 2006 Margot Potter for Swarovski®
Baba Yaga is the crone/witch/wise woman figure in many Russian Folk Tales.  She can be a magical helper or she can be quite dangerous.  She lives in a house that stands on chicken legs and her yard is filled with skulls and bones.
This design represents her through many symbols.  There are cascades of thin leather with random charms hanging from them.  Polymer clay chicken bones are wrapped in crystals to represent her dual nature.  Crystal stars and crystal moons represent the old ways of the Goddess.  Skulls represent the danger she presents and her crone nature.  The design is random, free form, wild and unrefined, yet oddly beautiful, as is Baba Yaga.

     

 
 
©Copyright 2006, Margot Potter / site design by: vlad alvarez