You may or may not know but earlier this year Naomi exhibited her glass sculptural vessels in London at New Designers One Year On 2017.
During this very important exhibition she met many people, artists/makers/designers, business professionals, students and the general public. It was an experience like no other.
It was at this show that Naomi met Ute Schumacher - Director Creative Direction and Design Network at SWAROVSKI®, she liked the glass sculptural vessels Naomi had on display and asked Naomi about the material she had used, and if these works could in fact be made in Crystal. Naomi being herself, said 'I'd love to have a go!'
Being a maker who enjoys challenging materials and processes, this challenge is right up her street.
To cut a long story short, she contacted Sandra O'Connor - Senior Manager Design Network & Sponsoring at Swarovski®, who sent her out a lot of catalogues and examples of the Crystal available to sample.
It took time to get familiar with the material. Having researched the Swarovski® brand, and the designers currently working with the material. Naomi was fascinated by the variety of makers, designers, and companies who make, design and use Swarovski® Crystals in their work.
The Swarovski® Crystals arrived, and Naomi has been busy exploring the articles sampled in her studio and kiln over the last few months of summer. She has learnt a great deal of technical information about the Crystal through her extensive experiments.
Having had challenges with the material Naomi has continued and found a way of creating a vessel form in the style of her working in Swarovski® Cut Crystal.
The piece holds over 280 Cut Crystals, it shimmers and shines and is a wonder to the eyes.
Magical.