2008
Kathleen loves working with Swarovski components whether they be crystal beads, pearls, fancy stones, or flat back crystals.
The design ideas and challenges are endless! She has learned many new techniques in the four years she has been involved in
the
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Kathryn's Garden
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Swarovski Design Contests, but one of the most intriguing is the endless ways to use the flat back crystals, either alone
or combined with other Swarovski components. One can make the most mundane objects burst into brilliant color. For 2008, the
inspiration for her “Kathryn's Garden” necklace was her garden at home where the natural beauty of flowers and butterflies is
astounding. She says she is very lucky to have such beauty to create from. She wanted this piece to be an “explosion” of color
and movement that is the essence of Mother Nature. She has named my piece “Kathryn's Garden” in memory of her mother Kathryn
who passed away this spring. |
2007
Kathleen has been involved in DIY projects pretty much all of her life. Growing up in a
family of 5 children, they always made their own gifts for each other. This
practice continued into their adulthood. In high school and college she took as
many art classes as she could fit into her schedule and as an adult, she knitted,
crocheted and embroidered many gifts for friends and family. It has been only in the last four
years or so that she has been making jewelry. With this year's contest she had to
teach herself some woodworking and wire manipulating skills.
Crystal Flower Mirror
Kathleen really does not have any preferred techniques and will happily try anything, the more
challenging the better! This is the main reason she cannot resist participating
in the Swarovski contests. She loves working with CRYSTALIZED Swarovski elements
and finding innovative ways to use them, especially ways for which they were not
originally intended. When she designed her Crystal Flower Mirror, she wanted to
make something out of the large pendants. She started out by thinking about
making a piece of jewelry, but with each “flower” she designed, it became clear
that she needed to make a whole garden! Hence, the mirror came into being! She
loves making beautiful things and you cannot get anything any more beautiful than
Swarovski.
2006
Kathleen was already dreaming up her design entries when the second “Create your Style™ with Swarovski®” design competition
“Let Your Sparkling Ideas Come True” was announced. She needed no encouragement from family and friends to enter
“Pink Tourmaline” necklace, “Butterfly Garden” bracelet and “Rainbow Waterfall” necklace, bracelet and two pair earrings.
The “Rainbow Waterfall” collection was chosen as one of the top five designs in the amateur division of this competition.
Kathleen is still thrilled.
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2005
Kathleen Dobkin was encouraged to enter the “Create your Style™ with Swarovski®” design competition by her family and friends.
Always up for a challenge, she designed and created “Romeo and Juliet” bracelet and necklace as well as “Scheherazade”,
“A
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Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Swan Lake” bracelets to enter in Swarovski’s “Cultural Fusion” Design Competition: Jewelry & Accessories.
Kathleen was thrilled to have her “Romeo and Juliet” necklace and bracelet set chosen as one of the top 20 designs in the
amateur division of this contest and accepted the invitation to the awards presentations in New York.
There, Kathleen was pleased and honored to meet with many of the other top designers from all over the world in Swarovski’s
first “Create your Style™ with Swarovski®” design competition.
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Copyright © 2009
Designs by Kathleen Dobkin
Site Developed By James B. Davenport
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