As you can probably tell from my posts so far, I love rustic, earthy colors and style. But, what isn’t as obvious is that – believe it or not – I actually love a good bit of glitz and sparkle, too. And what I love even MORE is combining rustic and sparkly elements into one design!
I know it seems very counter-intuitive to take something that looks like it was just unearthed and pair it with something that has a “high shine value”, but there is something very visually and emotionally satisfying about bringing contrast together, whether it’s in jewelry design, wardrobe selection (I also love dressy tops with beat up jeans), or home décor (envision vintage crystal and china with distressed, shabby chic furniture). There are endless ways to merge seemingly opposite design concepts together into one cohesive piece or look. I’ve shared a few jewelry examples below, to help get the ball rolling:
When it comes to designing jewelry, I’ve never felt there are rules that need to be adhered to. A design should be about what the artist visualizes and feels is “right” when it comes to creating a piece. When teaching classes, I’ve always encouraged my students to run with the ideas they have, even if it seems like those ideas clash with what is expected in a finished piece.
So please, throw caution to the wind…go out there and combine sparkling crystals with rustic elements and see what a fulfilling path it is to wander down!
