Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Swarovski to hold Tucson workshops

Cut crystal manufacturer Swarovski will host more than 30 workshops and seminars starting Feb. 1 during its "Create your Style with Swarovski" event at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show.

Themes include beadwork, gluing, soldering, design and trends. Swarovski will also display pieces created by the winners of its 2005 design competition at the show, and announce the winners of its 2006 contest.

Other highlights include:

-The Swarovski Jewelry Academy, which teaches the process of making jewelry from start to finish using white metal casting.

-Polymer Clay, which focuses on incorporating crystal with clay techniques to expand options for settings and design.

-Color and Design Inspiration, enabling participants to explore color and design basics.

-Decorative Denim, in which attendees will create one-of-a-kind denim items and learn tips for applying crystal to fabrics