Outback Memories Design Challenge: Design 2
Lauren Noelle Fiabane, Anaheim Hills, California
When I learned of Tess and Chloe’s story, I knew I wanted to knit together the activities they enjoyed with their Outback adventure, honoring Chloe’s free-spirited nature in the design. Before beginning the design, I talked to my friends who had been to Australia, asked to see their pictures, and researched online. I worked through a number of different sketches and ideas before deciding on this cuff bracelet.
The foundation of the design is a four-inch wide cuff made from Australian kangaroo leather. It’s woven in a design that resembles knitting, an activity the two women shared. The cuff laces up the back with a kangaroo leather cord that dangles four boulder opal beads, which symbolize Tess’s two sons and daughters-in-law, bringing her family into the piece. (In the future, Tess can choose to add more beads for additional family members or other trips.)
Wanting to bring in Chloe’s view from heaven of the Sydney Opera House, I studied aerial photos and designed the centerpiece based on those. The three-dimensional cast palladium component—a light yet strong metal that I chose because of the substantial size of the piece—is enhanced by the three chrysoprase set in 18k yellow gold.
Four palladium sheet panels with Aboriginal-style designs, two on each side, frame the chrysoprase centerpiece. Each 18k-framed panel offers a different memory of their trip: kangaroos and lizards in the outback, and a baobab tree and water lily from their visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens. The yellow gold in the piece represents the glow of lights from the opera house and the warmth of the two women’s earlier travels to Madrid, Santorini, and London.
As with most of my designs, this piece is organic and symmetrical, balancing bold simplicity and inspired detail. The cuff has a lot of personality and encompasses Chloe’s spirit so Tess can wear it and have her near.
