R&B superstar Rihanna commissioned artist Claire Milner to create the largest head portrait of Marilyn Monroe made from 65,000 Swarovski crystals.

The sparkling work of art is 5-feet by 5-feet and has 65,000 hand set crystals attached to Acrylic. The piece took Milner four months to create and it weighs and impressive 80 kilograms. It was created for Rihanna’s new Los Angeles home.

Milner says the portrait was inspired by Marilyn’s own words and various images of the late star.

The crystals used in the portrait have mirror-like qualities and according to the artist, the image changes mood in different light conditions.

 

Milner will be exhibiting her artworks in 2012, including dancers, animals and landscapes in mixed media and Swarovski crystals.

 

Did you know that August 5, 2012 is the 50th anniversary of the death of Marilyn Monroe?  I LOVE anything Marilyn Monroe and you all know how much I love SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS.  What I would do to have this on my wall!!

 

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These Color TrendGuides from MerchantsOverseas.com are a great way to easily keep up on color trends in fashion, jewelry, accessories and home decor.  This Spring, colors are neon bright! I am in love with Funky colors and can’t wait to start shopping after the holidays! =) Reminds me of the 80s!!!

Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau will present Sparkle 90210, a holday event series featuring dazzling décor, glowing entertainment and horse-drawn carriage rides on select Thursdays and Fridays in December from 5-8pm.  Sparkle 90210, which takes its cue from “Let it Sparkle,” the holiday partnership which includes a SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystallized installation on Rodeo Drive to display a Twitter-feed of holiday greetings, will dazzle with a line-up of whimsy and merriment.

Sparkle 90210 kicks off Thursday, December 1 at 5pm with snow and lighting effects featured at Beverly Cañon Gardens and Two Rodeo Drive.  As cascading snow falls throughout the evening, shoppers will be greeted by the celestial sounds of the Beverly Hills Madrigals, the award-winning Beverly Hills High School choir, caroling holiday classics.

To heighten excitement, street performers from the “Sparkle Street Theatre” will float around town spreading holiday cheer.  Wearing glowing costumes designed by Janet Hansen of Enlighted Designs, whose recent clients have included Katy Perry, Daft Punk and Britney Spears, these animated characters will engage the crowds and pass out sparkling adornments for all to wear.

Dates: Thursdays & Fridays, December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 & 16

Time: 5-8pm

Where: Throughout the Golden Triangle (anchored by Wilshire Blvd., Crescent Drive, Little Santa Monica Blvd. and Bedford Drive) and along South Beverly Drive

SO SAD I WON’T BE THERE =( =( =(

 Kim Zolciak got married last Friday, and she did not shy away from drama or extravagance. Here SWAROVSKI and Pearl dress weighed 32 pounds and was completely full of Swarovski crystals, pearls and beads.  It is also made with duchesse satin.

“An elegant and lustrous fabric, duchesse satin is shiny, heavy, and luxurious. Often used for couture wedding gowns or extravagant home decor, duchesse satin has been around since ancient China. Silk weavers made this textile with many layers of delicate fibers that created a soft texture with a lot of body and sheen. It is a popular choice for wedding gowns because it drapes well, helping to create full and beautiful skirts. 

Would you expect anything else from this Real Housewife of Atlanta?  She also wore a matching veil with the same material shining in Swarovski Crystals. Maybe that’s why Zolciak’s dress cost $58,000 dollars!!

Artist: Christina Burch

Artist: Wonjung Choi

Artist: Natasha Law

Artist: Irina Volkonskii for Swarovski

Artist: Mark Boomershine

This season’s innovations mirror the trend towards rediscovering natural beauty in the city. With its mix of cultures and creativity, along with an urge to preserve our urban environment, the city provides inspiration for the latest crystal additions from SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS’ design studio.

The newest shades to grace the SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS spectrum reflect this spirit: Denim Blue and Crystal Petrol Pearl echo the powerful associations of the color blue, known for its calming effect, its sense of optimism and its connection with the blue planet, our natural habitat.

 

Crystal Antique Pink, on the other hand, brings to mind a re-engagement with nostalgia and romance.

The Fusion Concepts assortment has been enhanced with the subtle sheen and versatility of six new Ceramics colors for Fall/Winter 2012/13, heralding a revival of the classic cuts. One such example is the androgynous Twist Sew-on Stone, mirroring a key look this season, balanced by the softening effect of the new Ceramic Heart.

The highly successful Crystal Mesh XL has been extended to include the discreetly glamorous Ceramics Mesh XL, which now offers nine colors. 

New crystal stones include Graphic Flat Back Hotfix and No Hotfix, with their interplay between yin and yang, rough and smooth, reinforcing the cross-gender trend. Sorbet shades give a nod to 1950s nostalgia in the smoothly tactile Cabochon Flat Back Hotfix range, while the transformative power of Sew-On Stones has been intensified by the glittering new Rivoli, XILION, Oval, Navette and Drop Sew-On Stones.

 The simpler indents of the Contour Baguette Fancy Stone is an elegant update on the traditional baguette shape, while the Graphic Fancy Stone’s offbeat irregularity perfectly suits the gender-neutral look.

Long treasured for its brilliance, XILION Heart’s upgrade has further cemented its unrivalled position.

Beads radiate retro appeal, illustrated by the Wild Heart Bead’s rock ‘n’ roll edge. The newest colors of Manish Arora’s delightful ‘Love Story of the Heart’ pendant echo this, while the geometric lines and faceting of the Rhombus Pendant suggest an updated ’40s classic.

Semi-finished Products have an impressive roll-call of innovations and line extensions, from the Crystaltex-it Chaton Motives and half-circular Eclipse Flat Backs Hotfix, to Graphic Flat Backs Hotfix and Classic Square Flat Backs Hotfix. Crystal Fabric and Crystal Rocks have also received eye-catching new effects and colors. Crystalex Chaton Bandings, with its myriad XILION chatons, plus a dazzling range of Crystal Pearl Buttons and a vast array of tiny sparkling Rondelle Bars complete the line-up.

These innovations are a tribute to all the artists and craftsmen who draw inspiration from the exhilarating cultural references of the city, and translate their experience into dazzling creativity.