One Pendant, Three Options

My good friend Judy presented me with a challenge a few weeks ago. "Make me a necklace using this pendant."
She didn't want a plain chain, and really didn't have any ideas on what she was looking for...just said she knew I'd come up with something.

When I started thinking about what to do, I first looked for colors. The crystals in the pendant are green, pink and clear AB Swarovski's...but that green is more of a Granny Smith apple green than anything else. Peridot stones were close, but not a perfect match, and I couldn't find any colors in seed beads that were even all that close.

I decided to offer Judy options...anything that she didn't like could be sold, after all! The first thing I tried were some pink 11.0 seed beads interspersed with Peridot chips, and then twisted with another strand of the pink seed beads.Second try was a tubular herringbone using the same pink seed beads. I love the feel of this snakey chain, and while bead weaving isn't one of my favorite things to do, it worked up pretty quickly once I got started.
I got my final inspiration after I posted the first two options on a jewelry making forum...I thought about using a chunky chain and tossing in some peridot and light pink Swarovski crystals. Since I didn't have any chunky pre-made chain, I made my own! The ovals are soldered jump rings, which I then "spread" using my Wubbers chain nosed pliers. I really like the looks of this chain a lot, and I think it sets off the pendant well - a funky and hip look overall.
I like this chain a lot, and I think I'll make another - it was time consuming, but I think the end result was worth it.

So tomorrow I hope to present Judy with all three options and let her decide which is her favority. How about you? What other options could I have come up with?

Labels: chainmaille, challenge, necklace, pendant, seed beads, sterling silver, Swarovski, wire working

posted by Beading Help Web Editorial Team at 11:49 AM |