Lorelei's Michaels Challenge 2

This is my second time participating in Lorelei's Michals Challenge.  It went more smoothly for me this time.  I can't count the number of hours I put into the last necklace.  This time from the very beginning, I knew I would do wire wrapping because of the color palette and because I really like to use my hands the way wire wrapping makes them feel.  I used 22 gauge annealed steel wire for all of the wire except the beaded bar that carries the focal pendant.

I start my photos with a picture of the clasp which is one of my own ceramic toggle clasps.  I used a Bali style silver plated bar for it.  I had thought of making a bar from steel wire but didn't as I ran out of time.  I got into this very late because of the Lake Effect Snow Events that separate me and our nearest Michaels store.  But I made it.

This picture is of the wire wrapped glass beads, a lone pearl and a heart.  I used this cluster to decorate and  color the overhand knot I made in the second row of chain.

This picture is of the beaded bar that carries the focal pendant.  The pendant is of chives flowering in late Spring.  I used the idea of the chive plant to title the piece Perennial.  Also, chives begin to grown in the Spring when nothing else is growing and the landscape looks like it does now.  Wintry. The pendant is made from earthenware ceramic clay. 

I used purple ceramic beads as one of the components that I added to the mix.  The  necklace seemed to call for that color.  Luckily the Chive pendant also had purple in it.  The other component I added is some of my little hearts.

This is a picture of the necklace in progress.  I had the usual design problems that I encounter.  Things didn't look right for quite a while.  You can see from this picture some of the changes I made along the way to improve things. 

Here is a picture of the necklace all put together.  I think it flows better when worn than in the picture.  I am quite happy with it.

Here are the beads that we worked with.  I substituted the light lavender ovals for the faceted beads in the photo since I couldn't find them at Michaels.  I really loved working with this chain.  The glass beads are such fun to wire wrap and they look so good with the steel wire, I think. 

Thank you so much Lorelei for doing this.  It is always such an amazing experience.

Please check out the other participants.  These links do not seem to be live so please go here

http://silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com



http://blog.elysianstudiosart.com/



http://threeredbeads.blogspot.com/



http://starcitystory.blogspot.com/



http://erinsiegeljewelry.blogspot.com/



http://www.thistlefarmarts.blogspot.com/



http://therabbitmuse.blogspot.com/



http://lindalandig.wordpress.com/



http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/



http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/



http://jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com/



http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/



http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com/



http://deborahmpurdy.blogspot.com/



http://beadhappytoday.blogspot.com/



http://pinkicejewels.blogspot.com/



http://craftyhope.blogspot.com/



http://gr8findings.wordpress.com/



http://tropicbeads.blogspot.com/



http://melissaruth.com/blog/



http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/



http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/