Art Bead Scene Challenge - Dec 2011 - Chrysler Building

Like most things I've tried to accomplish this month, I've run late with my entry into the December Art Bead Scene Challenge--too late to get included in the "December Monthly Blog Tour" for people who submitted their jewelry for the challenge.   My, there were some wonderful entries though, and I'm going to link you to the ABS tour page so you can take a look at the wonderful creations made by those who entered!  I thought this was a very difficult challenge (which is why it took me so long to even decide I was going to try it!)   However,  people came up with wonderful ideas despite the complexity!  


I'm going to go ahead and include my piece here even though it will only be up a short while, just because I did it, and once I finally came up with a concept, I had fun implementing it.   


First, here is the image that was our inspiration. This is the image for December:

Chrysler Building, 1928-1930

William Van Alen

History about the architect and history of the building are included on the ABS Challenge Page, so I'll link rather than explain here.  


Below are photos of my necklace and the theory behind my design.

The necklace's focal point is on this large clear, ribbed glass bead.
It is surrounded by silver beadcaps
and has silver and crystal dangles extending from it.
Just above that is a spacer bead with wires
that continue the ribbed edge theme found on the building exterior.

The spiral bead has small silver beads on either side of it.
Then the necklace branches off into 2 sides.

The next part step up the necklace represents the square and rectangular windows.

One is hidden behind the other here, but there is one on each side.

The next bead section contains round silver beads with  triangular metal overlays, which also represent the layered, sections of the outer construction.

This next section is very important for two reasons.   1) It's where the Art Beads are included, beautiful lampwork beads by Sue Beads.  They are clear with tiny specs of pink, purple, and light blue.  In this case, the blue predominates.   They have silver around the middle of the bead.   In order to keep with my theme,  I capped these lovely beads (though it was a shame to cover any part) with beadcaps that are somewhat pointed.   2)  This section of the necklace is also important thematically because it is the pivotal point where the building meets the sky and the color transition begins.

And from this point on, we reach for bluer and bluer sky.   In the photograph, the sky appears to be all one solid color, but for the necklace, I decided to would look better to have the color be graduated.

The ribbon which reaches around the upper
and back part of the necklace
 again represents the air.
It looks turquoise here,
but it's really a darker blue-- the shade of the cobalt beads,
and more closely matches the photograph.  

We'll see what next month brings!   

The January challenge should be posted soon!  

Keep your eye out on the ABS Blog.   

If you haven't participated before, 

you may want to next time!

Hope you've enjoyed!  --Sharyl

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Photo Credits: 


Chrysler Building photo:  https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCg9GLuvpbxvSYqDRZ_3LLqe2AdK1-mCNBDLs3NHP5PbC08B2UZHrIUV-B2nJNksTf9Hj42Hc2v8tvyJKtXkk59MLggXjqL_qzPlxDMzbcMH3-ZCt-3K98RKoV7BvBwrNJtnvpROhyphenhyphenwIM/s640/ChryslerBuilding.jpg

Jewelry photos by Sharyl, 12/31/11.