ABS Challenge, April 2012: "Boreas" Necklace

This month's Art Bead Scene challenge entry was going to be so easy.


...And any time I start with that idea, things are bound not to be!

Boreas by John William Waterhouse, 1903

As noted on the Art Bead Scene Blog site,

...Called Boreas after the north wind in Greek mythology, the work shows a young girl in a windswept landscape. In 1904 the Royal Academy notes described the subject as: 'In wind-blown draperies of slate-colour and blue, a girl passes through a spring landscape accented by pink blossom and daffodils.

* * * * * * * * * *

When I saw this painting, one I've admired for a long while, I  realized I had a number of good options for pendants.   One was this beautiful focal bead I've been saving for many, many months--just waiting for the right project--something worthy of the lovely lampwork.   Here was my chance...

My photographs cannot do it justice.

It's difficult to describe this bead.   

It's more of an "experience" than anything else.

I find when I look at it, I'm not just seeing 

a lovely piece of hand-made glass,

I'm experiencing something very special.

Jennifer Cameron, from JenCameronDesigns

created this focal bead called:

           "Mushroom Hunting in Wonderland." 

The color is blue with hints of violet, gray, and green.  There are very tiny swirls of tan and yellow at each end.

All I had to do was find the right beads and design to go with it.   And to somehow make the piece my own.   Easy, right?


I went through shop after shop online, comparing beads I could use for the rest of the necklace.  I felt sure I wanted glass beads, likely glass crystals, for most of the necklace, but also wanted to incorporate some hand-dyed ribbon with the colors of the painting.   I spent hours...many...hours...trying to buy the perfect beads and ribbons.


I wanted to use two types of beads.  I made several "misses" on the beads which really s-l-o-w-e-d ...my..project...d-o-w-n.   (Too small, WAY too small, too gray,  too blue, too purple, too clashy, too matchy...)     Until,...

...with the help of Jenni, the shop owner 

at Cascadia Beads, 
I found my first "perfect" match for beads! 

I sent her a photo of my focal so she could compare 

3 similar beads to match the right color.  

She did a terrific job!   Thank you, Jenni!  

(From her shop come the Faceted Rondell Czech Glass Picasso Beads in Montana Blue  (6x8mm), which make up most of the necklace.   

The "perfect" hand-dyed

      NIGHTFALL dark shimmer edge ribbon

ribbon came from 

Abby&Ellie Originalz,

blending shades of blue, turquoise, 

violet, and grayish-green.

(Unfortunately, the other "perfect" beads I had in mind arrived after I put the necklace together, 

but I will save them for another 

Boreas-inspired necklace I already have in mind!)

Instead, I incorporated fresh-water pearls in Peacock, cut glass crystals in a lighter, bluer-blue, some in a gold color, and used accent beads in blue-gray glass, brass, and copper. 

The variety of colors probably worked to the advantage of the necklace by giving it more visual interest.

So here is the necklace!

I made the beaded part of the necklace first, then attached the silk for the back, then created the complete pendant last.


It looks rather short here, but is actually fairly long.  The beaded sections run over 8" on each side.  With the ribbon, the necklace is over 28" around.  The ribbon can be adjusted to shorten or lengthen the necklace.   The focal bead is over 1" long, with the total length of the pendant being over 5" long.

I hope you've enjoyed this month's challenge as much as I have!   (A special thanks to Jennifer Cameron for creating this lovely lampwork bead!)


Please take a look at the other submissions to the April ABS Challenge.   On Friday, April 27, please follow the ABS blog hop and see the beautiful creations of others! 

Thank you for visiting and for any comments you would care to leave.   

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry