Sunset on the Beach

Waves of blue glass beads with intermittent hues of sand, sun-drenched oranges and flecks of gold along with a captivating oversize mother-of-pearl shell pendant make this artisan necklace the perfect piece of jewelry for a trip to an exotic island or a getaway cruise. The antique golds and amber hues of the metals and bead accents throughout the 9 strands of the necklace have a wonderful effect on the turquoise blues and sand tones that perfectly reflects that of the beach at sunset. I can almost feel the warm glow of the days’ last rays of sunshine on my skin when the sand starts to cool and all you can hear is the sound of the waves crashing on the shore.

This beautiful, iridescent shell pendant is handmade from natural mother of pearl and is 70mm in diameter. Mother of pearl is the iridescent coating on the inside of mollusk shells and the same substance that creates pearls. When a shell gets irritated, it coats itself with nacre (the same material as its lining) and after layers and layers form, a pearl is produced. That is why this lining, or nacre, is called the Mother of Pearl. I used natural leather and brass wire to attach the pendant adding even more rustic and earthy character to the necklace.

The nine strands of this dramatic and elegant necklace are composed of an assortment of beads with the predominant material being a unique mix of Czech glass beads. This wonderful assortment includes turquoise, aqua, beige, topaz and brown tones with a variety of finishes including matte, luster, opaque and Raku-technique. The glass beads are accented by citrine, mookaite, amber, mother of pearl coins, shell, carved and batiked bone, wood, horn, brass and antiqued gold-plated pewter.

Each end of this magnificent necklace employs a series of beads including bamboo tubes, exotic wood beads, brass tubes and intricately woven African brass beads. The exotic woods used to create the wood beads include mulga, pixie bush, gimlet, boree, jarrah, gidgee, and sandalwood all of which have been found on the forest floor or recycled from discarded timber. The woven brass beads are made in a village near Kumasi, Ghana. They are made, one by one, by weaving wax "wires" into a form, investing them in clay, burning out the wax and pouring molten brass into the mold. Each mold is hand made making each bead slightly different from the next. Although these appear to be ancient beads, they are actually newly made in Ghana.

This necklace is a unique and unusual mix of both modern and ancient styles, earthy and elegant components and artistic yet fashionable design. It is sure to become a favorite in any jewelry collection as it is versatile in regards to the seasons of the year as well as within ones wardrobe. It closes with an antiqued gold-plated pewter hook-and-eye clasp and can be adjusted from 27 – 31 inches in length.