WINTER WONDERLAND

While
the winter of 2011 has been difficult for most of the United States, no
one can deny the pristine beauty of fresh-fallen snow. It gleams in the
sun, sparkling from stark tree limbs denuded of summer’s leaves.

Nowhere
has it snowed quite as much as in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.
Gazing out the windows of our house in the forest there, the sparkle of
new snow was nearly blinding. It reminded me of Swarovski Elements
crystals that are specifically faceted to flash brilliant light from
each bead or stone.

When Artbeads
issued a Winter Inspiration challenge, I knew immediately what to make
– a lariat of Swarovski Elements. I began by choosing three types of
Crystal Yarn (www.artbeads.com/swarovski-crystal-yarn.html):
cream mohair woven with 4mm bicone Elements in crystal; white cashmere
with 3mm bicone Elements in crystal, and black cotton studded with 3mm
crystal pearl Elements in the mystic black shade. To me, these
represented the different shades of tree branches during the course of
a day in their various coverings of snow -- sometimes bare and black,
sometimes fluffily coated with new snow, and sometimes crystal hard
with icy snow – but always with the crystalline sparkle of winter.

Then I selected a variety of Elements to embellish the lariat:

• A 14mm Ceramic Cosmic Ring in Marbled Black (www.artbeads.com/swarovski-crystal-rings-4139.html)
to collect the strands in the front; and a selection of crystal pearls
and pendants to drip from the ends of the Crystal Yarn. The ring is cut
with small facets angled to catch the light and create a soft
reflection.

• The Elements that I
felt were the most appropriate to grace the ends of the lariat are the
20mm Column Pendants in Crystal (http://www.artbeads.com/6460-cry20.html).
These beautifully faceted columns remind me of the huge icicles that
hang from our eaves, shimmering in the light, as do the 18mm Aquiline
Pendant in Crystal (www.artbeads.com/5531-aqualine-swarovski.html )

• My impression was that the 24mm Silver-Plated Graduated Drop in Crystal AB flashed the look of sunlight off new snow (www.artbeads.com/4139b-miv14.html).

•
For a contrast in color, finish and feel, I included some 10mm Baroque
Pearls in Platinum. Swarovski Elements Crystal Pearls are designed to
imitate the irregular shape found in naturally occurring baroque
pearls. With their leaded crystal core, Swarovski Crystal Pearls have a
heavier, more realistic feel than faux glass pearls and are resistant
to perspiration, UV rays, perfumes, and scratches. (www.artbeads.com/swarovski-5840-baroque.html)

•
Lastly I chose several 6mm Silver-Plated Channel Drop in Jet and in
Black Diamond to represent the end of the cycle, here in the Northeast:
the old snow becoming sprinkled with dirt as it awaits either melting
temperatures or a fresh coating of snow. (www.artbeads.com/swarovski-channel-drops.html)

What Elements would inspire you to design a necklace representing winter?