In preparation for the holiday mart at Northern Colorado Writers a couple of weeks ago, I made jewelry inspired by about a dozen local author's books. All my designs except one were earrings. Here's the story behind the necklace I made in honor of a young adult book by local author Amy Kathleen Ryan.
Today's Book: Zen & Xander Undone by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Zen and Xander are two sisters whose mother died a year ago. The summer before Xander goes to college, they stumble upon a secret about their mother. They spend some time—along with the boy next door—unraveling that mystery and getting into a bit of trouble along the way.
I love the book's opening paragraph: "My sister, Xander, causes a scandal practically everywhere she goes. Even funeral receptions, I now know." Doesn't that make you want to read more?
My Jewelry Design
Pendant
I knew once I saw this tiny brass envelope with the little brass "I love you" letter inside that I'd found the perfect pendant for this necklace. Zen and Xander's mom leaves them letters to read after she's gone.
Crystals
I used the two pink crystals to represent the sisters—both pink, but different shades. I added a third crystal in a neutral color because throughout the book there always seemed to be another person (the cute boy next door, their dad, their grandma) in between the sisters.
Chain
The brass chain uses unsoldered links, which means you don't need to cut them, but can open and close them like jump rings. I could say that I chose it for that reason—that it symbolizes how family bonds are flexible and can change without breaking. But in truth, I chose it because it was a great match for the color of the pendant and the small links fit the scale of the tiny crystals. (Sometimes chain is just chain!)
Back of necklace
After I finished the necklace, I thought it looked a little too happy. This is definitely a book with a mix of emotions. So I added the faceted black glass bead at the back of the necklace. The color and the coil of wire at the base of it symbolize that swirl of darkness.
Overall design
I think this design is a great match for a young adult novel, since some teenagers seem to put on a bright and happy face (the front of the necklace) and hide their true feelings (the back of the necklace.) Additional photos are on the Beads & Books website.
A funny side note: You'll notice that the necklace has a crystal butterfly on it. I honestly had no idea where that came from when I was creating the necklace, but I felt pretty strongly that I should include it. In writing this post, I visited the author's website for the first time in months and there are butterflies all over it! So that's a great lesson to trust your instincts, even if you're not sure why they are telling you to do something.
Design Tips
- When creating a necklace, start with a great pendant. Once you have selected that, you'll find that the rest of the design will fall more easily into place.
- If a book has contrasting themes such as light/dark, try to represent both sides in your design.
What's inspiring you today?