One of the surprisingly things about living in Colorado is the weather. Growing up in California, I had always thought that cold meant cloudy and dark skies. If it was sunny, it was warm. To know how to dress in the morning, all you had to do was look out the window.
Living in Colorado I now know that there can be a perfectly clear blue sky and eighty degrees ... or thirty! I never knew that it was possible for it to be snowing and sunny at the same time.
You're probably checking the title of this blog by now, aren't you? Did you accidentally stumble onto The Weather Channel?
Don't worry, if you're here to read about jewelry design, you're in the right place.
Necklace Inspiration
The weather in Colorado provided the inspiration behind my Snowy Peaks necklace in the latest issue of Beadwork magazine.
All that sun on snow makes everything look glittery and magical, so I chose bright gold for the chain and findings. There are more than 40 Swarovski clear crystals, plus some white pearls. (The crystals are hard to see in this photo -- hello, they're clear -- but trust me, they're there!)
I created the mountain range by combining some chevron-shaped sliders, the kinds of findings that you normally might slide over leather cord to create western bolo ties.
Normally Colorado-inspired anything tends to be bulky, rustic, and dark. Think coffee tables made of thick, rough logs or heavy wool ski sweaters. Bonus points for anything with a bear motif. Most people don't associate the words delicate or romantic with Colorado, so it was extra fun to make a necklace with those elements.
Design Tip: If you combine both smooth and textured beads such as the pearls and crystals in this necklace, you'll add depth and interest to your design. In fact, combining any opposite elements can elevate your finished jewelry. Subtle differences, like the combination of flat- and ball-end headpins give the finished necklace a more artistic, less manufactured, look.
More Inspiration
- Find the instructions for my Snowy Peaks necklace in "Fast and Fabulous section" of the December 2019/January 2020 issue of Beadwork magazine. The theme for the seven projects in this section is "over-the-top sparkle."
- My blog posts Is It Southwestern Style Jewelry and Designing a Cohesive Jewelry Collection show jewelry that's more traditionally thought of as Coloradoan. Think leather, natural gemstones (especially turquoise), and silver.