As one of my favorite glass
bead artists (lampworkers) is on hiatus just now, I have been actively
searching for new, cutting-edge & original glass artists. So many
produce copy-cat beads and it has become fairly easily for me to spot
someone with a ticking imagination. I am after that one-of-a-kind set;
beads that are edgy, interesting and have their own story to tell.
Needless to say, I was very happy to find the artist of these beads.
The bold cobalt transparent blue rounds with the pink petaled
swowflakes, colored with red & periwinkle, each with a cubic
zirconia set in the hot glass before it was annealed, are charming with
just the right whimsy. It was tempting to designs a Valentines Day
piece with the red & pink popping out of the cobalt, but then a
most glorious set of AAA quality faceted cubic zirconia stones arrived
& it was just so much ice and the snowflake theme became so real
and something I longed to sit and work with (I was stuck in earring
purgatory in preparation for a show. As I said to the show organizer,
earrings don't provide enough of a canvas as bracelets do.)
As a design, 'Aspen Snow'
came together so gracefully. I have been skiing in Aspen just once,
but I was struck by the largess of the place and its worldwide image.
The posh shops, trendy, cozy restaurants, the Uggs & high fashion,
the spas and salons and of course, the slopes. I once found myself on
a black run on the mountain known as Ajax one morning after a night of
too much wine. What a challenge that was given the fact I was an
intermediate skier. But, I digress.. It just seemed like the big,
pretty petaled snowflakes with the cubic zirconia centerpiece belonged
in Aspen along with a big dose of real love, the other name for the
bracelet and hence the plethora of sterling heart charms.
Companions to the large,
cobalt snowflake beads are beautiful scroll rounds by the esteemed
Heather Davis of Blissfulgardenbeads, a known person of lampwork
royalty among mid-level designers. She has her signature beads which
rarely change and these are no exception. I love the look of pink ice
and the fancy touch of scroll on these rounds. Just what I wanted
& needed to continue the composition of 'Aspen Snow.'
Other beautiful lampwork I have used in 'Aspen Snows' are from the following gifted artists:
* Pink & Cranberry 3 D flowers by Serena of SJDS Designs
* Transparent blue 3D flowers by Heather of studio, Beadintrigue
* Salmon pink clay roses by published clay artists, D. Jean Vainio
* Stunning blue ice cube/snowy night cube lampwork bead by Lori Robbins
"Aspen Snow" is completed with the following semi-precious stones & crystals. They include:
* Stunning clear & pink faceted cubic zirconia teardrop beads (looking like royal jewels!)
* Transparent periwinkle faceted Chalcedony faceted briolettes
* Ruby Jade faceted briolettes
* Luminous iolite faceted heart-shaped briolettes, the nautical lens stone of the Vikings (shimmers)
* Faceted clear quartz rondelles
* Dazzling tiny white topaz briolette & rondelles
* Blue furnace beads
* Swarovski crystal butterflies, cubes, bicones in a variety of colors
* Hilltribe sterling puffy heart charms
* Sterling Silver snowflake charms
* Hilltribe sterling droplet beads
* Bali daisy spacers
* Lots of snowflake charms in different patterns
'Aspen Snow' is completed with an ornate Bali silver toggle & measures 8.5 inches.
As
I have said of a few other recent designs (most already sold), this is
a piece which belongs as much in a gallery display case with a
spot-light, as it does worn as art. 'Aspen Snow' is a festive piece for
any time during these winter holidays and during the ski season as one
promenades on Main Street in Aspen, window shopping, stopping for a
coffee and roll and taking in all the color and fantasy of a posh
winter's hideaway. Gotta love it! Just got to!
'Aspen Snow' is a
custom design for a magical, luminous client who, like me, happens to
like the snow, most especially the Swedish variety!
Sold out! Thank you!
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