Shadowbox Jewelry Challenge

I am so excited to be sharing what I made for the Shadowbox Challenge, hosted by Lorelei @ Lorelei’s Blog Inside the Studio!

Several of us were randomly chosen to receive a Shadowbox made by C Koop Beads, and all we had to do was be creative. Here’s a close-up of the shadowbox I was sent. It’s the prettiest blank canvas I have ever seen, with so many possibilities.

When I received my shadowbox, I of course procrastinated, and then came down with a cold! So for a week I just vegged out at home (with my girls, who were also sick). I did have the pendant on my mind though. I thought about lots of different designs but nothing really did it for me.

One day I looked up at the ceiling while laying down on the couch and studied our original-to-the-house entryway light fixture. I have always loved the combination of the clear glass with gold/copper hardware.

 

Then later I was daydreaming my eyes fell onto this mid-century ottoman I recently found at a thrift store. My favorite thing about it is the gold swirl pattern on top. I love it against the cream background and with the dark legs.

Later, I was curled up on the couch watching Mad Men. It was the episode where Don and Betty went to Rome for a night, and Betty made an appointment at the beauty salon (and we also learn that she can speak Italian). She met Don for dinner wearing the biggest and loveliest gold drop earrings (though you may have missed them if you couldn’t stop staring at her hair):

 Photo via here.

And my design came together.

 

I embroidered a swirl pattern onto some fabric using gold metallic embroidery floss…

…which I trimmed down to size, and then applied Fabric Mod Podge to the back to adhere to the Shadowbox.

To make the necklace part, I finger-knitted (remember that?) some gold silk cording.

My shadowbox had a pair of connector holes drilled into opposite sides. Through one side, I wire-wrapped a big gold drop with a big crystal bead.

And through the other side, I wire-wrapped an “S” charm (for myself),

So the “S” is centered in the middle of the embroidered swirl pattern.

Then on the other side, I wire-wrapped a jump ring…

 

…through which I threaded the finger knitting.

To add some subtle sparkle, I hung some small crystal beads throughout the finger knitting on some head pins. They aren’t too visible, but they sparkle when they catch the light.

I knotted the ends of the finger-knitting together as it is long enough to just throw over my head.

  

Our 7th Anniversary is this weekend! I’ve got my outfit ready…a thrifted vintage dress and a little jacket from Ann Taylor. Though my girls have been expecting me to wear this outfit every day: “Mama, where’s your sparkly necklace and sparkly jacket and twirly dress?”

Here is a list of all of the Shadowbox Challenge participants…get ready to be amazed at what they created!

1.Lucid Moon Studio

2. Ann Rishell

3. Malin de Koning

4. Gray Girl Studios

5. Maria Grimes

6. Beads of Busy Gals- Elizabeth

7. The Silly Pearl (you are here!)

8. Shay Stone- Shays creative journey

9. LissC

10. the Beading Yogini

11. Grubbi

12. Jenny Davies- Reazor

13. Beth of Elizabeth Williams

14. Artybecca

15. Stefanies Sammelsurium

16. KreativeKsapylet

17. Shirley- Beads & Bread

18. Hilary Frye- Frye Style

19. Heather Wynn Millican

20. Staci Louise

21. Suzette- Ellie's Bijoux

22. Marina - Fanciful Devices

23. Andrew Thornton

Thank you to Lorelei and C Koop Beads for this fun opportunity to create this necklace!

Linking: Apron Thrift Girl :: The Gunny Sack :: The Frugal Girls :: Petite Hermine :: Tip Junkie :: Sassy Sites :: Rook No. 17 :: The Trendy Treehouse :: Tatertots and Jello :: Lolly Jane Boutique :: Homemaker on a Dime ::Southern Hospitality :: The CSI Project

Disclosure: I received the Shadowbox from C Koop Beads for free to participate in this blog challenge. All opinions expressed are my own.