Art Deco Pendant

by Fran Selinger.
(Canada and Grenada)

Art Deco Pendant

A jeweller friend of mine has been drilling tiny holes in tropical red seeds for one of my designs. She refused any money in payment, so I decided to make a piece of jewelry for her.

She has a classic style and I knew that she already had many fine silver chains. I saw an idea for a pendant in a beading magazine that I used as my starting point. Black seemed like a good “classic” colour, so I choose a black and cream clay bead and took my stitching pattern from that.

Jumbie Seed Bracelet

I first tried herringbone stitch, because it’s my favourite, but soon found that the stripes weren’t distinct enough. Peyote turned out to be the answer and it turned out well considering that it was my first attempt at odd-count peyote.

I then sewed my “tapestry” to two 5 to1 connector links, and made a wire dangle with the clay bead.

I’ve shown it hanging on a black organza ribbon and cotton cord necklace, but can easily imagine it on a chunky antiqued silver chain.