Hummingbird, Come Fly Home Necklace

by Brenda Swiger.
(Jefferson, Maryland)

Rhodium branch pendant with turquoise eggs

A few years ago, I designed this hummingbird necklace. It is my “signature piece” at Nora Roberts’ gift shop in Boonsboro, MD, where I sell my jewelry as Bella Beads and Wire. The branch pendant comes in three beautiful colors of rhodium (silver), satin gold, and bronze. The “eggs” in the nest are Swarovski crystal pearl beads in white, black, turquoise or jade. I always include a three-inch extender chain which provides maximum wearing options for my customers. However, about a year into making this necklace, the company manufacturing the branch pendant I use decided to discontinue this line of jewelry component. I was able to find a copycat version of this branch that another jewelry supply company sold which was made in China.

Bronze branch with jade eggs

Sadly, it was nowhere near the quality of the branch pendant I had been using and the color options were poor, so I did not want to offer it to my customers. I contacted the original company that produced this branch to see if, by chance, they would be producing it again.

Hummingbird necklace options

At that time, they said no, but offered to do a special run for me before ceasing production if I committed to purchasing 100 of these branches. I did have to give it some thought from a business standpoint but ended up accepting their offer in the end. I am happy to say that this year I have completed the making of bird nests and assembling the last of these necklaces. While it has been a good seller for me, I cannot say I will miss making bird nests as I have made well over 100 of them all in all!!

Brenda Swiger
Bella Beads and Wire