Winter Enchantment

I was thrilled when I was asked to be part of Artbeads Winter Enchantment Blog program. I love Artbeads.com they have great coupons and I never met a bead or bead coupon I didn't like. Let me tell you a secret-coupons make me shop-if you give me a freebie or coupon to your etsy shop, I'm there. Now don't tell anyone okay?!

 

I live in NY right near the Hudson River. We have had snow and lots of it this winter so when I was given the task of creating something that I found beautiful or inspirational about winter the only thing I could think to design with was a beautiful Swarovski Crystal Snowflake. 

Image from Artbeads.com

 Most people here in NY would say they are sick of snow and I am in the business closing, yucky brown, road messing up, freezing cold kind of way. But, I love the view of the snow out my back door just after it has snowed. The sky is bright blue, there is fluffy snow on the lawn and coating the tree branches. Everything is white, sparkling, and quiet. Oh the quiet. Have you ever stood outside during a really bad snow storm? There is no noise (at least at my house there isn't) no cars, no birds, no neighbor's yelling. Its so peaceful and with 4 dogs, a cat and a 19 month old I need some peace and quiet. 

 

Okay back to what I did with that snowflake. I ordered these Matte White Lampwork Beads, you get 7 beads in your order. They are so pretty. I love the matte quality to them, very icy feeling. I also ordered a TierraCast hook and eye clasp (Love!) and Light Sapphire AB 6mm Bicones.

TierraCast Clasp

My initial thought was to use all 7 in a bracelet but that felt boring. Then I was going to use 6 of them in a necklace and save the 7th flowery one for another day. Then, in a dream, I knew what I wanted. Crystals, crystals, and more crystals.

My first necklace, the one I saw in my dream!

My second necklace

Pendant

 

I was able to make 2 necklaces and a pendant with my 7 beads. I added some sterling silver chain, head pins, wire, a Swarovski crystal briolette, silver rounds, a toggle clasp,  4 mm Swarovski crystals, and TierraCast spacers I bought from Artbeads around Christmas.

So what do you think? Do they feel like an enchanted winter snowstorm to you? They do to me!

 

~Shannon

The materials above were provided as part of the Artbeads blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.