Named for the beautiful dancing ladies in my inspiration photo, "Dancing Flower" is a symmetrical design (as per my assignment.) Creating a symmetrical design sounds simple enough. It turns out that in this day of asymmetrical fashion, it is hard to go back!
The design grew from the vintage filigree earring that I dismantled to create my focal. I added a flower of Czech pressed-glass leaves and hung a smooth glass drop. The strap includes steel wire-wrapped magnesite rondelles, jade "pickles" (that's the official name given by a former co-worker,) faceted agate rounds, and a couple of vintage metal beads. The large-link chain is aluminum and the handmade clasp is large gauge steel wire.
I was grateful for my teacher's comment to another classmate about a variety of textures in your beads warrants fewer colors in your design. It gave me permission to put away the magenta drop and red AB rondelles back in the beadbox and focus on the visual weight of my beads. Instead of a shock of pink, the drama all comes from the sparkly mirror-backed leaves!
