Opulence...

Deryn Mentock of Something Sublime is hosting a challenge: to create a piece of jewelry based on this photo and palette:

The first word that came to my mind when I saw it was...

Opulence

Such fantastic and exquisite glamour in the folds of the fabric, the antique mirror, the gilded frames...

I knew I had to create a piece that reflected the over-the-top excesses of this room, with great attention to detail, texture and color.

I pulled out an etched mother-of pearl focal I've been hoarding for such inspiration as this, and got to work:

I've been experimenting with beaded bezels, and this project seemed tailor-made for the intricate detailing I was looking for.  I love how the fringe looks delicate and lacy around the edges of the focal.

To continue the intricate detailing, I made twelve beaded rings, each with the lacy fringe, originally intending them to be the chain for the necklace.  When I put them together as the chain, however, they didn't have the impact I was looking for, so I decided to turn them into charms and space them evenly along the necklace:

On one side of the necklace, I added groupings of tiny tear-shaped olive beads to bulk up the chain and add more color.

On the opposite side of the necklace, I interspersed six handmade beaded silk roses in a rich burgundy red.  The flowers keep the continuity of the colors and textures with the olive and bronze beads used in their centers:

I added a length of extender chain with another small grouping of the olive drop beads to the end for a bit of extra detail, and used a very simple brass clasp to complete the necklace:

Here is a look at the completed piece:

"Opulence"

And another view:

"Opulence"

I learned a lot about seed beading from the construction of this piece, and am looking forward to incorporating more of it into upcoming pieces as well.

A big thank you goes out to Deryn Mentock for hosting this challenge!  To see the other entries you can head on over to her blog, Something Sublime.