THE
VESTMENT
The times
call out for a new jewelry profile that reflects them.
* A profile
that sensitively crosses cultural boundaries, and is as wearable
in Mumbai as it is in Buenos Aires, Rome, New York, and Nashville.
* A profile that moves and adjusts and conforms and highlights
the woman, as she transitions from work to twilight to evening,
informal to formal, dashing down the hall or sitting at a
desk, playing the role of co-equal partner and friend or powerful
corporate executive.
* A profile that is at once alluring, and sensual, without
crossing any socially taboo boundaries, or daring anyone else
to.
* A profile that comforts and reassures with classical points,
lines and mosaic-like arrangements, as well
as colors and materials that mirror our contemporary environment,
yet seems so fresh and new.
THE VESTMENT
is worn like a scarf or loose neck-tie, with a clasp that
fastens in the front, and sets limits to The Vestment’s
outward expansion. It is meant to present a recognizable,
yet different jewelry profile than a typical necklace. It
is at once formal and relaxed, complementing the body and
fashion, rather than competing with it.
This particular
piece is made up of Miyuki glass cubes, seed beads and delicas,
a few Austrian crystals, and 14KT gold clasp, antiqued copper
plated brass chain, a few other pieces in gold-filled and
glass, and a handmade lampwork bead. These Miyuki cubes, seed
beads and delicas, flashing the full range of spectrum golds,
are bead-woven together using the Ndebele Stitch. This stitch
is used to create two-staggered-layers of alternating cubes
and double-stacked rounds in a herringbone arrangement. The
two Ndebele-stitched layers are seamed together using a modified
Ndebele and Brick Stitch technique, then embellished with
the chain along the seam. The clasp assembly extends from
the inside sides of The Vestment panel, beginning with the
lacey Petersburg Chain strips linked together with a 14KT
gold clasp. The clasp assembly can expand or contract, allowing
The Vestment much freedom of movement.
The Ndebele
stitch allows for a very fluid design, and allows the lengths
of bead-woven beads to conform to the shape of the wearer’s
body, as if a piece of cloth. The staggered 2-layer panels
of Ndebele-stitched cubes and rounds result in three special
design effects. First, they create an unexpected multi-dimensionality.
Second, they create a slight curvature on the panels along
their length. Last, the overlapping intensifies and more sharply
delineates the colors. The length of the 2-layer panel is
23”. The Petersburg Chain strips, clasp, and lampwork
bead add another 3” to the length of the piece.
Materials:
Miyuki 4mm Cubes – color 462 (apprx 112 grams or 1,600
beads)
Miyuki 11/0 cut seed beads – color 462 (apprx 30 grams
or 3,000 beads)
Miyuki 8/0 cut seed beads – color 462 (apprx 4 grams
or 165 beads)
Miyuki 11/0 seed bead – color 401 (2 beads)
4mm Swarovski Austrian Crystal Bicones (5301) – smoke
topaz (16 beads)
14KT gold snap-lock clasp with tie bar, braided texture (Rio
623187)
4mm 14/20 gold-filled corrugated rondelle (2 beads)
antique copper plated brass cable chain (2 feet)
20 gauge 14/20 gold filled round half hard wire (4 inches)
Lampwork bead (1 bead)
FireLine size D thread (apprx 375 yards)
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