Ride the Moon

"Ride the Moon" is my submission for the August Art Bead Scene monthly challenge.

The inspiration for this month's challenge was an 1899 advertising poster for America Crescent Bicycles by Frederick Ramsdell - who was from my part of the world, Manistee, Michigan.

I really struggled with this challenge, bikes are such a large part of my everyday life on Mackinac and I was so focused on a very literal interpretation - it wasn't until I decided to skip this month that the concept of a crescent neckpiece occurred to me - after that, it all flowed together.

This necklace is a good example of mixed media jewelry. I started with a silk taffeta crescent, hand embroidered with black silk "wheels", those wheels have been embellished with beads in a variety of sizes and finishes. The crescent is finished with a binding of black beads and the center features a subtle lampworked focal bead.

The crescent is suspended by brass chain and chandelier crystal chain and closes with a simple brass toggle clasp.

I'm pleased with the results - elegant, but a bit edgy, with just a touch of steampunk.

Available for purchase here.