Artbeads Product Review - Russian Artist Masterpiece Pendants

(click for larger view)

I've left the picture above bigger than usual because the featured bead from Artbeads is so beautiful and I want you to see the detail.

This is a reproduction of a portion of an Alphonse (Alfons) Mucha painting, Emerald, done on black onyx. The colors are beautiful and the reproduction is hand painted flawlessly. On the product page Artbeads says "These Russian pendants feature just a small piece of the whole paintings, but in doing so, the essence of the artistry is captured. The backings of the pendants are pieces of black onyx or mother of pearl, and the pendants are drilled from top to bottom..." That rectangle of onyx above, Emerald by Mucha is only 35.5 x 25 mm in size.

I'm extremely pleased with the look and condition of the piece. Although I have it on a temporary necklace, I have plans to re-work the findings and put it on an antiqued chain with a very few small embellishments, since I think the pendant itself is enough to wear without additional flourishes.

I've appreciated the art of Alphonse Maria Mucha since college, and although much of what we recognize of his work were posters and commercial illustrations, it is still beautiful art. To have something like this with such a beautiful image that I can wear, is a real treasure. I'd love to build a 'gallery' of necklaces around these reproductions someday.

I think the pieces are priced quite appropriately for the labor and artistry that went into creating them, but they aren't inexpensive, ranging from $22.47, for the smaller ovals, to over $70 for the larger sized pieces (volume discounts at 4 pieces or 6 pieces, are available).

Gorgeous "Red Magma" Swarovski Crystal Disk Pendants from Artbeads

As one of the Artbeads' Blogging for Beads participants (you can find us in the blogroll on the Artbeads Blog, and I feel so fortunate to be part of this great group of crafters). I was given a choice of many wonderful pendants and other Artbeads items to blog about this month. As I mentioned a few days ago, many of the other bloggers selected beautiful painted canvas on wood pendants. Lisa at A Bead A Day chose the cool large Swarovski Crystal Button rivolis. Kelley at Kellscreations picked a beautiful copper and enamel Faith pendant.

Me, I chose the 25mm disk pendant in a new color "Red Magma". There is a 38mm size also available at Artbeads.

Red Magma is well named, it has a molten, fiery color - and the cut used on these really flickers and glows like flames on a hot coal. You can read about the new color and the new shape at the Crystallized Swarovski Elements website. I immediately pictured it with gunmetal chain - and had a nice stash ready to work with.

While I would like to work with Swarovski all the time, the price point is a bit high for my convertible badge/eyeglass/necklace lanyards except as an occasional piece, but I don't have as much of a pricing concern with single purpose jewelry, and may start using more Crystallized Swarovski beads as I deplete other (usually Czech glass) stock in certain shapes and colors. The extra flash and sparkle of these beads is distinctive and notable - especially so in a large focal like this disk pendant.

For my project with the disks Artbeads sent me, I made a customized length of gunmetal chain by disassembling a chain made of open diamond shaped links:

and then hooked them back together with some gunmetal figure 8 closed links (that were actually part of a hook and eye closure set). Tool marks on the chain are very bright and obvious, so I used my fingers and nylon tipped pliers for the links.

plus a couple feet of a small, simple, gunmetal link chain, I wanted to use.

I looped the small chain through two of the disks and attached them to the open diamond shaped links for the sides of the necklace both from the top and bottom.

I then used a smaller length, hung a third disk through it and a link, then connected the link through the center figure 8 to make a pendant.

I 'floated' the last disk on a length of the smaller chain, suspended it in the middle of the necklace.

I finished it off with a hook and eye clasp. The length of the longest part of the chain is 20". The distance down from back clasp to the end of the pendant is 12". Here's the finished necklace:

You can click on any picture to see more detail.