ArtFire

Are you looking for a truly unique, handmade cross necklace? SOUTHWEST SPIRITUAL is the one of a kind (OOAK) necklace you have been searching for! Created with a Southwest Pueblo inspired polymer clay cross and beads, leather and copper, this breath-taking beauty is unlike any you have seen before. A perfect addition for dress up or dress down, it is a piece of jewelry you will be proud to wear. SOUTHWEST SPIRITUAL was carefully designed and handmade by Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.

The polymer clay pendant and beads used in SOUTHEWEST SPIRITUAL look as if they might have been unearthed in an archaeological dig, looking like ancient artefacts. Made by the very talented Pati Bannister, she wrote that the back roads she traveled during a journey near Monument Valley, Arizona, inspired the creation of the pendant. I can definitely understand that - there is a very spiritual feeling throughout the Desert Southwest. Even though the pendant looks like aged, cracked adobe, the pendant is very smooth to the touch, almost like chamois, and very light in weight. The stunning cross was painted with silver paint and subtle splotches and dabs of gold and copper were used to give a shimmering effect. On the reverse side of the pendant (see photo #4), three "faded" crosses were painted in gold with Pati's initials in the bottom left hand corner. As you can see in photo #8, the pendant is on the larger side: app. 3.5" (8.9 cm) x 2.0" (5.1 cm) x 0.2" (0.5 cm).

The pendant was wire-wrapped with solid copper wire to two polymer clay beads with silver and gold squares painted on each side. Once again, the look of the two pieces is ancient adobe. The are a perfect complement to the pendant. The pendant and the accent beads are framed by copper daisy spacers and 3mm copper beads.

Because of the awesome look of the pendant and beads, I wanted to keep the rest of the necklace very simple. I chose to finish the necklace with two strands of soft, flexible leather cording in a beautiful medium brown that highlights the colors of the stars of the necklace. The leather runs approximately 7" (17.8 cm) on each side. Both ends of the leather have been rustically wrapped in solid copper wire to continue with the old theme of the necklace. To clasp SOUTHWEST SPIRITUAL, a copper s-clasp with a beautiful design that mimics the wrapped wire in the necklace and two copper closed rings were used.

History shows that the cross, in many different forms, was an important and sacred symbol for most civilizations centuries before Christ. The British Museum houses a statue of the Assyrian king Samsi-Vul, who reigned around 825 B.C., with an almost perfect Maltese cross around his neck. The Greek goddess Diana was often painted with a cross over her head, in much the same way the Virgin Mary was represented by many medieval artists. The Greek god of wine, Bacchus, was often shown wearing a wearing a headdress of crosses. Ancient Egyptians used cross symbols in abundance, the ankh being the most common, as did the Hindus. Many different types of crosses were used in Mexico centuries before the Spanish arrived. The Christian use of the cross as a sacred symbol did not begin until three centuries after Christ died when, at the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, Constantine decreed that the cross was the symbol of the crucifixion and Christianity.

Here is the important information for SOUTHWEST SPIRITUAL:

Polymer clay cross: app. 3.5"/8.9 cm x 2.0"/5.1 cm x 0.2"/0.5 cm
Polymer clay beads: app. 22 cm. x 16mm x 10mm
Leather" medium brown; soft; 2 strands
Metal: copper
Clasp: copper s-clasp set
Length: app. 20"/50.8 cm
Pendant drop: app. 3.5"/8.9

SOUTHWEST SPIRITUAL will come with two informational drop tags: one with the piece's name; the other lists the materials used in the necklace and the language of the stones and metals.

For an exceedingly unique necklace, you can't get much more unique than SOUTHWEST SPIRITUAL. it is definitely a necklace who does not want mass produced, run of the mill necklaces. SOUTHWEST SPIRITUAL is a necklace that will be treasured for years!

***Please be aware that not all computer monitors show colors exactly the same. The colors of the stones are extremely close to the actual color on my monitor. They may appear lighter or darker on yours.

Shadow Dog Designs
Unique Handmade Jewelry
for the Discriminating Woman

I fell in love with this pendant when I first saw it, loving the ancient adobe look of it. Because I didn't want to take anything away from the pendant and the complementing beads, I decided to use 2 strands of soft leather cording for the main body of the necklace instead of the gemstones I normally use. Copper was the metal of choice. SOUTWEST SPIRITUAL was created :)

handmade polymer clay "adobe" cross and beads; medium brown leather cording; copper daisy spacers, 3mm beads, wire, closed rings and s-clasp

Carefully handmade in a pet friendly, smoke free studio (: