ArtFire

If you want a unique, handmade bracelet that has a bright pop of color, then look no farther: MELTDOWN is the bracelet for you! A classic in red, black and white, this beaded beauty is created with glass chevron beads, black lava rock and sterling silver. A perfect piece of one of a kind (OOAK) casual jewelry, MELTDOWN was handmade by Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs.

The chevron glass beads used in MELTDOWN are a bright red color accented with white stripes and the traditional star shape around the bead holes, these in black. Definitely eye-catching! The beads are individually handmade in Purdalpur, India so, as you can see in the photos, they each are just a bit different. That's what I love about handmade - the uniqueness! A smooth tube shape, the chevron beads sit comfortably on the wrist.

To accent the chevron beads, especially since the ends of each is black, I chose matte black lava rock to use as spacers between the chevrons. The lava rock has the pits and holes that you'll traditionally find in the stone. I love the rustic quality of the lava rock when contrasted with the smoothness and shininess of the chevron beads. Sterling silver 2mm beads separate the lava rock from the chevron beads and help to frame each component of the bracelet.

To finish MELTDOWN, I chose a beautiful sterling silver toggle clasp with a twisted design. The bracelet was crimped to the toggle clasp using sterling silver crimp tubes and covered with sterling crimp covers for a neat look.

A short history of chevron beads: The first specimens of chevron glass beads were created by glass bead makers towards the end of the 14th century in Venice and Murano. Chevron beads are drawn beads made from glass canes specifically created in star molds. Most early chevron beads were used as trade beads in West Africa and the Americas. Today most chevron beads are made in India and China although some are still made in Murano, Italy.

Glass, even though it is handmade, carries the energies of transformation, rebirth and communication. Lava Rock is said to be a stone of strength, providing stability in times of change. Silver is the metal of love and healing.

Here is the important information for MELTDOWN:

Chevron glass beads: app. 15mm x 10mm
Lava rock: app. 6mm
Metal: sterling silver
Clasp: toggle clasp with a twist; sterling silver
Length: APP. 7.75"/19.7 cm

*Note: I will gladly re-size MELTDOWN at no extra charge. Just make a make a note in the order.

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

MELTDOWN will quickly become a favorite bracelet. I can see it being worn with a black pair of pants or with blue jeans and a white shirt: perfection indeed!

***Please be aware that not all monitors show colors exactly the same. The colors of the items used to create my jewelry are extremely close to the actual color on my monitor. The colors may appear lighter or darker on your monitor.

Shadow Dog Designs
Unique Handmade Jewelry
for the Discriminating Woman

The history of chevron beads is fascinating to me. Because of that I enjoy sing them, even though the ones I used are contemporary and made in India. The bright red of these beads, contrasted with the white and bit of black really attracted me to them. Black lava rock seemed the prefect complement. I named the piece MELTDOWN because of the fiery red color of the chevron beads and the original source of the lava rock, deep in the fiery belly of the Earth!

handmade chevron beads; black lava rock; sterling silver 2mm beads, crimp tubes, crimp covers and toggle claps set; 49 strand jewelers wire