in the dark

 "Rhinestones and Rosaries"

 I was not familiar with Jet, until I bought a multi-strand necklace which contained much of it.  I really liked the necklace for the chain it contained...lots of vintage, gold-toned chain that went well with brass.
But then I found out it was the Jet bar shaped beads where the real deal was made.  

And, the clasp....ah! I loved the clasp.

I have used the chain for just about everything the last couple of months, and now it is almost gone.  Yikes!  I have been frantically looking for more online, but none to be found.  That's the way it works sometimes.  Actually a lot of times.
Maybe I'll find some at the festival.... =)

But it was just about a week ago, I also started digging into the rosaries I have been hoarding (for myself and my future classes), and found a faceted Jet rosary with the most wonderful brass cross.  Now, I remember....THE cross was the reason I bought the rosary, as I usually don't use much black in my designs. 

Isn't it stunning?  Love the detail.

So, I decided the two must go together for my next Rhinestones and Rosaries necklace.
I hadn't made one since the Art Walk last May.
Once completed, I remembered why I was so excited when I finished the very first one, and why I sent it in as a class proposal for Adorn Me! 2011.  I loved mixing the two original pieces of jewelry~one necklace/one rosary~
is now ONE.
This process is always like a puzzle to me, which totally blows me away,
and is exactly why I love doing what I am doing.   
This one will be coming with me to Marburger,
along with a simple pair of earrings.  

Understated and elegant.  I like that.
I think that best describes (what I strive for) in my style of jewelry.

"Jet Dangles"
Faceted Jet rosary beads, some of my (very limited stash) vintage chain, vintage rhinestone buttons and dainty rhinestone dangles,
which I don't have many left of either!

And here is what I found about about Jet, just in case you too were "in the dark".
Jet, which is actually fossilized coal, as a gem material was highly popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, during which the Queen wore Whitby Jet as part of her mourning dress. Jet was popular for mourning jewelry in the 19th century because of its somber color and modest appearance, and it has been traditionally fashioned into rosaries for monks. In the United States, long necklaces of Jet beads were very popular during the 1920s, or Roaring Twenties, when women and young flappers would wear multiple strands of jet beads stretching from the neckline to the waistline. In these necklaces, the Jet was strung using heavy cotton thread; small knots were made on either side of each bead to keep the beads spaced evenly, much in the same way that fine pearl necklaces are made. Jet has also been known as black amber, as it may induce an electric charge like that of amber when rubbed.

I also found out, when burnt with a red-hot needle, Jet smells like coal. Black glass and plastics are often used to imitate Jet (glass is much heavier and harder than Jet) - Jet is warm to the touch.

Well, I haven't given it the burn test.  Maybe tomorrow.