BFG Snow and Ice Showcase

Well this month's BFG Showcase theme just had to be Christmassy so we unanimously chose Snow and Ice. I was inspired to make some 'Arctic' themed pieces - and doodled some designs for my magical polar bear and whale pendants. 

I chose some Canadian labradorite gemstones to use in the pendants specifically as they come from an Arctic region. I imagine that their beautiful labradoresence is what a frozen glacier must look like under the sea. According to Eskimo legend, the Northern Lights were once imprisoned in the rocks along the coast of Labrador. A wandering Eskimo warrior found them and freed most of the lights with a mighty blow of his spear, but some remained trapped inside the stone. They believed that it was these trapped lights which give Labradorite it's gorgeous colour and light. What a beautiful notion :)

They took me a few days to complete. I like to add detail to my pieces and I put 100% into every piece I make. I pierced stars into the back of the stone settings and added a heart detail onto the back of each pendant. Making the chain that the labradorite hangs from on the whale was quite fiddly as the links are very small and I like to solder every link closed for security. I wanted the chains to have a suggestion of sparkling ice so I meticulously wire-wrapped eight silver beads with four clear crystal quartz beads in each chain.

And finally they were finished ...... each pendant is constructed from thick sterling silver and measures approximately 40 x 40 mm. More amazing Snow and Ice themed handmade items are available from the BFG Monthly Showcase on Facebook....

Thanks for taking the time to read my post :)