Laguna Encaustic Necklace - Purchase Here
Crystal Neubauer inspired this necklace using encaustics. I saw her work in the Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine a few months ago and became intrigued with the process of attaching textiles to metal using encaustics. Encaustic medium is a blend of bees wax and resin that is melted and then applied either by dipping or brushing onto the surface of paper, or fabric.
This necklace was also inspired by another artist, Cynthia Thornton, the author of Enchanted Adornments. Cynthia designed a necklace similar to this one in her book and I adapted the design and modified it to suit the encaustic wings and longer length of this necklace.
The wings were shaped from sterling silver wire, hammered flat and then brass wire was used to create the shell pattern. After the wire form was finished I added the handcrafted blue paper using encaustic wax to coat and secure the paper to the wire form.
The nautilus shell was one of my inspiration images.
The brilliant blue handcrafted paper created a beautiful wing that is lightweight and flutters as you move on the end of the necklace.
Blue waves another inspiration photo.
Faceted teardrops dangle from sterling silver links with faceted iolite centers for sparkle.
The handcrafted paper I chose for the wings has varying shades of brilliant blue with veins of gold lacing through the paper that complimented the brass wire beautifully.
The necklace has a natural pearl strand on the opposite side of the sterling silver links continuing the shell theme of the necklace - pearls from inside oyster shells.
Another inspiration photo of a blue shell.
What artists have inspired you in the studio and introduced you to new mediums and methods?
Blessings - Julie
