The Ai necklace...

"Ai" is the Japanese word for the colour "indigo". I always wanted a necklace that would look great with jeans, and this one will do! I have used some lovely porcelain beads that my friend Florence sent to me some months ago, in blue and white, like antiqued porcelain from Macao or indigo-dyed Japanese aizome. They are very pretty:

For Ai, I used:

- One long pendant in porcelain;
- Several Chinese porcelain beads in blue and white;
- Several Swarovski bicones in Crystal, White Opal and Comet Argent Light, as well as Dark Indigo AB;
- Some few Murano round beads in indigo;
- Japanese vintage wooden beads in different shapes and sizes;
- Small Czech silver-lined beads and smoked topaz Czech beads in different shapes;
- One Swarovski silver-plated crystal clasp.

Some close-ups now...


The 1st picture shows part of the Swarovski clasp, very safe with its clicking mechanism. I am more and more enjoying those clasps and will probably have to order some more! Also, we can see some of the Dark Indigo bicones and the starry light reflection in one of the Comet Argent ones. What I love about Swarovski elements is their shine, absolutely unbeatable. The 2nd picture shows some of the smoked topaz Czech glass beads, more bicones and Chinese beads.


On the left we can see another close-up of Florence's Chinese beads, along with a teardrop smoked topaz Czech bead and Swarovbski bicones in Comet Argent Light and White Opal. On the 2nd shot, more of the bicones and one of the Murano clear beads used.


A detail of the lovely smooth vintage Japanese wooden beads, interspersed with Swarovsky bicones in Crystal. On the other picture, some more Muranos and Chinese porcelain beads.

This is the main pendant bead, with a lovely flower and leaves pattern.