For the Lady of the Castle of the Plucked Eye and Heart...

I re-read some passages from Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke and kept coming back to the scenes with the Lady of the Castle of the Plucked Eye and Heart. I probably should heed my mother's warnings of never reading before bed, because I had the strangest dreams about that particular realm in Faery. When I awoke, all I could think about was what the Lady might like to wear and then I set out to make a necklace to suit her.

In my unearthed box from Artbeads.com, I found a box of different colored Hemp Cord. I normally don't work with fibers very much, but wanted to try it out. I like the rustic quality the cording provides and the earthy tones it comes in.

Below is the necklace that I made with the Lady of the Castled of the Plucked Eye and Heart in mind.

I knotted the hemp cord and then wove champagne-colored Soft Flex Extreme Flexible beading wire through the knots in the cording and strung up the faceted pearls. To this I added wire-wrapped Swarovski crystals, chain, and a mixed media focal I made from patinated natural brass filigree, a watch crystal, resin, watch cogs, vintage sequins, and a tiny eye collage with gold-leaf. The mixed media focal was one of the charms from The Charm Club I hosted last go around. I dangled more Swarovski crystals from the focal and a Candice Wakumoto bronze heart from my online shop. To close it up, I used a sterling silver toggle from my family at Green Girl Studios. I think the silver tone goes nicely with ABx2 finish on some of the crystals.

Above is a close up of the focal of the piece. I think the eye and heart motif and blood red Swarovski crystal teardrops go without saying.