Santa Lucia, by Caprilicious Jewellery

Hello people, how's life treating you? 7 days left to the big day which this year is going to pass us all by with a little sniffle. There's not much point in getting excited about Christmas - although people are still furiously sending out cards and gifts almost as if they are determined to pretend that 2020 isn't the year that God forgot. I'm glad to say that I am working all through the Christmas weekend - misery loves company and I shall have plenty on the day - company, I mean.  
The hospital looks bare and forlorn as we are not allowed to put up any decorations - no trees, no tinsel, absolutely nothing that isn't wipe-downable. I'm not sure of the rationale behind this as the corona virus is not likely to lurk in Christmas trees and passing strands of tinsel, but I don't run the place. No doubt SAGE have issued an edict on Christmas trees. We have 3 tree frames picked out in lights on the flat roof, but little else to mark the season.

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This week, I was idly flicking through a magazine and chanced upon pictures of large, vintage Chanel Gripoix crosses studded with gemstones - and my next piece was conceived right there. Loads of crystals, Czech and Japanese seed beads, semi precious beads and seed pearls went into the making of this pendant. I decided to go for broke, and embroidered little dangles for each arm of the cross as well as the lower end. Finally, there was space for not another bead.
I've come to realise that the planning of such a piece takes longer than the execution - and once the design has been embroidered, the tedious bit is finishing it by backing with Ultrasuede and edging it with little beads. Not being religious in the least, I was surprised to find myself making a cross at Christmas time - but hey! I go where the muse leads me, who am I to protest?

Lucia

I've read tales of treasure being found in the deserts of California and Arizona - it is said that for years after the Colorado River flooded in the 1700s, the remains of ships were found in the desert, half buried in salt flats and marshes. These ships were full of Spanish gold - doubloons, jewellery, platters and dishes. The excited travelers who found the treasure would collect as much as they could carry and get on their mules and rush off to tell their friends of the treasure. However, when they got back, the ship had disappeared, buried under the ever moving sand dunes. 
In my imagination, this cross comes from just such a treasure and my ship is called Santa Lucia. I can see in my minds eye the wonderful treasure and if pushed can probably even produce a map of where it can be found. I think this pendant is very pretty - I know that many people do not like to wear anything so denominational, but if they could just get over these qualms, they would find themselves wearing a beautiful choker of midnight blue quartz, electroplated to shine brilliantly with titanium vapour and a cross shaped pendant that has been embellished to within an inch of its life.

I have yet to get my Christmas gifts wrapped and labelled - that's a task reserved for this weekend. I shall end here this week, readers. Have a fabulous week, and I'll catch you next Friday, same time, same place - oh! next Friday is Christmas day, so if I don't catch you, have a lovely day - or at least make the best of it.
Happy Christmas to one and all,
​xx

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