necklace - Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody chainmail and Swarovski infused necklace

(CC0144) bohemian rhapsody, chainmaille, chain mail, Swarovski, rose montees, silver, washers, European 4 in 1, Euro 4in1, necklace

A luxurious and ecstatic contemporary necklace for the free spirited in celebration of rapturous joy and life. It captures movement,delightful jingle bells, and the incomparable sparkle that only Swarovski can give.

This was inspired by the YOJ (Year of Jewellery contest at Australia's Beading Forum), the theme of which was "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Bohemian Rhapsody put 3 different main ideas in my mind:
1) Freddie Mercury's song of course (==> music/sound)
2) bohemian (adj.) : "unconventional, alternative, artistic, exotic, way-out (informal), eccentric, avant-garde, off-the-wall (slang), unorthodox, arty"
3) rhapsody: "an expression of ecstatic enthusiasm"
(both definitions from the online Free Dictionary)

My Interpretation

1) music: The music part is represented by the many free swinging bells
2) bohemian: Well, I think it is pretty "bohemian" lol!
3) rhapsody ..well to me, this is like enthusiastic ecstasy helped by the colors and the free swing of the elements and the "free floating" Swarovski bicones in multi-random colors.

Also, bohemian is also closely aligned with "gypsy" and for me .. gypsies have a lot of bling, sound, and color. So the bling is in the bicones as well as the closely packed row of Swarovski rose montees .. super bling esp by night.

The central rings-and-washers is my adaptation of a standard Euro4in1 chainmaille. I made the chain to go with it.

That's my Bohemian Rhapsody!!!

Materials

* All silver findings in Brass (silver plated, lead free, nickle free) - anti-allergenic.
* Swarovski Rose Montees, Crystal (stone color) with sterling silver plating in SS18 (4.20–4.40 mm / 0.17 in.) and SS29 (6.14–6.32 mm / 0.24–0.25 in.)
* Brass washers (treated for non-tarnish)
* random mix of Swarovski 5328 XILION beads, 4mm
* graduated sizes of deep read glass pearls
* leaf charms in silver and brass
* anodized Aluminium jump rings

Yay! This was voted the winner in YOJ (Year of Jewellery) at the Australian Beading Forum.

Construction Notes

I have taken a lot of pictures for this piece to help me document (and remember) the construction which is made in various parts.

The chainmail section is done with washers and strong silver plated (brass) jump rings. This is a standard European 4 in 1 weave. folded over and secured with jumprings in alternating colors (colorful then silver then colorful, etc.). Bicones are attached via invisible beading thread (or fishing line, also called crystal wire).

Jump rings (mw) - are 7mm outer diameter and 1.2mm wire gauge (about 16 ga).
The brass washers (from Cliff Brunton's last auction) has 1cm outer diameter, 6mm inner diameter, and about 1mm thick. They are very slightly domed.

Most of the other important construction notes are as per photos.

How Chain was made