We've been ordering components and supplies from Artbeads.com and using their items in our designs for about 5 or so years now, so it was really wonderful when they asked us to review some of their products here on our blog. We create lots of jewelry using some very basic 'staples' (as we call them) such as 2mm seamless round beads, as well as various styles of chains, some pendants, Swarovski Crystals and more from Artbeads.com and we've chosen several items which we'll post over the next month or so to blog about. We're very lucky as Artbeads.com put no stipulations (include the "good, the bad, and the ugly") on how we review any of these produts.
Many of the items we will blog about will have not only the featured item included in the design, but several other items from artbeads as well. And, we're going to include links to all of the Artbeads.com items we use so you can easily find them for your own beading pleasures!
Since it's basically summer time (well, here in Arizona it is because it's already hit 100 degrees once this year and it's supposed to be 104 in a couple of days!) we decided to do our first review on a wonderful little Thai Silver Sun Design Pendant - in the Hill Tribe Silver Pendants Section of Artbeads.com - and it couldn't have pleased us more!
We wanted to create a lightweight, airy and fun pair of "summer" earrings - your 'go to' earrings for all summer - so, we paired these little beauties with some faceted citrine we picked up at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show this February and hand forged these large oval hoop ear-wires with sterling silver 20 gauge round, half hard wire for the beads and pendants to dangle freely from. Very simple, yet versitile and fun!
We were very pleased with these little pendants when they arrived. The thickness of the silver is quite nice - not too heavy, yet not so light they will bend. The antiqued (blackened) sun pattern in each pendant is quite nice and each one shows slight variations of the pattern due to the individual hand-crafted nature, allowing them a truly organic look and feel.
The 'bail' on each tiny pendant is perfectly suited for the size of the pendant, yet is still large enough to be strung with seed beads, or anchored on to flexible beading wire for
a multiple-strand necklace or bracelet.
a multiple-strand necklace or bracelet. These little pendants/charms are perfect for designing a cute pair of earrings (our choice), hanging them on a bracelet with other small pendants and/or charms to create a really cute 'moving' bracelet or for putting one center stage on a small chain with a few natural stones, beads or gems (pearls!!) to have a simple, yet striking necklace.
Rating these (our idea - not artbeads.com) on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best and something we'd highly recommend) we'd give these little Thai Silver Sun Designs Pendants a perfect 10 and not only because they're right up our alley as far as their style goes, but for their durability and quality, their fantastic price - only $3.89 each! - and their unlimited design options. Plus they're super stylish and fashionable right now, too!
Please weigh in and let us know what your impression of these earrings are using Artbeads.com's Sun Design Pendants.
Until next time,
Peace, Love and Artbeads.com baby!!
~Shel~
