Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Today's jewelry was inspired by the Edwardian Era. Beading Daily is having a blog hop featuring Edwardian jewelry. I really enjoyed researching Edwardian jewelry. Before I found beads I costumed dolls and I studied 1800's fashions for many years. If you don't know about the Edwardian era it was when Edward V11 was king in England. He became king in 1901 and died in 1910. The spirit of the Era continued until the start of World War 1. While Victoria, Edward's mother, was conservative. Edward was self-indulgent (he was a playboy with several mistresses), leisured, and enjoyed traveling. He ruled on the cusp of world change with the start of the industrial era. It was a time of understated elegance and noble opulence. Platinum was the metal of choice because improved fabrication techniques made it easier to work with. Diamonds and pearls were the preferred components. Bar pins, filigree broaches, and pearl necklaces were the three top jewelry items to come from this era. Queen Alexandra, Edward's wife, favored ornate diamond chokers. The look was white on white it was light, airy, elegant, feminine, and delicate. Bows, ribbons, and stars were popular motifs. I found this  picture which I believe is  Queen Alexandra while researching and I used it as my inspiration for the pearl choker that I made.

My second piece is a negligee necklace design which was popular in that era. That means two uneven drops suspended from a center element and hung on fine chains. I have had the bow pin in my jewelry box for a long time but I only wore it once so I decided to turn it into a necklace. I like the new look.

 

My third piece is not finished. It is actually the piece I started first. My plan was to have the brooch wearable as a brooch and also be able to pin it on the pearl choker for another look. Dual use jewelry was common in Edwardian times. Brooches were widely worn during this era. My inspiration for this piece came from my winter 1904 Sears catalog. I scanned the page so you could see it. The piece that inspired me is in the bottom left corner. I found it interesting that Sears had several pages of brooches but no necklaces. I have tried a couple of edge finishes but I didn't get the look I wanted so I am showing it unfinished. The cream colored backing will be cut away for a more open airy look and the sapphire colored glass dots will be bezeled with size 15 matching blue seed beads but I still need and edge.