Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl
(sold)

When I recently pulled out my stash of pewter totems from Happy Mango Beads with the intent of using them in necklaces, when I saw the owl totems I immediately thought of Snowy Owls, and sublime Botswana agate in its subdued, wintry colors--like owl feathers.

Here I've created a frame for the totem in Argentium silver wire, and combined it with wonderful Botswana agate pebbles from DayBeads at Etsy. (I loved the first strand I got so much, I had to go back and get two more.)

I went with an asymmetrical design incorporating more pebbles, finishing it off in warm brown Greek leather, sterling silver donut beads, and a short length of sterling silver rolo extender chain.

 As is my wont, I added another little bead at the end of the chain, oohing an aahing to myself over the wonderful chevron pattern.

Fabby!!

I love this stone! (And this pretty girl below.)

Snowy Owl From Wikimedia Commons
User Connormah

Totems

The Warrior

It's been a while since I made any necklaces, so I thought I would get back to it (it took me several weeks but I did it). I have a lovely collection of pewter Northwest Tribes-inspired totem pendants from Happy Mango Beads, so I thought I would start with those. I've also bought a lot of silver wire lately, taking advantage of the dip in price, and I thought I should use it! My plan is to make a necklace from each of the totems I have. These are the first three from my little stash.

This pendant is "The Warrior." I've combined it with lapis, turquoise, clear quartz, recycled glass in cobalt, leather and sterling silver (both Argentium and traditional sterling.) (Click on the links provided to see the item in my Etsy shop.) (Clear quartz wheel beads and recycled glass disc also from Happy Mango Beads.)

The next necklace I made features a "greeting" totem. I combined it with turquoise, a recycled glass disc in root beer brown, and a little frosty clear glass rondelle (glass beads again from Happy Mango Beads). I decided to keep it simple, and suspended it from some buttery soft suede deertan lace.

Hello, Friend

I just can't seem to get away from this caramel-turquoise combination--the veining in this turquoise is a lovely amber color.

The third pendant is one of my favorites--the Orca totem. I made a necklace with one of these eons ago, and decided to stick with the same color palette--indigo and smoked glass.

Orca

Whenever I think of Orcas I think of the Pacific Northwest and the sea and sky on a cloudy day--slate blue and steely gray waters dotted with whitecaps.

I am looking forward to making more necklaces with the totems I have left--owls, suns, salmon, ravens and eagles!