Here comes the Sultana!

Here she comes!

I am not sure what to think of her.

I think I want to explore Islamic patterns a bit more, they fascinate me, and so think of this piece as a beginning to a new obsession.

Not bad for a first attempt, right?

My intention was to use seed beads more, instead of dazzling you with lots of shiny things , I wanted to create a pleasing pattern with mostly good old seed beads, negative space and lightness itself!

Using lots of azure, turquoise and gold, and a teeny bit of red for contrast.

If you look closer, there is a secret magic "ingredient" :

A beautiful star sapphire. I know the star doesn't show. The only thing that shows is probably my head reflected by the sapphire.

But believe me when I tell you, the star is there.

That little beauty came from my trip to Wisconsin, when I visited the gallery that exhibits my friend, Sharayah's work, the Jewelry Mechanic.

The lovely and kind folks who own the Jewelry Mechanic are Sharayah's extended family, and they became my friends too, and the sapphire was a gift from them.

I hope they like what I built around it.

If you have the time and inclination to do so, between the 9th and 15th of December, go vote for your favorite Etsy Beadweavers' Arabesque Challenge entry :

http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/