Vintage Crystal Flower Necklace

by Carol Klonicki
(Edinboro, PA, USA)

This 18" necklace and earrings are made with an antique teardrop crystal from an old chandelier. It also has a message, created with flowers. On the back, using "Mod Podge", are blue forget-me-nots, pressed from my garden. Then a piece of music from "America" is put on top of the flowers. If you look closely, you see the words, "My country..." (The music is from Vintage Image Craft, 2009, Independence Day images.) Silver paint is then used to cover the paper. Two white beads with blue flowers are knotted in place on a cord of white sheer and satin ribbons.

The earrings are made from the top of the crystals. I had to turn the wire putting the flat part of the crystal facing the back so that two small pressed pansies could be adhered, also with "Mod Podge". (Victorians called them "heartsease.) New crystals were also added. Victorians created a language for flowers. Forget-me-nots, of course, mean remember -- Remember the blessings of our country and those who worked to achieve those blessings for us. Pansies mean peaceful thoughts.