The "Why & How" of My Crystal Wreath Ornaments
I’ve just finished my annual Christmas ornament project. It first began with the desire to gift each student in my (then) rather substantially sized flute studio at Christmas. I’ve made seashell angels, organza & ribbon angels, large bead angels, flute & cross ceramic disks, hanging crystals, and finally settled on the crystal wreath ornaments I’ve been making for many years. The fun begins with deciding which pendant crystal shape and color I want to use for the center focal element. Then I choose what pearls and crystal beads will match/compliment it. Next comes calculating the size of each necessary to achieve the circumference I want. Those may change as many as three or four times as my supplier informs me of whether or not my choices are available! The Miyuki seed beads, memory wire, & ribbon all come from different sources. After everything comes in, I make one completely to be sure I’ll be happy with the design and then do the rest assembly line: cut the wires, put a loop in one end of each, bead & loop the other end, assemble the focal sections, attach the focals to the wreaths, add the ribbons & tie the bows, place them on description cards, & finally bag each. Oh, and I also use Fray Check on the tails of the bows and super glue on the bow knot. I want these to last! I always look for a way to attach a meaningful message on a card designed to match the ornament.
When placed on a tree in front of the lights, these will have a lovely sparkle as they reflect & refract the light. They make great gifts for others or yourself. I make them from the ‘creme de la creme’ of manmade crystals and crystal pearls (manufactured in Austria), and Miyuki produces top of the line seed beads.
Many years ago, during my tenure as Coordinator of Special Music Activities for the Texas Tech University School of Music (that’s certainly a mouthful!), an Associate Director of the SOM gave us Schmid Jerrandie ornaments each Christmas for about 10 years. We still put all of them on our tree. Keepsake ornaments are meant to be treasured. My goal is for the ornaments I make to be that special.
The Crystal and Crystal Pearl Ornament Collection contains the newest ornament as well as some from past years. Check them all out - there may be a color that you’d just love to have on your tree or in your window!
As a side note, in case you didn’t see my FaceBook post, I made a slightly more than 50% donation of October sells to the Susan G. Comen Foundation. Thank you to those of you who made a purchase towards that goal.
I wish you all a safe, happy, & blessed Christmas season.
CRYSTAL AND CRYSTAL PEARL ORNAMENT COLLECTION
