Gems of the Deep

When I found these gorgeous shell-shaped iridescent glass beads, I knew one of the first things I wanted to do with them was make a mermaid rosary necklace. I chose this particular mermaid art because it looks to me like she was swimming by and the shimmer of the gems of the deep caught her eye. Swarovski crystals, clear and luminous opal-glass all add to the underwater lustre. The amulet is a vintage optician's lens, with a concave curve that is rather like looking through a porthole, and there is hand-painted art paper and antique text on the reverse.