Today is a tribute to a favorite American holiday, Independence Day! On this traditional day of picnics, barbecues and fireworks, and giving thanks to all the service men and women who serve our country, I offer this creation made from a wide collaboration of materials. During my visit to Tucson last February for the Gem and Mineral Show, I saw this amazing " Thunder Blink Bell" cone (#3TB7) Sterling Silver, jewelry cone at Star's Clasps. I always love shopping at their booth as it offers an amazing array of jewelry clasps and findings. This cone reminded me of the July 4th holiday with it's celestial and firework cutout motifs. Kay, one of Stars Clasp's owners graciously gave me the cone to use in creating today's lid. While I created crystal studded epoxy clay beads of my own, I saw that they also had small pave crystal beads in red, white, and blue. Lastly, I noticed they carried one of my favorite products - woven wire strands from Silver Silk. They had the 3mm Capture Chain (woven wire tubing filled with ball chain) in red and white finishes. Kay also gave me these items to create with as well. I then went to see my friend Becky at the Silver Silk booth. She generously gave me the 3mm Capture Chaiin in blue, that I needed to complete the rim design. They also gave me some 3 needle 1.5mm round woven wire in red, white and blue, which I braided together and glued along the edge of the rim. The base of the lid is clay covered with my Patriotic clay foil. This was also used over the clay stars that were punched out with Kemper Pattern Cutters. The crystal "bursts" that seemingly hover is the "sky" are attached to Beadalon Memory Wire covered with loosely coiled Parawire in complementary colors. Lastly, SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS flatback crystals are glued along the braided wire edge.
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