Star Spangle Necklace

This is my tribute to the USA and the perfect necklace for any holiday.  Made with Ashanti glass saucer beads in striking shade of blue, paired with red and white glass beads with the antique gold star pendant, adding a touch of sparkle with a rhinestone pendant.

The process of making these beads is unique to Africa and has been used for over 1000 years. Pulverized glass of various colors is poured into a clay mold, using a cassava stem for the bead's hole. The mold is placed in a furnace and heated until the glass particles congeal without actually melting and the stem burns out. The Ghanaians have been making beads in this manner since the 1600s. 

Bead:  14 mm Pendant 1.5 x 1.5 inches

Necklace Length: 16.5 inches, with a 2 inch antique gold textured extender chain

Findings: Gold-plated lobster clasp