Falling for You!
©2017 by Cynthia Rutledge

Autumn (French), or also known as fall (British), is the time of year that falls between summer and winter. Once known as harvest, it was a busy time of year in the colonies. In the 17th and 18th centuries, dictionaries by both Thomas Blout and Samuel Johnson noted that fall began in August and ended in November while others contested that it began in September (at the equinox) and ended in December (with the solstice).

Whatever timing you choose to believe, I look at it as the time of year that has an elevated energy; a time of reaping in the harvest, preparing for winter and the holidays and seeing the shift from the balmy days of summer slip into the cooler days of fall. I love this time of year!

I had the good fortune to be in New Hampshire during the turning of the leaves. One afternoon, I stood outside on the deck of a friend's house, watching the leaves twist in the wind. Leaves of gold, red, brown with slight tinges of green fluttered wildly as the storm was rolling in. It was like a well-orchestrated dance. It seemed like I was witnessing a private performance! Even the name of this design came to me while watching the leaves twirl around and litter the yard. I felt recharged, refreshed and ready to take on the world!

Three organic leaf shapes are joined at the beginning ends of the leaves to form the central component of this design. Using a fun technique of color grading really makes this design shine. A beautifully bezeled cushion cut CZ adds the elegance to this design and just he right touch. A variation of RAW is used to create a fabulous strap ending in two lovely buttons and a button connector.

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced

Workshop: This is a one-day workshop

Necklace length: 18 inches

Techniques:

• Variation of RAW

• Flat peyote stitch with increasing and decreasing

• Flat circular peyote stitch with increasing

• Blending color techniques