Snape Angel (Done for SSHG 2012)

[kerravonsen]

Now that the reveals for the sshg_exchange are up, I can reveal what I made!
This year, I did craft for the first time. And boy was it a challenge. But a satisfying and stretching challenge, once I got over the initial panic.

Recipient: pyttan
Title: Snape Angel (http://sshg-exchange.livejournal.com/300417.html)
Author: kerravonsen
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Summary: So often called a black angel, he wraps her in a circle of protection.
Original Prompt: Hermione likes to feel protected. Severus likes to protect.

Author's Notes: Okay, so this isn't a painting or a drawing, I hope my recipient doesn't mind!

Thanks to citrinestone and dawnmist for brainstorming, I couldn't have done it without you.

This work needs a bit of explanation. The pendant is Snape-as-a-black-angel (with his arms folded in his characteristic grumpiness). Note that he doesn't have a halo (grin). Angels are symbols of protection, so this is Snape-as-protector. The necklace part is made of red/gold beads representing Hermione (as a Gryffindor, and as a fiery warm caring stubborn person). Winding around the beads is black satin ribbon, representing Snape enfolding her in his protection.
The necklace is in seven sections, each connected with a toggle fastener (note that circles are also a symbol of protection). Each section has twelve beads. In numerology, both seven (3 + 4) and twelve (3 x 4) represent the whole of creation; three for the Trinity of God, and four for the four corners of the earth, or alternatively, three for the sky and four for the earth. (Of course, they represent a whole lot of things, but this is the meaning I'm focusing on).

The seven sections of the necklace can be attached and detached independently, making the necklace longer or shorter as the wearer wishes.

The earrings each have three of the red/gold beads, plus small black beads, put together in a loop.








Design Notes

(These are the notes I made to myself when trying to decide what to do.)

Research

Possibly going with Art Prompt #2, if I can figure out "protection" and "feeling protected" in beadwork.

Colour symbolism?

• http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/candlecolormeanings.html
  • this one has red as the colour of protection
• http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html
  • this one has aqua (green) as "emotional healing and protection"
• http://www.squidoo.com/colorexpert
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protective_sign (international protective signs like the Red Cross)
• http://crystal-cure.com/black.html (black gives protection via invisibility)
• http://crystal-cure.com/jade-african.html (Jade as protective amulet)
• http://crystal-cure.com/gem-protect.html (protection gemstones)
  • Agate + (Moss Agate)
  • Amethyst +
  • Chrysoprase
  • Citrine
  • Serpentine
  • Malachite +
  • Red Jasper
  • Jade
  • Black Onyx
  • Snowflake Obsidian
  • Iron Pyrite +
  • Sardonyx
  • Tiger's Eye +
  • Turquoise
  • Peridot
  • Bloodstone
  • Amber
  • Leopard Skin Jasper
  • Jet
  • Ocean Jasper
  • Serpentine (protection against poisonous animals)
• http://www.theangelladies.com/angel_ladies_crystal_angel.htm
  • Bead "angels" - Snape as a protective angel (if I can get some wings)
  • If I can't get some wings, I could possibly make some with wire and crochet.

Design

• Snape-angel:
  • head pin Long bit of wire with loop made at end.
  • black angel wings made with wire and glittery/fluffy black black/silver yarn crochet
  • black bead for head
  • small bead cap for halo? Do I have any black-nickel bead caps? No, I don't.
  • body:
    1. multiple long tube beads in a tassel
    2. one big black bead
    3. crochet tube with above yarn
    4. bead-crochet tube with black beads and black cotton
    5. bead-crochet tube in black cotton with single row of black beads for buttons
    6. crochet tube in black cotton
  • black wire for arms
• tiger-tail
• red + yellow cracked glass beads
• blackness protective around beads:
  1. black yarn winding in and out of glass beads in S-pattern, do with crochet (same yarn as wings)
  2. black satin ribbon, do with macrame
  3. black beads winding in and out in S-pattern on separate thread
  4. Don't use tiger-tail, make bead daisys with red/yellow centres and black bead "petals" all on one thread
  5. black beads on black cotton bead-crochet chain, winding S-pattern

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As you can see, I considered and discareded a lot of ideas along the way. It was citrinestone who suggested the bead angels. That was a breakthrough which fixed the road-block in my ideas.

If I recall correctly, it was dawnmist who suggested having multiple sections.

(edited to point to different offsite album)