Byzantine Cross

Reminiscent of the Pala d’Oro in Venice, the first Byzantine Cross I made using gold-coated seed beads, encrusted with seed pearls and crystals.

Once I’d finished that one I wanted to see what it would be like in size 11s and 8s. It was quite a lot of fun working in size 8s, as I haven’t done so for such a long time; the work really seemed to grow faster than usual, maybe because it was easier and quicker to pick up the bigger beads.

Another version worked in turquoise size 11ºs, with medium vitrail rivolis, Jet 2xAB bicones and delicious Gold AB size 15, Czech Charlottes. I even added extra tips onto all the arms of the cross in the Gold AB Charlottes, just for a little contrast.

As I’m a bit of a Charlotte fanatic, I just had to work the cross in these beautiful Green Iris, size 15 Charlottes with a vintage Swarovski 2020 flatback stone on each side. It’s so delicate, people have made a comment about it and are amazed when they get up close, to see that it’s worked in beads.