Before Wicked, there was The Wizard of Oz **

Well, Wicked is a prequel, so that’s technically before, but I digress. I did make this with both works in mind. The characteristics of Elphaba and Glinda were heavily influenced by Wicked. I was privileged enough to see the musical when it came to Chicago. I was in love. Their eventual power struggle over dear Dorothy is represented by the strands pulling on the red glittery ring. The push and pull of the witches’ influences over her is covered in all the pieces of the collection.

The glittery red centerpiece was an orphaned earring in a past life, but I knew exactly what to do with it when I started this set. Mostly pressed glass, such as the opposing fire polish beads spacers for their respective beads. The pink beads that look somewhat like a bow are vintage German glass while the green cubes are contemporary. There are different chain finishes for each witch. The bright and shining sterling rolo chain and heart (one half of a toggle) are for squeaky clean in pink Glinda, while the black powder coated rolo chain and lobster clasp are perfect for Elphaba. Each of the witches’ colors loop around the Dorothy gogo on .018 flex wire connecting to their respective rolo chains around the back. The earrings are constructed in a similar way, flex wire serving as the connector between chains, a red Chinese crystal taking place of the acrylic gogo. In the bracelet, a gradient from each side serves as spacers between the crystals. Remember that heart toggle? The bar didn’t go to waste! It became the toggle bar for the bracelet also on flex.