[Caitlin]

I have been messing around with poor results tyring to copy posts with good pix over here, so instead I am going to just start some new threads of people's pearls
This pic is a closeup of some strands I made this year
The top is 8mm black pearls with crystal nuggets
the second is small button pearls with aquamarine rondells
The third is small buttons with labradorite rondells
The forth is large 9mm button pearls with 9mm faceted paeridots
the fifth is 9mm buttons with rose quartz
the bottom is 11-12mm commercial quality black dyed CFWP with 4mm nuggets. Note the cracks and blemishes-they are part of the character of the strand and they are available at about 1/30th the price of high quality pearls of the same size. They bring huge pearls into my price range.
Don't forget, I am a charter member of the Lowly Beader's Club and that is mostly what I still do.

All of 2006 I have explored pearls plus. That means Big pearls plus little pearls or pearls plus another gemstone. I have not yet run out of combinations to try so maybe I will do it all during 2007 too!

[pattye]

Oh Caitlin those are all just lovely! You have some really good quality button pearls. Are these the long strands that you mentioned were so popular in the boutique, or a mixture? Thanks much for the photos--
Pattye

[Caitlin]

This one is of four strands I made for glasses holders

The inside strand is a random mix of 9mm peacock and 4mm peacock pearls
The second one is a regular pattern of large to medium then smaller peacosk pearls
The third one is chartreuse dyed 8mm pearls alternating with chatreuse glass beads and small chartreuse dyed pearls
The outside strand is pink fw keshi aletrnating with clear quartz

[Caitlin]

This one is a strand of 9mm peacock and matching earrings I made for a friend. It is a good picture because it shows the colors well. this one is 22"

[Caitlin]

Hi Pattye
This is a 40" version of the one above.

[Caitlin]

This is the only coin pearl necklace I have made. It was done with amethyst tube beads

[Caitlin]

These are some lovely puff pearls I combined with tiny coral beads from the 1950's made by a Navajo artist.

[Caitlin]

This is another of my personal collection nfs. My grampa's Bahraini pearls extended with more of my Navajo handmade coral beads. I may restring this one yet another time.

[Caitlin]

Here are twoI have made several copies of. Variations on a theme.
The top one I call "bridges"
The bottom one Ii call "San Francisco landscape with clouds"
They are both inspired by the colors and shapes of the Bay area.
Both have cfwp, labradorite and the bottom one also has amethyst.

[Caitlin]

Here are some of the 12 necklaces I make after buying 12 slices of ammonite fossil seashells at the gem show in 2005. The ammonite isn't the iridescent kind, but I love anything with a spiral. The beads are CFWP and various stone beads. None cost over $1 at the show.

[Caitlin]

This is the third remake of this and I have at least one more to go. Originally, in about 1980, I took a Navajo cedar bead necklace with turquoise beads and restrung it into a two strander with all my dangley things. Then I redid it as a three strander. Then I decided to substitute 5mm pearls for the cedar beads for this version.

[Caitlin]

This is one I originally made in the early 1970's and my friend sent it to me to restring last year.

The long coral is unique, I think. drilled by a Navajo, I have had some of these since the 1950's. Also the white seashells I collected when visiting my grandfather's island off Bahrein in 1955. The turquoise is also from my years on the Rez.

[Caitlin]

This one is one of my favorites. it is a 12mm+ commercial grade peacock pearls with a blueish cast. I got them from Roy Chen of Evergreen for $10 and have gotten so many comments on it- even though it is not high quality, people love it- that I have been on the hunt for these large pearls ever since and only scored once or twice.

That is a magnetic clasp and it incredibley easy to use and secure. From Fire mtn.

[Caitlin]

Just for fun
This is my mo-inlaw's silver (plated) tray with my working stuff on it.

[Caitlin]

Beauty and the Beast. Faceted cfwp with multicolored rondels