My pearls

[KarinK]

Hi,

I joined PG last autumn. I got some really helpful advice about pearls I considered buying and reading through the beading section helped me a lot since I string my own pearls. Since then I have mostly been lurking but now I would like to share my small collection of homestrung pearls.

Is it good or bad to share all the information about where I got my bits and pieces? They are all recommended and fellow beaders might be interested but I don't want to spam. If it is a problem, let me know, and I'll edit it out.

My first necklace was made from big freshwater hunkers from a company I can't remember the name of right now, German wholesellers. They are up to 13 mm. I love the look but they are so heavy! I just restrung them but the pictures are from the fall. The claps is a copper clasp I got from Etsy.com. I still use thread from Griffin. I haven't graduated to finding a needle that works for me yet





- Karin

[KarinK]

My other purchase in the fall was two strands of amazing pondslimes from Sarah at Kojima Pearls. I really wanted her Tahitian string but I didn't have enough money. Probably didn't have the money for the pondslimes either but what can you do... :-) The pearls are soooo beautiful, all the colours of the rainbow and some of them even like molted gold.

They are strung with a clasp that Sarah got me from Nina Design. I usually burn off vermail in a matter of weeks if not days but this is really sturdy. A bit far between the knots. I guess I didn't stretch the silk enough before I started.

I usually wear my necklaces over colourful dresses as the one above but I chose a plain t-shirt for the pictures to show off the pearls - think "Oriental splendour"!





- Karin

[KarinK]

This spring I got inspired again. Here i a necklace with the tiniest little seed pearls that I got from Gemphora, who has supplied quiet a few of my gemstone beads through the past few years. I wear it together with a strand of similarly small rhodolite garnets. The garnets have a clasp at the end so that I can put different enhancers on it using just the wire I have. Right now it holds two small rubies.




- Karin

[KarinK]

And finally my other project this spring - two individual strings of freshwater beads that I wear together. One has one of the pondslimes hanging from it. The other has an old blue akoya and a very pale blue aquamarine briolettes hanging down. The clear beads are faceted morganite coins from gemphora. The pearls have been bought locally.





- Karin

[pattye]

KarinK,

Great choice of pearls, and appreciate the photos of you modeling, too! All so versatile, original and fun!

[Heidi]

Great designs! Love the work that you've done and thank you for the photos.

Did you also make the pondslime earrings? Lovely pearls on those.

[Marianne]

Those pondslime keshi are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!
Marianne

[Ramona]

I particularly love those keshis. And of course always the big ones.

[KarinK]

Thank you for your kind words, Pattey, Heidi, Marianne, and Ramona :-)

The keshis were so amazing in real life, even compared to Sarah's original pictures. Right now I love the layered look of the traditional FW strands but I know what will still be in my jewelry box 10 years from now!

Yes, I made the keshi earrings as well. I only just finished them. I spent a long time deciding how to make them, all winter in fact. Mostly I considered solid 14K gold hooks with the 14K gold headpin but it wasn't until I looked through my disgarded pieces I came across the pair of gold earrings that I scavanged the posts from. I really like the contrast between the wild keshis and wire and the more traditional posts.

- Karin

[GemGeek]

Karin, you lurk well! I love everything you made and the earrings really are a delight. Now that you've come out of lurk-mode, please stay around.

[KarinK]

Thank you, GemGeek :-)

I am having another go at reading through every single thread in all of the posts. It is great for educational purposes. I am pressed for time, though as I am also trying to keep up with gemologyonline.com. A familiar forum to you as well, I believe :-)

But reading through all the posts here really makes me want to be a part of the community so I'll try harder to post. I just wish I had more knowledge to share or some truly stunning pearls to show. At the moment I am trying to save up in case my dear friend finally decides to sell her late mothers humongous emerald cut sapphire ring. I need to be ready! But new pearls on a smaller scale may be in the cards for my birthday this summer as we will be in the US during that time. Adding 25% plus a $25 fee to anything entering Denmark bought from places like PP or TPO puts a serious damper on the possibilities.

I am very happy with the earrings. I was looking for a more professional jeweler look and am limited as I can only wire and knot, not do goldsmith work. I will be copying the idea with a pair of glowing emerald cabochons that my friend (with the sapphire ring) gave me in return for stringing a spinel necklace for her - anytime :-) This time I was lucky to win a pair of earrings on eBay for $20 with the same design as above. They have little pearls dangling in a sort of golden cage that I will remove. I am sure I'll find something to use them for later.

Do wish I had the money for perfect akoyas, radient Tahitians and glowing SSP. Maybe one day... Or maybe one day I will have made such a contribution to society that I will be gifted with them :-D

- Karin

[GemGeek]

If you time your visit to come to the Ruckus this summer, you can meet people and geek out over pearls!

[KarinK]

I wish!!

I'll be as close as Portland but I cannot see how the husband would let me off on my own for two days, him being stuck with the kids and the bill

- Karin

[kojimapearl]

Oh... Karin.. I love what you are up to! My favorite is the tiny seed pearls with the OM pendant! Beautiful work.. keep it up!

[Caitlin]

Great work Karin! You belong here!!