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Cathy, an interesting idea, mixing beads and resistors! Resistors are great for learning or practicing wire link -- cheap and very easy to work with. You can even leave one side unwrapped if you like. I usually use sterling with beads or pearls, or sometimes copper. What would I use if I mixed...

My first thought was abalone pearl, from the colors and the shape.

Still playing with resistors, this time a bracelet:

Another version:

For these projects I bought 2000 resistors on eBay for $30, of mixed values, 1000 half watt and 1000 quarter watt. Definitely not a major material cost, at under $1 per necklace. Getting them at Radio Shack is much more expensive (are there any Radio Shacks anymore?). The metal oxide versions...

This time I alternated half watt and quarter watt resistors:

And now for something completely different.... Making that malachite strand gave me the idea -- why not use actual resistors? They are a natural for wire link.

Note: they really are round, but there seems to be some camera distortion!

Here are a couple of neck shots:

And here is the second one, a mixture of the same 3 sizes but with a different pattern because I used what was left over from the other one: Neck shots to come later; my husband doesn't approve of taking them with the shirt I have on now.

Pattye: oh wow! They are lovely, but. The nice thing is that 2 strands can always be connected together if desired. I wish I could get a really good photograph that would do the luster justice.

It is really incredible... It is such a pleasure to be working with such lovely pearls.

I think that the eBay authenticity guarantee will just guarantee that they are pearls, not imitation. Cultured freshwater pearls will be considered authentic.

I'm starting on the second one... The first one is just short of 25". I like it long enough that I can look at it without a mirror! I'm also saving a few pearls out for earrings.

The combination of the sparkle of the diamonds with the glow of the pearls is fascinating...

This is a little late, but a month ago we went out for my daughter's birthday, and I wore my incredible little h necklace:

Here they are: done! It took extra time, first because I work very slowly, and second because I found a major mistake halfway, and had to cut everything apart and start over.

I got a 5-5.5, 5.5-6, and 6-6.5. I am going to string them in a small-medium-small-large pattern, at least for this necklace. I will hopefully get some better pictures, too! My phone camera seems to have some problems with macro mode.

At the Pearl Paradise vault visit, there were some akoya pearls that are absolutely amazing. They make the hanadama strands look dull. They were not cheap,but nowhere near some of the south seas strands. I hemmed and hawed and finally bought some, blowing my budget for some time. I am finally...

Oh, such wonderful pictures! What a wonderful trip! Thank you!