A Beader Special

[Pearl Dreams]

I've crawled out from bed to look at the pretty things some more!

 

[Nerida]

Oh, still sick? you poor thing!

 

[danachit]

Wow!! Yall did amazing with these pearls!! Boo ~ I especially like that pretty one you did with the little mixed ones...so delicate!

Congratulations all of you who are so talented and creative!!

 

[Sueki]

Oh, yes, all the pieces are beautiful.
But I especially like the red, white and green, the long rope and the mesh necklace.
Clever, clever p.g.'ers....

 

[Hanaleimom]

First knotting job

First knotting job

I stringed my first bracelet yesterday. Yes, this was my first knotting experiment ever. My plan originally was to reknot a FW keshi opera length (without clasp -It was really inexpensive from TJ Maxx) to put a clasp on so I can wear it as a double strand. It was too small to go through my head as a double strand. I figured it was so cheap, I won't feel bad if I ruin it. Then came along the beader special. The pearls are so pretty that I had to knot from that lot before the keshi.

When I asked the girl at the local bead shop for PowerPro to be used with keshi, she told me to buy 8 lb. I used it to knot the round pearls and the knots went right inside the drill hole, even after double knotting. So I took it apart after several pearls were on the string. Luckily I bought white Gudebrod size E from bellafindings.com when I placed my gold order months ago.

I could not master the regular non-tool method yet because the knots were stuck too far from the drill hole. I could not unravel the knot so I cut it up after I messed up the knots. I didn't have an awl but resorted to using a large sewing needle and a sewing pin interchangeably to place the knot closer to the pearl and pushed. The awl substitution seemed to work well for me, at least for now. The silk for the bracelet was done as is, no preparation. I find it to be easily twisted. After I spent 1.5 hour, the bracelet turned out to be too big due to a slight miscalculation (not factoring in the clasp length, LOL). I cut it apart and spent another 1.5 hour after dinner to string the second time and finished it to the right length. It was late at night and I decided to take a break rather than started on the necklace.

This morning I woke up really early and started knotting the matching necklace. This time I ran the thread through wax. It twisted less but sometimes is hard to pull through the drill hole. I used a plier to pull the needle sometimes. The double thread also was stuck together like one thread, but was easily pulled apart to seat the knot. I think I like to wax the silk. I also reamed the last 3 pearls to make the drill holes larger in order to run the double thread through at the end. Then I used hypocement glue and the micro snip that Caitlin recommended. The necklace took about 70 minutes. It also seems to be kinked, more so at the end pearls. I think it has to do with the wax preparation. However, since it's 17.5 inches finished and not too long, it does curve around the neck and does not show the kink at the front. I am happy with the results. Attached are the photos. Note: photos taken on a very cloudy day.

Thank you, Jeremy . I was not happy when I attended the gem show here twice this year. The price was not comparable to the quality. This is a great opportunity for me to start knotting, rather than purchasing through Ebay. At least I can restring my strands when it's time to do so.

PS: Waimeamomi asked how did I find time. My 19-year old clothes dryer stopped working on the 23rd. I could not do laundry.

 

[pearlescence]

For a first run at knotting that is very good work. The knots look very tight and everything is spaced well. great job. Much much better than my first. well done.
I bet you won't want to take them off!

 

[GemGeek]

Great job and great photos. Soon you'll need more pearls...

 

[pattye]

Cathy,

Those pieces look terrific! I am still in the struggling stage, nothing ready to photograph------------

 

[Sueki]

They look great Cathy - you must be really pleased....

I always wax silk and then run it through my fingers to remove any excess wax.

Kinks - try laying the necklace straight on a flat surface, and then rolling it a few times (as if it were a rolling pin).

 

[pearlescence]

I do too. And I use the beeswax from my own bees!!

 

[boo]

Cathy - those are wonderful! Much better than my first attempt I love all the colors, too. Nice job!

 

[Amrita]

Great creations, Boo! I love the multi-colored graduated strand, and the wire mesh encased strand. What a wonderful idea!

Cathy, your pieces seem lovely to me! Great job!

 

[Ash]

I've crawled out from bed to look at the pretty things some more!

Get better! the Plague is hitting here as well. Not Fun! all the pieces everyone has posted are lovely! Mama just loves the coin pearls, made her Holiday!

Looking forward to more pics of more very pretty creations.

cheers

Ash

 

[dkan 168]

Cathy,

Well done on your first knotting job, they look great!

I am investing on a Tri-cord knotter after reading good reviews about it, and reckon it will be worth the money with all the stringing and re-stringing I shall be doing for myself. My poor fingers will hurt otherwise!

My bag of rounds is ready for collection this afternoon, along with my pendants from TPO, goodie!

More later, promise!

DK

 

[boo]

Okay, I photographed another one. This is like the very first but with blue and purple in addition to the white - perfect for my wardrobe. I think I am having such fun with graduating the pearls b/c it is so unusual to have a number of different sizes to choose from.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I really like that look-- the wrapped-wire loops.

 

[pattye]

Just gorgeous! And thank you again for modeling! Fab-Boo on you!! Did you use small beads next to the pearl, or??

 

[Hanaleimom]

boo

boo

Wow, Boo. You are great at this. I love all your pieces. But this last necklace is really something. I saw a black dress in a store yesterday that came with a faux pearl necklace. It was made the same way as your nylon mesh necklace, but nothing spectacular like yours.

 

[dkan 168]

My bag of rounds is ready for collection this afternoon, along with my pendants from TPO, goodie!

False alarm on my bag of rounds, it's the Biwa I bought from Pearl_dreams recently instead

Hopefully, the bag of rounds will arrive via UPS tomorrow

And I like all 3 pendants I purchased from TPO, definitely keeping the cute octopuss, not sure if I can part with the other two as presents or keep them for myself yet, ah well

DK

 

[imanit]

Boo, Looking at your creations, I can't wait to finaly receive my bag of rounds.... Sometimes it sucks to live in Canada... mail takes soooo much longer..... I like very much your graduated necklaces....