A Beader Special

[Sueki]

Ivona and Boo,
Oh, yes, I much prefer mixed shades and tones.
As beautiful as a perfectly matched strand is, for me it is the mixed strands that reign supreme.
(This is just my own personal opinion).

 

[waimeamomi]

How about matched mixed strands?? That's what I'm working on, I think!

 

[Sueki]

How about matched mixed strands?? That's what I'm working on, I think!

Ha Ha !
And I think I know what you mean.......
'Cept I'm having serious senior moments trying to picture it.....

 

[waimeamomi]

I'll post it when it's done.

 

[elisa]

Yesterday's creations.

I gave pretty much all the pinks and lavenders to my beading aunt for Christmas, that's why most everything is white. I sorted the best-of-the-best white pearls into a 17 inch graduated strand, of the multiple-overtone variety just discussed above. (I, too, really love that subtle variation in tone.)
Made more earrings and a bracelet today but no pics yet.

 

[Heidi]

Those are some nice designs Elisa - thank you for sharing with us. I particularly like the way you used chain in your earrings.

 

[Nerida]

I agree with Heidi - Elisa your pieces with chain are very nice. Those earrings you are wearing are just perfect.

 

[dkan 168]

I love the pics of peeps' creations, thanks everyone for sharing

DK

 

[elisa]

i am only a baby beader...but people are making some lovely things, and I wanted to join the fun.

 

[Sueki]

Very pretty, Elisa,
The black pearl earrings - classic !
Etruscan suits you very well.

 

[kelluvpearls]

Hi DK

I've been looking for argentium silvers chains on the internet but haven't been able to locate any sites that ships outside the US. Do you have an online source for these? Thank you so much if you or anyone else can share.

Everyone's designs are really lovely, so far it seems the bag of rounds is the more popular material.

I have decided to try Argentium Silver wire, beads and findings, now that I have discovered WG wire, beads and findings are not always Rhodium plated, resulting in subtle uneven colour in the finished products that bugs me because I know it's there

Besides, the range of beads and findings in WG is not great, and they cost so much more than Argentium Silver

Ah well, another expensive lesson learned!

DK

 

[pearlescence]

If you tell me exactly what argentium silver is (it is new to me) I will see what I can track down - where are you Kelluvpearls?
I would not have expected white gold to be rhodium plated as routine either, though it can be done to prevent tarnishing in silver items

 

[dkan 168]

Hi DK

I've been looking for argentium silvers chains on the internet but haven't been able to locate any sites that ships outside the US. Do you have an online source for these? Thank you so much if you or anyone else can share.

Everyone's designs are really lovely, so far it seems the bag of rounds is the more popular material.

Yup, try Argentium Silver Findings, they replied they can ship to UK. Their site is currently not configured for shipment outside US, however, there are ways to get around that one, like putting in a dummy US address, then provide correct shipment address later, e.g. via my PayPal account in my case

Rio Grande will ship to UK, however, they do not appear to stock unfinished chains though.

Hope this helps

DK

 

[dkan 168]

If you tell me exactly what argentium silver is (it is new to me) I will see what I can track down - where are you Kelluvpearls?
I would not have expected white gold to be rhodium plated as routine either, though it can be done to prevent tarnishing in silver items

Wendy, here is one of the sites about Argentium Silver:

http://www.argentiumsilver.com/

There is currently no UK distributor (not that I can see anyway), so you could be the first!

DK

 

[waimeamomi]

Rio Grande has Argentium findings and I see unfinished chains on their site (I don't know about the catalog). You just have to click on the chain and then go to size and you will find on some of them, "by the foot."

 

[pattye]

Elisa,

Lovely pieces you are making! Great job on the wire work too! Yes, I love the chain also! It gives movement to the earrings, and allows for a long earring without lots of added weight. Also love your tin cup necklace! I made one of round Tahitians for my DIL, she loves it! Will post photos later.

Argentium silver--my understanding is that it is slower to tarnish, but not completely non-tarnish. Just wish the selection was larger. Just got the Rio Grande catalogs, always fun to look through---------------

 

[dkan 168]

Rio Grande has Argentium findings and I see unfinished chains on their site (I don't know about the catalog). You just have to click on the chain and then go to size and you will find on some of them, "by the foot."

Ooer, I learn something new everyday! Thanks!

It looks like all the Argentium chains can be ordered by the foot without the clasp, brilliant!

DK

 

[pearlescence]

There is currently no UK distributor (not that I can see anyway), so you could be the first!

On the home page there is a news report about linking up with cookson precious metals to produce argentium...
Cookson (if it is the same company) is based in Birmingham and a search of their website for argentium produces a blank
I don't do distribution deals (they can be very restricting and complex), I buy only direct from makers

 

[boo]

I don't remember if I posted this or not, so forgive my lousy memory if you've heard it all before! I found some pouches lined with anti-tarnish cloth on Etsy that I have been using to store my silver (I actually put the pearls inside a smaller cloth bag and then put a few of those inside the anti-tarnish pouch - I get more use out of a small number of pouches and I don't have to worry about what effect the anti-tarnish material might have on the pearls). I haven't done this long enough personally to verify the anti-tarnish properties, but the information on the internet seems to indicate they work as well as anything else. If anyone is interested, the seller is BroadwayBeads and an example of the pouches is here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_1&listing_id=19236338

(again, nothing will completely prevent silver from tarnishing, but it is supposed to slow the process significantly, and I do notice a big difference between the earrings I keep in my little "anti-tarnish jewelry box" as opposed to the earrings I keep on the display rack on my dresser.)

 

[dkan 168]

On the home page there is a news report about linking up with cookson precious metals to produce argentium...
Cookson (if it is the same company) is based in Birmingham and a search of their website for argentium produces a blank

Interesting, as Cookson stocks "Silver Brilliante" which is advertised as "highly tarnish resistant", only in wires and sheets, no findings yet.

Perhaps there is an issue with trademark etc...

DK