De-Stash Project - Stash Bash

[SunSeeker]

CathyKeshi, beautiful design and craftmanship! ..and gorgeous colors! I love the little gem stone bits between the pearls

 

[pattye]

Happy Huku, That turned out so pretty! Pearls with gemstones, hard to go wrong with that combination!

 

[CathyKeshi]

Happy Huku, that's SO pretty! Can you tell us what gems were used etc.?

 

[Happy Huku]

Thank you!

It is made up of my old vintage graduated akoyas, some mediocre freshwaters, iolite, amethyst and can't remember what the green ones are beads. I hardly wear green but I love the way the green beads vary so much - from pale, almost see-through to solid green. It is 38".

Here are the not so glamorous neck shots taken this afternoon, I did enjoy the grab and throw them on but wish I knew how to twist them nicely with my PP akoyas!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Cathy, how did I miss those gorgeous metallics? Beautiful strand!

How was stringing the gems on Beader's Secret? I want to do a lilac/grey strand with morganite and aqua, but I am a little leery of the gems cutting it. I got some thin 49 strand and some Power-Pro-esque Spectra line to experiment with for this.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

And this is what I have been doing lately:

 

[CathyKeshi]

Lady_Disdain, that's remarkable! I love the style, the pearl mix, the clasp arrangement ... really unique and wonderful! I apologize I didn't see or respond to your question about my tiny gems. Well, I really can't be sure yet. I did break the Beaders' Secret on the first stringing attempt, 3/4 of the way through, and I'm sure it was because of the tiny gems. Second try was fine, and the necklace seems okay, although I haven't given it really heavy use yet. I love Beaders' Secret thread, and have generally found it to be strong. To be fair, I forced the gems ... the drill holes were really a bit too small for my needle, and I had to go through about 8 - 10 gems for every one I got to fit on, so that probably put much more wear and tear on the thread than if they'd fit and slid on easily ...

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Yeah, I am staring at the gems and mentally telling them to suck in their stomachs because they have to fit. I am probably going to have to rethink this project, since the pearls have huge holes (0.9mm), so talk about incompatibility.

 

[JerseyPearl]

What a pretty necklace Lady D! What size pearls did you use?

 

[Lady_Disdain]

4mm potatoes and 8mm drop.

 

[pattye]

Oh, Beatriz, so beautiful, wearable and timeless!

Occasionally I've had the need to add a third thread to compensate for a larger drill hole. Still makes a tidy knot with Beader's Secret. With tiny (and sometimes sharp) drill holes, it's a process of trial and error, unfortunately.

 

[Katbran]

Beatriz! That's gorgeous!! Love it !! The round pearl looks very purple on my screen..is that an Edison?

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I wish, Katbran! It is actually on the smaller side (the ivory pearls are just 4mm). I am assuming it is dyed.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

And a failed experiment. The proportions are just not working out.

 

[pattye]

That's just the way it goes sometimes, isn't it??!! Pretty blue pearls and gems, though. I'm certain you'll come up with something wonderful!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Yup! Both the gems are nice and the pearls are nice but they aren't getting along too well. I'll try the morganites on some smaller, slightly rosy pearls and see if they play better together.

Ah, children...

 

[JerseyPearl]

And a failed experiment. The proportions are just not working out.

View attachment 37166

But I love where you are headed with this!
Here's my latest stones and pearls:
And I can see I have to tuck that one pig tail a little bit more! And wow, you can see the blue sky/white clouds in my kitchen window!

 

[lary007]

I really like that necklace, Jersey!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I love the alternating stones and pearls. They look light and contemporary.

And I am ogling some Tahitians... Ideas are brewing.

 

[JerseyPearl]

Lady Disdain, I think those blue/green stones would look amazing against white pearls. What are they? And btw, I just visited your shop...you have some very cool pieces!