just a little tahitian surgery.

[juliebeth]

please tell me i have not massively sinned. wait, i don't think so, since i am massively happy.

ok, see. i got a baroque tahitian tincup on sterling necklace during one of PPs last sales, way before august, a few months ago. LOVE and ADORE this necklace, but i've always wished it worked as a bracelet, since i really just want to gaze upon the pearls ALL THE TIME. i do not have a picture from PP of the exact necklace, but the pearls sure look like this one:





also, i got some cute little 14k tahitian-COLORED FWP earrings on ebay about a month ago. Vendor Pic:



lastly, i got these in the recent sale, vendor pic:

 

[juliebeth]

yes, those are edisons, the 15-16mm dark peacocks. THEY ARE TO DIE FOR. THEY ARE ALSO HUGE and kinda hurt my ears. i emailed hisano about possibly making them into pendants if i sent them back, and asking them to find me some small baroque tahitians to put on those 14k earring findings, since i do own them after all, etc.

but then i got to thinking. hmmmmm. i am a jeweler. i can solve this problem.

 

[juliebeth]

ta-da!

i now have a lovely pair of .925 silver and 14k gold tahitian (almost) earrings!



seen here with my hisano pendant (you didn't think i'd take THAT apart ever? NO!) and also my new 14-16mm long pendant on sterling:



and then of course, my new (hastily-assembled, i'll have to give this one more thought in the next few days) 3-tahitian pearl hemp cup (vs tin cup? i dunno.) knotted bracelet along with the others:

 

[juliebeth]

some group photos and closeups, as well, the pearls were feeling extra photolicious this morning:

 

[juliebeth]

the edison, she is loverly:

 

[juliebeth]

once i had thought through what i wanted to do with each piece of the puzzle, and what i wanted to get out of my little nip and tuck adventure, well, it took me longer to create this set of posts than it did the finished products!

things that might bother me someday but do not at this time:

1. the wire-wrap on the earring tahitians i left intact, so they are still wrapped in silver, and i just attached the earrings and the FWP drops to either end. it was so fun figuring out which tin cup pearls to use and in what order with which FWP! i want to be a fine jewelery pearl designer when i grow up!
2. honestly, i'm kinda loving my hemp knotted bracelet, and i am sad that i will have to re-do it before long, as this cute crafty hemp twine just isn't going to last very long.

things that bug me now:
1. the little FWP drops do each have amazing color and i love each of them, and i completely don't mind that their colors aren't matched perfectly BUT THEIR SHAPES, which i once thought were just fine, are so off that now they drive me nuts. i need either a new pair of FWP drops with equally amazing color (not so likely) or a pair of tahitian drops that at least have some resemblance to each other shape-wise. plus, then the integrity of my "peacock tahitian earrings" would be restored to not needing a FWP disclaimer.
2. i don't know what to do with my other edison. i might just get an actual nice 14k finding (the enhancer i have the one on is sterling, on a sterling chain, and i finally found a pearl worthy of that big fat chain and i love the composition thank you very much) and a nice 14k chain and give her to my mom for christmas.

 

[Marianne]

Lovely all! Just remember there is a head in between those earrings and enjoy em

 

[battah]

Those Edisons are amazing! Whoa, you're right, they're huge! I love the way you have one on a chain, and with the enhancer you can use it so many different ways. Smart! I recently bought a bag of enhancer bales (bails? bales?), they're just waiting for the right pearls to come play with them.

 

[pattye]

He he, You've really got the bug now, JulieBeth! You've created some terrific items, and the best part is you can change them over and over to suit! Love them all, especially the Edison on the long chain. I have 2 large pearls I enjoy wearing like that!

 

[newberry]

great remodeling job JB. Having fun with pearls is the best fun

 

[KarinK]

Don't you just love being able to flexible like that?

Just a note - if you like the hemp look, you might want to consider waxed cotton thread. It costs nothing and have the same kind of casual look. I have several Tahitian and gemstone strands I just wrap around my wrist for layering. It's so comfortable and informal. My first of these projects is wearing thin now but only after several years of regular use. And as I still have the original spool of cotton, I can remake it in a matter of minutes. I think I got it from Firemountain Gems.

- Karin

 

[KarinK]

PS

I should add about the cotton thread that I mostly use it for wired beads/pearls, knotting to keep them in place.

- Karin

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Very nice arrangements!

I run my hemp cord through a brick of beeswax to make it last longer/resist moisture.

 

[LitGeek]

Your new creations look beautiful! Especially love that Edison!

 

[GemGeek]

Playing with pearls can be addictive! Great stuff!

 

[juliebeth]

extremely addictive! thanks for the encouraging words, y'all. i am taking a class at the local jewelery academy in a couple of weeks, am bringing my last edison to make my mom a beautiful neckace. aw yeah.

 

[Sarah]

Love those new earrings, JB! Great creativity and work!

 

[GemGeek]

I think I have posted this in the past, but I wish more women knew about it - Lobe Wonder - little clear patches you put on the back of your ear lobes that distribute the weight of heavy earrings. They prevent tearing and can visually fix elongated holes. I have one pair of super-heavy earrings, like your edisons, that I use two patches per ear and it works very well. If you sell, it can help you to sell more styles of earrings.

The picture says it all. I can't live without them. Consider this my public service announcement!

 

[LitGeek]

I think I have posted this in the past, but I wish more women knew about it - Lobe Wonder - little clear patches you put on the back of your ear lobes that distribute the weight of heavy earrings. They prevent tearing and can visually fix elongated holes. I have one pair of super-heavy earrings, like your edisons, that I use two patches per ear and it works very well. If you sell, it can help you to sell more styles of earrings.

The picture says it all. I can't live without them. Consider this my public service announcement!

View attachment 24839

Thanks for posting this. I just ordered a box to wear with my new 13mm wSS dangles! They are heavier than I expected.

 

[Theresa]

GemGeek, I need to get Lobe Wonder. I have a pair of large earrings bought from Swarovski but never worn it because the earrings are too heavy. Thanks for the tip! I'll share this with my friends.