My pearls

[pattye]

Karin,

Absolutely lovely as we knew it would be! You have been busy since arriving home! Rubies with Kamokas--gorgeous, unexpected combination!

 

[Caitlin]

Those are wonderful designs, Karin! I hope you never stop designing!

 

[KarinK]

Thank you for the kind words as always

Pattye, the rubies look AMAZING with the pearls, bringing attention to them and highligting the colours of the Kamokas, but not stealing the limelight. I was just looking through my (limited compared to yours) stores and came up with the rubies.

Another interesting detail is that strand of pearls was mostly near rounds with some, the largest pearl among others, oval ones. But by the time I had finished sorting and sizing, two drop pearls became earrings, the oval and other drop shaped (fairly large) pearls went to the bracelet and lo and behold - the necklace looks like all round pearls Plus the bracelet is awesome with great size and colour to the pearls.

- Karin

 

[Narcissa]

Karin, Thanks for posting your process, as well as your pictures. Lovely! And congratulations again on your new beauties. Having seen Josh's pearls on Pattye's Pattio in perfect early evening light, I took the liberty of loading your most recent pic into photoshop to adjust lighting, to try to see the effect of those rubies with your new kamokas. The color density of the cloth, however, seems to be the element that changes most, or perhaps I need to explore the depths of photoshop on a new level. -OR- maybe I can just wait to see them, on that Portland - Seattle - Victoria BC - Denmark road trip we're all taking.

 

[KarinK]

Yes, you do have to come to Copenhagen to see the bracelet!

In the meantime I'll try to take another picture tomorrow with a more neutral background. That should leave you a better picture to work with.

- Karin

 

[Caitlin]

I am going to split this thread. Vermeil and lead is leaving and Karin's designs are staying.

 

[KarinK]

"Ups, I did it again..." to qoute a pop song. After wearing Kamokas I have to confess my undying (I think) love for saltwater pearls. But even within that segment there are quite a few options.

I still need to take pictures of the 30 year old natural coloured golden akoya pearls I bought from Sarah (looks like baby SS), but while we wait for my camera charger to show up (or get replaced) I can show what I bought today - a 19'' strand of the itty bitty akoya keshis. The pictures are from the sellers listing.

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I plan to use them for a multiple strand bracelet, probably with the faceted morganite coins I used for one of the longer FW strands, that I am no longer wearing. That should give me at least three strands. Another thought that came to mind was to use this previously featured clasp for a bracelet instead of a necklace (I did buy pearls for it in Portland, but I changed my mind). I am not sure yet, if mixing the keshis with the morganites will do the trick - or if the tiny pearls will even work with the clasp. I like idea of using it for a bracelet in any case, might just have to wait a bit (hey, I can always use the left over ringed Tahitinas...).

- Karin

 

[Caitlin]

Good to see the designer out for a stroll.

 

[Adeline Leigh]

Love love the itty bitty akoya keshis!! Am mad about the big ones (above 15mm) and the teensiest ones (under 4mm) and lukewarm towards all others in between. Rubbish that comment, I still buy all the others in between!!!

 

[Nerida]

Oh akoya keshis make my heart sing.... I have some tiny tiny ones that are just gorgeous and find it hard to walk past them at the shows!

 

[KarinK]

Good to see the designer out for a stroll.

Thank you I guess I haven't had that much to stroll with lately, since I want to wear what I make and it has to be special. I did want to make a rope with the disgarded Tahitians with black spinel, but my purse didn't agree - at least not yet (wanted the golden vintage and keshis akoyas instead).

I did make a long necklace of 10 ft of gold filled wire, making little links with gemstones. I wear that a lot, and since there are a few FW pearls on it I guess I can post a picture Though, my idea yesterday of using the costume clasp for a bracelet instead of a necklace was a bit of a break through

Stay tuned! Creations coming up!

Adeline: I need a necklace of creme SSP for my collection Probably not 15 mm, though. On the other hand...

- Karin

 

[mausketeer]

"Ups, I did it again..." to qoute a pop song. After wearing Kamokas I have to confess my undying (I think) love for saltwater pearls. But even within that segment there are quite a few options.

I still need to take pictures of the 30 year old natural coloured golden akoya pearls I bought from Sarh (looks like baby SS), but while we wait for my camera charger to show up (or get replaced) I can show what I bought today - a 19'' strand of the itty bitty akoya keshis. The pictures are from the sellers listing- Karin

Yes, I'm having an itch for keshi's myself and I ALSO am in love with ITTY BITTY pearls! They're so cute!

Can't wait for your camera to recharge to see the vintage natural golden Akoyas! Wow!

- Jodie -

 

[KarinK]

Yeah, the sun was finally out and I took at few pictures of the vintage Akoyas. These are pearls that were stashed away for app. 30 years - bought from Sarah at Kojima. Of course I took the strand appart at once to rearrange them to my own taste and to make sure they soaked up all the salt slush they could

The nacra on these pearls is thicker than you'd find today. They have not been vleached and the colors are amazing in soft gold with flashes of other colors, depending on the individual pearl. Their luster is softer than usually seen with Akoya, they look a lot more like baby SSP. The largest is 8 mm. As Sarah said, they are not perfect pearls but graduated in size and placing the slightly dropped ones right, they look round to the eye.

I am having fun wearing the strand with a large SSP enhancer I got a while back. They match perfectly. The picture is not lying - they do seem to glow from inside.

- Karin

 

[Marianne]

These are really beautiful Karin. I love the rich natural colors. Yes, they do glow!

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

and I ALSO am in love with ITTY BITTY pearls! They're so cute!

Even these?

 

[KarinK]

Even these?

As long I wouldn't have to drill them! Or string them... I just finished my bracelet made from the small Akoya keishis and it was close to a nightmare doing three rows of french gimp, etc. with the finest thread in my collection.

- Karin

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

As long I wouldn't have to drill them!

http://www.karipearls.com/drilling-pearls.html

The fellow could. Small as .5mm apparently.

 

[Caitlin]

What u think about these South Sea pearls?

I love them! Are they yours? Would you consider starting a new thread in Show us your Pearls with this piece and an yothers you want to post?

 

[mausketeer]

Even these?

View attachment 13802

Oooh! Love 'em! And I don't drill OR string (not really - too lazy - lol) so yes, I love them...... my gosh, how small are they?

- Jodie -

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Oooh! Love 'em! And I don't drill OR string (not really - too lazy - lol) so yes, I love them...... my gosh, how small are they?

- Jodie -

Average .8mm to 1.2mm.

Very tiny, but the microscopy (SEM) lab likes them that small. Here's an example at 500 microns.



Here's one at 700x, where orthorhombic plates of aragonite become clearly present.