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Thursday, April 10, 2014

I Made These

Pearl and Seed Bead Bracelet with an Agate Bead Closure

Crystal, Glass Pearl and Seed Bead Brooch

Pearls, Peridot Jasper, Crystals and Art  Glass Make-up this beautiful necklace set

Glass Pearls and Seed Bead Set. Oh, I crocheted the hat, as well. 


Crocheted Clouche Hat





This past winter, I was prompted to make a crochet hat. To knit a hat, was completely out of the question. My knitting skills are not that advanced. So, after several attempts and studying patterns online, I finally came  up with my own style and a flower that was too cute to adorn it. Viola!!! Oh, thanks muther, for the inspiration and encouragement.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Upgrade You

At the beginning of the year, my ability to understand seed bead patterns miraculously improved. I have now upgraded to more intricate designs. 


All Hail The Queen Collar with Earrings

Drops and Picots Necklace

Unique. Beautiful. You.

It's been awhile, but check this out...

Vintage Tri-Drop Necklace with Earrings

Quartz Wedding Set

"Love" In My Heart Ring

Blue Lace Necklace Armband

"Believe" Copper Bracelet

My first attempt at making a beaded bead.

Friday, February 22, 2013

A Few New Pieces

Wire-Wrapped Rock In Black

Mulit-Necklace Set

Pearls on a Wire

Mother-of-Pearl and Rose Quartz

A Stone Wire-Wrapped In Black

Crocheted Floral Pin

Shell Loop Earrings


Glass and Stone Opera Length Necklace

"Love" Paris Charm Necklace with  Aventurine

Crystal Quartz Necklace

Pearls and Crystals Tassel Earrings

My Little Business

My kiosk at Christmas time.

Isn't it just cute?!

Decorating it was totally fun.

Everything's handcrafted by me.

It's difficult at times not giving in to the temptation of just buying merchandise already made.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Pearls

Akoya Pearl Strand


Pearls, a natural gem, is considered a sign of wealth and good taste. It's the only natural occurring gem created by a living creature. And, they never go out of style. They have been worn for thousands of years. They can be worn as a: single strand, multi strand, twisted multi strand, as a pendant, or within a pattern of other types of beads. Pearls are classified as either  natural or cultured.

Natural pearls are harvested from saltwater or freshwater. They occur naturally without human intervention. A mollusk secretes layers of nacre around an irritant, that has entered naturally, to protect itself. This nacre covered irritant becomes the nucleus of a pearl. The longer the irritant is inside the mollusk the larger the pearl will be. An irritant can be a small sea animal, snails, worms, debris, shell bits, clay, or on the rare occasion  a grain of sand. A natural pearl is very rare and extremely expensive. Natural pearl color is usually white. And, its shape might be round or baroque.

Cultured pearls are harvested from saltwater and freshwater, as well. The difference from a natural pearl is that instead of the irritant entering the mollusk naturally, human intervention takes over and skilled hands will place an irritant inside the shell. The mollusk is usually a oyster or mussel. And, very good care is taken to cultivate the pearl until it's ready to be harvested.

For cultured freshwater pearls, the irritant introduced to the mollusk that will eventually form the pearl nucleus is a piece of shaped mantle from another mollusk. A single mussel might grow 10-20 pearls, therefore, this method is inexpensive.

Cultured saltwater pearls have a shell bead nucleus with mantle tissue introduced as an irritant. When the pearls are harvested in this instance, the oyster dies.  The rate of pearl production for cultured saltwater pearls are slow. Only 1 in 5 pearls from a given oyster is salable, hence a higher price. Cultured pearls very in size, shape and color. Naturally occurring colors are white, pink, lilac, cream, grey, black or gold.


Popular Pearls:

Lake Biwa Pearls-Lake Biwa is where freshwater pearls are grown in Japan.

Akoya Pearls- a name of a cultured pearl type also known as "Japanese pearls". These pearls are round or near round and are usually about 7mm in size. The colors vary between white and cream to silver with pink overtones.

Persian Gulf Pearls- are natural pearls, also known as "oriental pearls". This area is considered the main hub for the finest natural pearls on Earth.

South Seas Pearls- Seawater pearls from Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, the Philippines and Southeast Asia to Northern Australia across to French Polynesia to the Tahitian Islands. Pearls cultivated here are the largest and most expensive, especially those from the Australian waters. The color of the pearl depends on the specific area it's from, for example, the Indonesian and Philippine pearl might be golden or light yellowish, whereas the Aussie pearl might be white and silvery.

South Sea Golden Pearl Strand


Tahitian Pearls or Black Pearls- these pearls are legendary occurring in sizes 8mm to 18mm. They are harvested from black-lipped oysters and are the only natural black pearls in the world. Pearls from this area have also been known to be light black or silvery, dark or light grey with the rarest being peacock green.

Tahitian Black Pearl Strand


Sources:

"Pearls." Pearl Necklace, Cultured Pearl Earrings, Bracelet, Pearl Jewellery UK. Web. 19 Jan. 2011. .


"Pearls." American Museum of Natural History. Web. 19 Jan. 2011. .


"Pearl Education a Guide to Pearl Knowledge." Pearls - Everything Pearl from Pearls.com. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.