Mixed medley strand in the making

[MakingTheGrade]

After seeing Tahitian harvest strand I realized I loved the look and want to make something similar. I had a long blue akoya and white faux pearl strand but realized it was too “regular” for me. So I took it apart and used some of the blue akoya as contrast to the multicolor circle Tahitians.

Still to be added: gold keshi. Maybe some Edison pearls?

While I wait for those, trying to get some practice photographing pearls. It’s a tricky wicket!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Pictures of the loose keshi. 4-5mm golden south sea.



And 11-13mm Edison pearls. The Tahitians in the strand are 8-12mm

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Shale as always was asked to help. He tried to hold up the strand but isn’t quite strong and tall enough.

 

[whitewave]

It’s lovely and I think the gold will make it pop!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I hope so too! I’m debating putting some rounds in there too but not sure where to find reasonably priced loose Tahitian rounds that can hold their own against the circles luster.

 

[dk168]

My cat is the reason I have stopped stringing at home!

Cute kitty and I admire your creativity and patience in finding suitable pearls for your various projects!

DK

 

[MakingTheGrade]

My cat is the reason I have stopped stringing at home!

Cute kitty and I admire your creativity and patience in finding suitable pearls for your various projects!

DK

Haha shale is very well behaved when I’m stringing. He usually sits next to me and supervises.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Hmmm. Anyone have tips on how to incorporate beads that have much larger holes than pearls?

I never wear the gold bead bracelets but love the lush 24k gold and the irregularity works with this mix strand.

The resin bead has the ashes and coloration of my best fluff friend who passed away 2 years ago. I had a few made and will wear them when I travel since the memory of him makes me feel safe. He was 160lb teddy bear but his size meant nobody ever bothered me when I walked him! Haha.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

This is 38” length which I think looks right? I put some filler beads in the back to stand in for the pearls I’m still waiting for.

 

[SparklieBug]

Looks like a great length on you! The gold beads are a really nice contrast.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Looks like a great length on you! The gold beads are a really nice contrast.

Thanks. I’m weirdly delighted I found a way to use these! I think I’ll want it 40 inches in the end which I think will work out perfectly after knotting.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

After seeing Tahitian harvest strand I realized I loved the look and want to make something similar. I had a long blue akoya and white faux pearl strand but realized it was too “regular” for me. So I took it apart and used some of the blue akoya as contrast to the multicolor circle Tahitians.

Still to be added: gold keshi. Maybe some Edison pearls?

While I wait for those, trying to get some practice photographing pearls. It’s a tricky wicket!

You have an excellent eye for the placement of the different colours
Its like a rather glourouse fruit salad of pearls

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Hmmm. Anyone have tips on how to incorporate beads that have much larger holes than pearls?

I never wear the gold bead bracelets but love the lush 24k gold and the irregularity works with this mix strand.

The resin bead has the ashes and coloration of my best fluff friend who passed away 2 years ago. I had a few made and will wear them when I travel since the memory of him makes me feel safe. He was 160lb teddy bear but his size meant nobody ever bothered me when I walked him! Haha.

That's a very precouse bead
Do you have a plan yet on how to incorporate the different sized holes ?

 

[MakingTheGrade]

That's a very precouse bead
Do you have a plan yet on how to incorporate the different sized holes ?

nope. Just gonna string it like usual. I don’t love the metal against the pearl because I think it can cause pearl discoloration and damage over time but I’m ok with that in this kind of strand. I can replace pearls pretty easy when nothing matches!

 

[Pearlescence]

That's really lovely. When I try to make medley (new name!) strands they really do look like strands made of left-overs.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

That's really lovely. When I try to make medley (new name!) strands they really do look like strands made of left-overs.

Im afraid that's what mine woukd look like too

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I’m gonna end up calling this my Kitchen Sink strand just cause I’m throwing so many random things in! Haha.

Yeah in China it’s common to only gift 24k jewelry so the stuff I got as a teen were these beads on red cord bracelets. Loved them then but haven’t worn them in years now. Happy to recycle them into new projects!

I also like that I don’t feel like I need to be super cautious with this strand since any individual pearl is maybe 10-20$ so if I chip or scratch one I won’t be horrified. when it’s done it’ll be about $1200 in pearls. Not too bad for 40”

Knotting this will take foreeeeeeevvvvver. I’ll probabky cheat and just knot every third lol.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

The colors show up so much better on Shale with his white fur...

He was a great model for me this morning!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

My gold keshi shipped so hopefully I can finish this soon. Woot. I ordered the loose akoya to lengthen another necklace I have but I’ll have an extra left over that I might throw into thin kitchen sink strand too. Why not at this point haha.

 

[SparklieBug]

LOVE Shale's glamour shots!!! The lighting is puuurrfect for both the pearls and Mr. Shale!

The gold keshi look wonderful. I'm smitten with GSS lately...

ETA: Who am I kidding? I'm smitten with all pearls. All the time. Not just lately. LOL!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

LOVE Shale's glamour shots!!! The lighting is puuurrfect for both the pearls and Mr. Shale!

The gold keshi look wonderful. I'm smitten with GSS lately...

ETA: Who am I kidding? I'm smitten with all pearls. All the time. Not just lately. LOL!

I actually like GSS more than rounds. I think because they look like gold nuggets.

 

[dk168]

Shale is a gorgeous kitty!!!

DK

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Shale is a gorgeous kitty!!!

DK

Isn’t he though?! I can’t believe I found him in the woods.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Isn’t he though?! I can’t believe I found him in the woods.

What a lucky stroke of luck for both of you or perhaps things are meant to be. He is absolutely the most beautiful gem.

 

[dk168]

Isn’t he though?! I can’t believe I found him in the woods.

Nah, he probably spotted you first, decided he wanted you to be his human, and let himself being found by you!

DK

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Nah, he probably spotted you first, decided he wanted you to be his human, and let himself being found by you!

DK

Haha I wish but in this case I definitely found him. He was yowling loudly in a mud/shale pit and I thought it was an injured child. But no. It was a cold and unhappy cat.
This was the morning after I first brought him home. He’s really grown into his ears and paws. He also isn’t as clingy anymore
Haha.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I’m gonna end up calling this my Kitchen Sink strand just cause I’m throwing so many random things in! Haha.

Yeah in China it’s common to only gift 24k jewelry so the stuff I got as a teen were these beads on red cord bracelets. Loved them then but haven’t worn them in years now. Happy to recycle them into new projects!

I also like that I don’t feel like I need to be super cautious with this strand since any individual pearl is maybe 10-20$ so if I chip or scratch one I won’t be horrified. when it’s done it’ll be about $1200 in pearls. Not too bad for 40”

Knotting this will take foreeeeeeevvvvver. I’ll probabky cheat and just knot every third lol.

Im not sure ....
i think I'd still cry if more than one got scratched

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I actually like GSS more than rounds. I think because they look like gold nuggets.

Wow !
Ive never seen anything like this !

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Wow !
Ive never seen anything like this !

They’re just really big gold keshi. 7-11mm. Not mine. But one day...

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Im not sure ....
i think I'd still cry if more than one got scratched

Knowing me I’d just use it as an excuse to rearrange everything again haha