Here Comes the Bride (Sort Of)

I'll be celebrating my sixteenth wedding anniversary this summer and it occurred to me that I've never created any bridal jewelry whatsoever. And I like bridal jewelry; it's typically pretty and usually dainty and should enhance the gown. And I had all the beads in my stash and didn't have to buy a thing. A rare occurrence in my world.

I've been creating a lot of lariats lately and wanted to apply the design to a bridal necklace. It will be doubled and finished with a pearl and crystal dangle or a crystal briolette. Obviously it's still a work in progress but so far I'm liking it. I'll post the finished piece (with a better photo) when it's complete.

Follow Up on the Plan

After experimenting with different silver findings for the unfinished bracelet I wrote about in my last post (see below), something was bothering me. The silver was just sticking out too much and didn't seem to coordinate well with the colors in the bracelet.Of course, I hadn't thought about finishing the piece until it was time to finish the piece which is the way I always do things but it's also a major time-waster.

Then it struck me. Bronze. It makes so much sense. Perfect. The bronze works really well with the acrylic flowers and pearls; giving it a vintage feel which I love.

I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out, and even made earrings to coordinate (not match as I'm not the matchy matchy type). My whole point here is that you don't always have to have a plan in mind when starting a new design. Sometimes you just need to step away, clear your mind, and then the ideas start flowing. Do you plan your designs in advance or do you just wing it? I'd love to know.

To Plan or Not To Plan?

It's rare that I have a design in mind before I begin a new project and while spontaneity is great for the creative spirit, not having a plan can also be a real real time-waster. Like today.

I spent a good chunk of time working on this bracelet, carefully choosing the color pearls I liked and working in the resin flowers I've had for awhile, but now I can't decide how to finish it. Silver might look too heavy but I need something sturdy that will take some wear and tear and still look great. Sometimes just stepping away from a project and taking a break can get the ideas rolling. Which I really hope is the case today.

Any suggestions on what type of finishing or clasp that would work with this bracelet would be greatly appreciated.

Pearls and Girls in History

The pearl is my birthstone so I wanted to get a little history on them. When I was just a wee little girl, I didn't like the idea of a pearl as a birthstone. Thought it was boring. I wanted something more glamorous like a diamond or emerald. What was I thinking? There's nothing more classic and stylish than strands of pearls draped elegantly on someone's neck, or a small perfect pearl dangling from the ears. Plus they've been around since forever and never go out of style.

First, some interesting facts:

• Pearls are the only gem created from a living organism. 

• It's been reported that Cleopatra dissolved a pearl in wine and drank it to prove her love to Marc Antony. Sounds odd but we've probably all done worse.

• The ancient Greeks thought pearls would promote marital bliss and that's why brides still wear them to this day. All you need are pearls, girls.

How fabulous does Audrey Hepburn look with these pearls draping down her back? Pretty amazing, right?

Now how about my favorite member of any royal family?

And my not so favorite member of any royal family, her mean mother-in-law Liz? She's hiding her pearls under her jacket but we know they're there.

And of course we can't forget the nice Liz. Her pearls are truly spectacular.

These Mikimoto pearls were given to Marilyn Monroe by then husband, Joe DiMaggio. I'm sure there are pictures of her wearing them but I just love the way they look in the gorgeous box.

Do you have any photos of your favorite gals in their pearls? Please share and I'll post them here.
Happy Birthday to all the June babies out there.