Freshadama vs AAA Metallic

[LitGeek]

Man, your pearls look awesome on you. More pictures please.

Thanks! After trying it on a few times, I decided to send it back to have it lengthened to 18" and I know I will love it even more. It just felt a little formal at the choker length and I have a pretty casual lifestyle. I will take more photos when I get it back. My two tahitian strand are both 16" and they don't feel formal at all...I guess the baroque shape lends it a more casual feel.

Necklace looks beautiful on you...just beautiful ! I swear...all these wonderful white pearl necklaces...I gots to get one!

Thank you! I think a simple white strand is a definite must-have

 

[SMC]

Thanks! After trying it on a few times, I decided to send it back to have it lengthened to 18" and I know I will love it even more. It just felt a little formal at the choker length and I have a pretty casual lifestyle. I will take more photos when I get it back. My two tahitian strand are both 16" and they don't feel formal at all...I guess the baroque shape lends it a more casual feel.

*squeal* - more pearls can't be a bad thing. I have the 18" freshies too in the same size, we can be pearl twins!

 

[LitGeek]

Thanks! After trying it on a few times, I decided to send it back to have it lengthened to 18" and I know I will love it even more. It just felt a little formal at the choker length and I have a pretty casual lifestyle. I will take more photos when I get it back. My two tahitian strand are both 16" and they don't feel formal at all...I guess the baroque shape lends it a more casual feel.

*squeal* - more pearls can't be a bad thing. I have the 18" freshies too in the same size, we can be pearl twins!

More pearls is definitley a good thing

 

[pkinnew]

Sorry to hear the length didn't work but pearls must be perfect!

 

[LitGeek]

Sorry to hear the length didn't work but pearls must be perfect!

I agree. I would rather get them just right now rather than having to replace them later.

 

[Begonia]

I did exactly the same thing LG.

Started at about 15 and 1/2, cuz I have a long neck and pixie cut. It looked great for a while, but I wear jeans, Keens and wool sweaters most days of my life, so I thought the extra length would suit that better. Went to 18" and that works very well.

You could always get one of the doomahickey's that shorten pearls if you want a choker. Passages des Perles (a blog) has some nice ideas for shortening when needed. She used her Mother's vintage dragonfly brooch to shorten and it looks really great.

 

[LitGeek]

Thanks for the tip Begonia I am glad to hear you like your strand at the longer length. I am sure I will be much happier with mine too. Now I just have to "patiently" wait to get my beautiful pearls back

 

[Begonia]

The next thing you might get interested in is pearl knotting

I'm a long-time beader and with the help of a few different forums (there is a great thread here somewhere - I'll look for it) learned how to knot. It's not as hard as you would think. Tension is key. My point is: I can go any old length I want, and have the strand that day. I sometimes do contrasting silk colors, depending on the overtones of the pearls. Like pink silk sometimes looks very pretty. I started knotting everything at one point. I have some lovely turquoise beads that I had knotted with red silk (turquoise and red coral go together very well ergo the choice of red). It was a fun period. You might be saying no way in hell at this point...

Chime in here Pattye, Nacrelover, 4Ranch...

 

[katbran]

I think that the slightly longer length is a bit more versatile tbh. I often find that people come to me and say they want a necklace to be 16" ... I give them one of each ( 16 18 ) to take home so they can try them on with various outfits. 9 out of 10 times they come back and say they want the 18" .

Those drops are so pretty..I think the drop is my favourite shape in earrings... necklaces....pendants.... it's just so graceful. I do love your new pearls !

 

[4Ranch Girl]

The next thing you might get interested in is pearl knotting

I'm a long-time beader and with the help of a few different forums (there is a great thread here somewhere - I'll look for it) learned how to knot. It's not as hard as you would think. Tension is key. My point is: I can go any old length I want, and have the strand that day. I sometimes do contrasting silk colors, depending on the overtones of the pearls. Like pink silk sometimes looks very pretty. I started knotting everything at one point. I have some lovely turquoise beads that I had knotted with red silk (turquoise and red coral go together very well ergo the choice of red). It was a fun period. You might be saying no way in hell at this point...

Chime in here Pattye, Nacrelover, 4Ranch...

All I can add is when I try to knot. I took several hours worth of classes and at a Ruckus a couple of years ago Hisano gave a knotting class which NL, Pattye, HHPMom were the stars and it was decided by all that I am hopeless at knotting. More knots and tangles, what a mess and I was frustrated to boot. As luck would have it 2 of the stars do my restringing for me so I can reccomend them highly if you want to have restringing done well worth the price paid. BTY Pattye on etsy sells the best product that everyone likes.

 

[Begonia]

Well, it's not for everyone... , but I took to it like a hot damn.

I found it meditative, in that I had to be mentally present when knotting. Focused.

I'll check out Pattye's product...it's been a couple of years...powerpro maybe?

Going to go look...

 

[4Ranch Girl]

Well, it's not for everyone... , but I took to it like a hot damn.

I found it meditative, in that I had to be mentally present when knotting. Focused.

I'll check out Pattye's product...it's been a couple of years...powerpro maybe?

Going to go look...

is right. I am all thumbs. Thank goodness for NL or Pattye to do it for me. I think Pattyes product is beaders secret not powerpro. There is a thread on here about it. I am glad you have fun doing it.

 

[LitGeek]

I think that the slightly longer length is a bit more versatile tbh. I often find that people come to me and say they want a necklace to be 16" ... I give them one of each ( 16 18 ) to take home so they can try them on with various outfits. 9 out of 10 times they come back and say they want the 18" .

Those drops are so pretty..I think the drop is my favourite shape in earrings... necklaces....pendants.... it's just so graceful. I do love your new pearls !

Thanks katbran I have to agree with you on the drop shape there is just something really special about them. The ones Hisano selected for me are pure perfection and MUCH prettier IRL.

Funny thing is I used to make jewelry when my daughter was little and my favorite thing to make was knotted Swarovski pearl strands They were my best selling item and I had many custom orders for them. All of my beading supplies were packed away in a move and I have misplaced them. I might just have to order some new knotting tools along with some thread from Pattye and get on with it I admit I am a bit intimidated to try knotting really expensive pearls...

 

[LitGeek]

Well, it's not for everyone... , but I took to it like a hot damn.

I found it meditative, in that I had to be mentally present when knotting. Focused.

I'll check out Pattye's product...it's been a couple of years...powerpro maybe?

Going to go look...

is right. I am all thumbs. Thank goodness for NL or Pattye to do it for me. I think Pattyes product is beaders secret not powerpro. There is a thread on here about it. I am glad you have fun doing it.

With wonderful friends like yours to restring for you, there is no need for you to trouble yourself You my friend have other talents when it comes to pearls and I still think you should become a professional personal pearl shopper!!!

 

[katbran]

Pattye's thread is Beaders Secret that she sells in one size... and a million colours. Fabulous shades of grey for Tahitians and a nice Forest Green for the ones that are green based. I highly recommend this product. It's a dream to knot as it's very slippery and the knot just slides into place. I find I do need to be a bit more careful with the 'tangle' issue but then i've been knotting long ropes and you know how much thread that is lying around...and I always have too much cause I'm paranoid about running short after all that work !

White, cream, shell, rose, soft pink, black and about every shade of grey are my colours that I use most often. I'm converted from PowerPro ... tho I still might try a combo just to see how it goes...I miss the great 'test' strength of PP on the long ones..(need to use 3-4 threads) .

 

[LitGeek]

Thanks for the color tips katbran! I would like to lengthen my blue-green Tahitian strand for winter (I already have the extra pearls), so I might have to give it a try myself.

 

[LitGeek]

Here are some mods of my strand lengthened I just love the versatility of this length. I can even wear it over my merino wool or cashmere turtlenecks.

 

[SMC]

Here are some mods of my strand lengthened I just love the versatility of this length. I can even wear it over my merino wool or cashmere turtlenecks.

I love this look!!!

 

[bsomlo]

OMG, both looks are perfect. You look like a model out of a magazine!

 

[pkinnew]

Hmmm - I thought I replied so if the ends up as a duplicate I apologize in advance! Or maybe the were so many OMG replies that I got zapped?!?!

I am breathless with the strand and the way you have styled it. It is a perfect size and length for you and the quality is obvious! I am so happy for you!

 

[4Ranch Girl]

LitGeek I love both looks Very classic styling.

 

[NacreLover]

Very pretty litgeek. I like both styles, but the photo where the whole strand is showing really makes these pearls POP!

 

[LitGeek]

Thank you Ladies for your kind words