yet another project

Remember these?
(just checking!)

So in order to break up the potentially boring row-by-row narration of the beadpoint project, here's another little something i've been working on for, oh, a while. 

These seven strands of button pearls came from the Gem and Mineral Show here in KCMO a couple of years ago.  They are a beautiful peacock color about the size of a half pea, in the 4-5mm range.  Button pearls are domed on one side and kind of flat on the bottom.  They are often half-drilled for use in earrings and pendants.  They can also be side drilled and strung for bracelets.
The strands i bought are drilled top to bottom so they "stack" when strung, with the flat bottom sitting on the domed top of the next pearl.

Anyways, my first idea was, naturally, the most difficult and time consuming:  knots.  omg.  Them are some little pearls!  And there are lots of them!  So i quickly backed off that idea, but, liking the drape that silk gives, i used silk cord and just strung the pearls.

In the photo you see the pearls and the card with the silk, but what the heck is that other stuff?  It's French wire, or bouillion.  It's tightly coiled wire that's used to protect the silk from abrading against the rings of whatever closure you are using.  You snip off a short piece maybe 3/8" or so, then run the needle through and.....hold on....isn't a picture worth 1K words? 

See the silvery stuff at the end of each strand?  French wire.  We did a repair wherein we reknotted three or four strands of a TIFFANY thankyouverymuch turquoise necklace and TIFFANY thankyouverymuch had used the French wire. 

I'll have to extend the length a bit so i'll attach chain or something from the ring to, most likely, a hook and eye clasp. 

That cute little finding that the pearls are attached to is a TierraCast piece.  TC makes really nice quality cast pewter findings, charms and beads in several finishes.  We carry a selection at the shop. 

That's all i've got for ya.  Thanks for stopping by!  You might check in again to see if i've actually finished anything!