Sunday, September 15, 2013

PEARLS! PEARLS!! PEARLS!!! BLOG HOP

People say "Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend"....but I think "PEARLS" are a Girls Best Friend". 
 
I was born in June (The Twins) so I have always loved PEARLS as it is my birthstone. 
 
Here's a little history about the PEARL as my Birthstone and how the PEARL came to be:
 

June Birthstone : Pearl

Birthstone Color: White
June birthstone From one of the humblest of life forms, the mollusk, comes the pearl -- a gem of unsurpassed beauty and elegance.  Ancient civilizations had many stories to explain the origin of June's birthstone, such as the Greek belief that pearls were the hardened tears of joy that the goddess of love shook from her eyes as she was born from the sea.  According to Arab legend, pearls were formed when oysters were lured from the depths of the ocean by the beautiful moon and then swallowed moonlit dewdrops.  And the Ancient Chinese thought that these gems originated from the brains of dragons.    The scientific explanation for natural pearls is almost as mystifying as folklore.  When an irritant, such as a small parasite or a fish lodges in the flesh of an oyster, mussel, or clam, a protective substance called "nacre" is produced.  Over years, layer upon layer of shimmering nacre coats the intruder, creating a lustrous pearl.  Natural pearls are relatively rare, so a process evolved in which a piece of shell or bead was placed inside a mollusk to stimulate the production of nacre.  This results in a cultured pearl, which accounts for about 90 per cent of the pearl industry.  Most of the cultured pearl industry is in Japanese and Australian coastal waters.  These gems come in a variety of colors, from pure white to pink, yellow, gray and black.  They also come in different shapes and sizes.   Pearls have been a passion and even an obsession of people throughout the ages.  These gems have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra.     Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen among all classes of people.  They continue to be viewed as a mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child.  Pearls are nature's perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown.

So Thank You Michelle (Mishel Designs) for this wonderful Blog Hop about PEARLS.  Michelle Buettner even has a diploma in Pearls from the Gemological Institute of America because she loves Pearls so much.

Please visit her Blog for all the details at:

                                                                  http://www.misheldesigns.blogspot.com/
 
 I love to design with PEARLS and I use them a lot.  I love to wear them!  I like them to be formal and casual sometimes at the same time.  Keishi Pearls are one of my favorites...but I love Pearls that are of different shapes and sizes, too.  The following are designs that I have done.  Some are recent and some are from a little while back.
 
 
Keishe Pearls and Potato Pearls 
 
 
This necklace is designed with my two favorite gemstones Longneck Coin Pearls and Turquoise.
 
 
Here I was having fun with Potato Pearls and Resin Clasps that I made (bracelets 1 & 3)
 
Thank you so much for stopping by.  Please visit the other Participants and see their Beautiful Designs and just have fun as you Hop around!
 
Pearls! Pearls!! Pearls!!! Blog Hop Participant List:
 

 

14 comments:

  1. Wow each piece is so beautiful, I love the colors and the use of pearls in each piece, wonderful job!

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  2. Wow! Beautiful pearl jewelry - I love your combinations with pearl and glass.

    Enjoy the hop ;)

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  3. Oh my goodness, your designs are super gorgeous! And you definitely know how to use your pearls! I love that you design with pearls that are unique in shape, size, etc. (a girl after my own heart!!) and your choice of colors is truly inspiring as well! The top bracelet is my favorite as is the turquoise and pearl necklace (another favorite of mine as well!) but I would take any of these and wear them in a heart beat - daily to be exact! Thank you so much for participating in the blog hop, I truly hope you had fun!! :-)

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  4. really gorgeous designs and all those beautiful pearls! you did Shel proud on this post!

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  5. Can I use the words "delicious" or "luscious"?? Your love of pearls and experience with using them in design is very evident in this lovely collection of pieces. Personal fav is the pearls with turquoise. Just plain gorgeous.

    Lynda

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  6. I will used the word "sumptious" to describe the pearl designs that you have made, past and present. Amazing to see so many different ways to incorporate pearls into jewelry! Love the turquoise one as well, great job!! Gina H

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  7. Sensational post. I love the idea of pearls being moonlit dewdrops or better yet dragon brains. All of your designs are beautiful. I think the first one I would try on and model is the necklace with coin pearls and turquoise, scrumptuous. Ahhhhhhh pearls :-)

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  8. Each picture you posted shows an absolutely gorgeous piece of jewelry! I love your style and the funky shapes of all your pearls. I do like the simplicity of the last 3 bracelets, especially with those really cool clasps!

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  9. These are all so different and pretty! My fav is the white and blue one!

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  10. Wow! You are obviously a huge fan of pearls. I love the variety of shapes, sizes and colors you have used. Really lovin' the bracelets with the resin clasps! : )

    Tracy

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  11. My goodness, what a lovely portfolio of pearl jewelry made by your hands! The very first one, a bracelet, is my absolute favorite! It really has all my favorite elements combined! :-)

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  12. Your designs are so beautiful! I love all the amazing shapes you use. I have to agree with you that pearls are more of a woman's best friend than the diamond. Unfortunately the diamond is my birthstone but I would much rather it be the pearl.

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  13. Doing this hop has really opened my eyes to the different kinds, colors, and shapes there are in pearls. I love the color and shape of the first bracelet. It just seems to glow. Thanks so much for your inspirational pieces. Great Job. Thanks for sharing

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  14. Yum! Your pearl creations are amazing and your love of pearls shows in each design. I also love the unusually shaped beads like the flat stick pearls and the long neck coin pearls. Your resin clasps look great with the potato pearls.
    Lisa
    http://www.lisayangjewelry.com

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