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BrideStyle #7: It's a bridal necklace - and earrings!by Stacy Werkheiser  Click to enlarge. |
Fixing "floating pearls"
I noticed that the bead pattern was just a little too regular: two pearls, crystal, two pearls, crystal. I decided I needed a slightly more varied pattern, one that incorporated one-, two-, and three-pearl segments to add interest to the design.
I also changed up the bead cap pattern. While trying out different design permutations in my previous post, I tried stringing bead caps at just one end of a pearl and not the other, as well as stringing bead caps at both ends of a pearl. I liked both variations equally, so I decided to combine them in the same design. This helped spice up my new pattern of pearls.
But now I had another problem. The clear crystals were so transparent against my skin that you couldn't see them at a distance. Instead, all you saw were "floating pearls." So as a last resort, I tried something that I was convinced would look awful: I replaced the crystals with 4 mm round silver spacers.
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 Click to enlarge. |
 Click to enlarge. |
Masking flaws - on me and my pearls!
Some more info about my process: When it came time to string, I discovered a cool trick for working with bead caps and pearls. Remember the minor flaws I found in some of my pearls in BrideStyle #3? Well, it turns out bead caps mask them beautifully! So before I strung, I culled my pearls into three piles: one for pearls that were more or less perfect and could stand on their own, one for pearls that had flaws at one end that could be disguised by a single bead cap, and one for pearls with flaws on both ends that needed two bead caps to hide. So even though my pearls weren't perfect, I could use them all!
I also spent a good deal of time checking the fit of my necklace. In BrideStyle #5, I mentioned my prominent clavicle bones. I worked hard to make sure the necklace steered clear of the "knobs" in my neck so it wouldn't fall into the hollow between.
And for the finishing touch, something blue! Last year, my fiancé studied in Switzerland. During his down time, he went to a bead shop and picked out a few tubes of beads for me. He chose blue beads because "they seemed like Stacy colors." (And indeed I love the color blue!) So I added a blue bead dangle to the clasp - very subtle, but very special to both of us.
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 Click to enlarge.
And with the necklace complete, it was a breeze to whip up a pair of matching earrings. I'm a simple-drop-earring kind of gal, so I strung a pearl and a bead cap and made a wrapped loop. I used circular earring wires for something a little out of the ordinary but still modest. Piece of cake!
If you'd like a materials list and step-by-step instructions for making this necklace and earrings, head to your local bead store or newsstand and pick up BeadStyle's latest special issue, Pearls. It comes out tomorrow, April 20th, and these projects are featured on page 58. Of course, you'll find lots of other great designs in the mag that you can adapt for bridal jewelry.
Whew, seven weeks down and I finally have my necklace and earrings! What's next? I'm guessing most of you and/or the brides-to-be in your life are starting to feel like me - a little low on stamina, sleep, time, and money. Plus you're probably tired of every bridal book, magazine, and TV program adding 15 more things to your to-do list. So for the next two weeks, I'll show you some quick-and-easy, totally optional, just-for-fun beaded gifts and accessories you can make if you still find you want to bead for the wedding. We'll start next week with fast-and-furious gifts for your bridesmaids.
Coming next week...
BrideStyle #8: Giving pearls to girls
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