crafted: multi-strand necklace ft. pearls, coral, lapis lazuli

I recently made a multi-strand necklace, inspired by a challenge on the pearl-guide beader’s forum to put something together with three strands or more. [If you’re here from PG, you may have seen this already.]

Provided it’s feasible*, I love to make stuff. Maybe even more than the making, I enjoy thinking up stuff to make. Or rather thinking up stuff I want and, when I can’t find it, concluding that I’ll have to make it. If I have or can acquire the know-how, there is that undeniable appeal of being able to make myself precisely what I want (and such good gifts they make, too), with no compromise. Well, unless I muck it up.

*at least roughly within my abilities, i.e. the project won’t be abandoned, or a disaster, or impossible, or an ‘educational experience’ with no tangible results…(there have been a lot of those)

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IMG_6236I used lapis lazuli chips, coral branches, and 5-5.5mm button pearls (all from JP Stachura). I knotted the pearl strand (on Power Pro, if you’re interested) and simply strung the others.

[Possibly you remember how much I  like pearls. How very much.]

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IMG_6235I love, love these colors together. Separately, too, but especially together. From the beginning I was set on weaving the strands together (rather than making a torsade), to emphasize the jagged quality of the elements, and break up the chunks of color.

IMG_6234Part of the challenge was naming the piece. With the coral and the pearls together it seems like the necklace of a sea nymph to me, so: The Nereid.

I like naming things.

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pockets and drapery

This fabric is a bit too heavy for this style, keeps dragging down and is really too warm, but I like the shape and the draping of it anyway. Even if it is a bit reminiscent of a repurposed parachute. I wanted the khaki version but it wasn’t in my size, so figured would give the blue a chance. Keep forgetting about blue as an option, somehow, when it comes to clothes that aren’t jeans.

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Drape pocket maxi dress from asos, Spektre sunglasses, gladiator sandals from eBay, dyed freshwater pearls from eBay, dyed freshwater studs from Pearl Paradise, Scotch & Soda wrap bracelet, cloisonné fox ring from eBay. On the lips: Maybelline color sensational lipstick in Coral Crush.

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