Introduction
Introduction
The beautiful textural appeal of Keshi pearls works perfectly with a dramatic shell pendant and accents of crystals in this necklace design. Keshi pearls are different than most pearls, and not just because of their odd shape but more so because they have not been formed with the aid of a nucleus but instead are all nacre. The results are unusual shapes that have a textural style to them, especially when arranged together, and a high luster.
This is a dramatic piece that won't be missed when you wear it, so be prepared for lots of comments as well as "oh's and ah's." The pearls used in this project came from Artbeads.com (Product Code: LTD-1102), and though I picked up the shell pendant at a jewelry show years ago, I have seen similar pendants available from Artbeads.com as well as many other jewelry supply vendors.
Materials Needed
To make the Keshi Pearls and Shell Pendant Necklace you will need the following materials and tools:
1 Strand of cream colored Keshi pearls
1 38x48mm Shell pendant
12 - 4mm Swarovski round crystal clear Aurora Borealis beads
26 Size 11 cream colored Japanese seed beads
2 - 2x2mm Sterling silver crimp beads
1 - 12mm Sterling silver toggle clasp
About 20 inches of .014 or .015 beading wire
1 - 5mm Sterling silver jump ring
1 Bead Stopper
Crimping pliers
Wire cutters
Chain-nosed pliers
As you can see, I tried to team up seed beads, pearls, and the shell pendant that all had similar shades of cream to them. The colors of the shell and pearls will vary to a certain extent, but as long as they are in the same family of color, that's what you are trying to do when you select your accent beads such as the crystals and seed beads.
String on Pearl Beads
1. Add a Bead Stopper to one end of the beading wire, and start stringing on bead stations in this pattern: 1 seed bead, 1 crystal, 1 seed bead, 5 pearls, 1 seed bead, 1 crystal, and 1 seed bead.
2. Continue making these bead stations until you have five stations of beads strung on your beading wire.
Add Shell Pendant
3. Attach a jump ring, to the shell pendant.
4. After the last station of beads, string one 2 more seed beads, and then slip the jump ring of the pendant onto the beading wire.
5. Repeat the bead stations as done for the other side of the necklace until you have five more of them to complete the necklace strand.
6. With crimping pliers, close a crimp bead on the end of the wire making sure to add one side of the toggle clasp before closing the crimp closed.
7. Repeat the above step for the other side of the necklace.
The strap on the finished necklace is 16 inches. If you want it a little longer, you may want to add an extra station of beads on either side of the necklace strap. There were plenty of pearl beads on the unfinished strand I used to make this necklace, so while of course, Keshi pearls vary as far as size, you should have enough to make the necklace a little longer if you wish.
The beautiful textural appeal of Keshi pearls works perfectly with a dramatic shell pendant and accents of crystals in this necklace design. Keshi pearls are different than most pearls, and not just because of their odd shape but more so because they have not been formed with the aid of a nucleus but instead are all nacre. The results are unusual shapes that have a textural style to them, especially when arranged together, and a high luster.
This is a dramatic piece that won't be missed when you wear it, so be prepared for lots of comments as well as "oh's and ah's." The pearls used in this project came from Artbeads.com (Product Code: LTD-1102), and though I picked up the shell pendant at a jewelry show years ago, I have seen similar pendants available from Artbeads.com as well as many other jewelry supply vendors.
Materials Needed
To make the Keshi Pearls and Shell Pendant Necklace you will need the following materials and tools:
1 Strand of cream colored Keshi pearls
1 38x48mm Shell pendant
12 - 4mm Swarovski round crystal clear Aurora Borealis beads
26 Size 11 cream colored Japanese seed beads
2 - 2x2mm Sterling silver crimp beads
1 - 12mm Sterling silver toggle clasp
About 20 inches of .014 or .015 beading wire
1 - 5mm Sterling silver jump ring
1 Bead Stopper
Crimping pliers
Wire cutters
Chain-nosed pliers
As you can see, I tried to team up seed beads, pearls, and the shell pendant that all had similar shades of cream to them. The colors of the shell and pearls will vary to a certain extent, but as long as they are in the same family of color, that's what you are trying to do when you select your accent beads such as the crystals and seed beads.
String on Pearl Beads
1. Add a Bead Stopper to one end of the beading wire, and start stringing on bead stations in this pattern: 1 seed bead, 1 crystal, 1 seed bead, 5 pearls, 1 seed bead, 1 crystal, and 1 seed bead.
2. Continue making these bead stations until you have five stations of beads strung on your beading wire.
Add Shell Pendant
3. Attach a jump ring, to the shell pendant.
4. After the last station of beads, string one 2 more seed beads, and then slip the jump ring of the pendant onto the beading wire.
5. Repeat the bead stations as done for the other side of the necklace until you have five more of them to complete the necklace strand.
6. With crimping pliers, close a crimp bead on the end of the wire making sure to add one side of the toggle clasp before closing the crimp closed.
7. Repeat the above step for the other side of the necklace.
The strap on the finished necklace is 16 inches. If you want it a little longer, you may want to add an extra station of beads on either side of the necklace strap. There were plenty of pearl beads on the unfinished strand I used to make this necklace, so while of course, Keshi pearls vary as far as size, you should have enough to make the necklace a little longer if you wish.
