Pearls have captured the imagination for centuries. Their beauty, rarity and seemingly magical origins have made them the prized possessions of royalty and the wealthy. The classic string of pearls makes an iconic statement. In Jewelry Style: Pearls, the editors of Beadwork magazine combine stories of this irresistible gem with gorgeous designs to inspire and delight the modern jewelry maker. Projects incorporating natural, freshwater, and imitation pearls draw on a wide range of exciting materials, colors, and shapes in 20 wearable designs: The Classics include traditional pearl stringing, a long Tahitian-look rope, simply elegant coin pearl earrings, and a dramatic dog collar necklace; Special Occasions features striking and elegant pieces including a lariat suitable for a bride, a lush copper-colored choker, and an ingenious midnight-black necklace finished with a hand-stitched tassel; Fashion Forward designs make any look spectacular. Pieces in this section integrate silver links with green pearls in a bib-style necklace, embellish a fun bangle with fiery-colored pearls and beads, and pair colorful handmade beads with dyed pearls for a stunning bracelet. Accompanying the designs, chapters on the history, science and culture of pearls provide intriguing context for the iconic gem, while information on selecting, working with, and caring for pearls help the reader make the most of their treasures. Quotes, anecdotes, and images of pearls through the years round out this informative and entertaining book.

Author Biography

Marlene Blessing has worked as an editorial director in western book publishing for two decades, was a contributing editor to SPA magazine, and was a senior features editor for The Seattle Weekly. Sewing, embroidery, quilting, clay sculpting, and calligraphy are a few of her favourity crafts - until, of course, she began beading. Marlene is the Editorial Director for Beadwork, Stringing, and Step by Step Beads magazines. She lives in Longmont, Colorado. Jamie Hogsett is the editor of Stringing Spring 2005, the projects editor of Beadwork magazine, and has contributed to several books in the Beadwork Creates series. She holds a BFA from Colorado State University, and lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.