[image from flickr]
A couple of weekends ago, I did a one day Bead and Pearl Stringing class at CAE. That's right people - I am going to knot my very own pearl necklace for the wedding!
Now that I have my dress in at the dressmaker's getting altered, I've been turning my attention to accessories for the wedding.
My dress is a vintage 1920s dress, with delicate gold brocade fabric. It's quite simple but elegant, though probably not as ornate as traditional wedding getup goes. It's an outfit where jewellery is definitely going to complete the look.
So far I have an antique bracelet of rice pearls that I found at an Asian antique store whilst looking for Japanese ikebana vases with my Mum.
I also have some handcrafted Balinese silver jewellery from Celuk - a town that is known for their silverwork. AA bought me this incredible bracelet. It reminds me of lacework, the design is so intricate.
I also got these cute little matching earrings from Celuk too.
But seeing my dress is flapper style, I have been looking for the quintessential 'pearl rope' or a big multi-strand necklace of pearls. One big criteria for it though is that the pearls need to be naturally oblong shaped - not the perfectly rounded shape. I like the natural freshwater look best, but more significantly... my fiance has a childhood phobia of small round things! I am sure there must be a name for this. It's not a HUGE phobia, but more like an aversion, a definite unsettling, they make him a little queasy. Doesn't like marbles, peas, cherry tomatoes... and definitely not round round pearls. It's been hard to find a suitable length of genuine pearls for starters, and my one experience of going into a jeweller's to look at their pearls was kinda terrifying. The saleswoman was SO PUSHY I thought - who needs this? I'll just make some myself!
When looking for freshwater pearl necklaces on the internet I stumbled across suppliers of freshwater pearls for people to make into jewellery themselves. They are surprisingly quite affordable! So when I saw that CAE were offering classes I jumped at the chance. I thought - how hard could it be? I drove across town and braved Chadstone Shopping Centre to inspect the pearls in person but you can buy them locally in Melbourne or online here.
Pearl knotting is an ancient craft, people have been doing it for hundreds of years. It's definitely fiddly, but the type of activity you can get better at with practise. If you look at a good quality pearl necklace, you will notice that between each pearl is a small knot. This is so that if your beautiful necklace of precious pearls ever breaks all your pearls don't go crashing to the floor running in all directions. So as the name suggests, pearl knotting is just the technique of getting those knots snug on either side of the pearls and made into a necklace. You usually use silk thread to knot your pearls so it doesn't damage the pearls rubbing inside them.
I found this great video on youtube describing the process:
It doesn't include the very handy technique of attaching the pearls to a sturdy clasp, and using a 'gimp' or french wire to secure it, that I learnt in my class. A beautiful professional finish.
Anyway, I'm currently waiting for some multistrand clasps that I ordered on etsy to arrive from overseas. Once they do I can start on my pearl knotting extravaganza, I'll keep you posted!
In the meantime, here's what I will be channelling in my piece. I have been tossing up whether to make a versatile 'pearl rope' piece - ie one massively long necklace with no clasp - just continuous loop, that you can wrap around your neck as many times as you like or knot etc.. I do love the rope style necklace. However I think it works better with slightly larger pearls than the ones I have purchased. So I have decided I'm going to go for a more refined looking multistrand 'opera' length pearl necklace. I think it'll be classier for the wedding, a more polished look. PLUS if I get really good at pearl knotting - I can always knot myself a pearl rope of larger pearls later! :D
And look, I'm not completely mad. This lady made her own wedding necklace and bracelet. I don't think she knotted them but it still looks damn impressive I reckon!
MORE VINTAGE INSPIRATION
Coco Chanel
MULTI-STRAND
(these ones above are available to buy for $600AU)
(I like the decorative clasp/ brooch on this one. It's available to buy from Talbots)
PEARL ROPES
HOW TO wear pearls/ lengths
+ Pearl Necklace Lengths - How To Wear Pearls
+ Pearls - Styles and Lengths
+ Pearl Jewelry Guide - more on lengths and the women that made them famous
+ 21 ways to wear a rope pearl necklace
BUY Pearl Necklaces:
Australian stores
+ Melbourne Pearls - where I got mine from
+ Divine Pearls - some really stunning looking pieces on sale here
+ Satsuma Pearls - some beautiful multistrand and pearl rope necklaces in bridal gallery
+ Ajit Pearls
INSPIRATION:
+ Amazing looking 1920s style wedding here
+ Coco: Muse & Style Icon (Divine Pearls blog)
+ The Perfect Pearl Necklace For Wedding Day Jewelry - 12k wedding blog - some beautiful examples here
