Happy Monday and Welcome to Girls Want Pearls #27! I hope you all had a good weekend. I think the winter blahs are starting to get to me so it’s time for a pep talk. Let’s start this week with expectations of good things! Look for someone who needs encouragement today and pay it forward! Pay the coffee tab of the person behind you in the drive through window at Starbucks! Shovel your neighbor’s sidewalk! Or just say a kind word to the checkout person at the grocery store. You never know what someone else is going through and how a little kindness can lift their spirits. How’s that for Sally Sunshine on a cold February Monday?

You with me still? On to our pearl project.

Decorative Pearl Balls

For the first design you’ll need a Styrofoam ball, jute twine, pearls, straight pins and glue.

Glue and pin the twine in place: start in the center and create a cross pattern using 5 or 6 strands. This will create 4 pie shape sections. Fill in the 4 sections as shown. I found it easiest to do one half of the ball and then the other half. After the twine has dried you can remove the pins. Add pearls in a pretty pattern attaching them with straight pins.

For the second design you’ll need a styrofoam ball, 1/4 yard of burlap, pearls and straight pins.

Cut circles of burlap, approx 1 1/2 diameter, then cut each one in half. I didn’t count how many, but enough to cover a styrofoam ball, maybe around 50. Fold each half circle over to form a sort of petal and pin into the ball.

For the third ball you’ll need twine, approx. 4 feet long, approx. 5 feet of brown wire and pearls.

Grab your piece of twine and start wrapping it tightly around the wire, doing 3-5 inch sections at a time. Twist each section until tightly wrapped, then knot, add a pearl and knot again. Repeat these steps, adding as many pearls as you would like. Next take the long wire/twine/pearl strand that you have created and form a circle, mine was approx. 2 1/2 inches. Twist together and wrap in the crosswise direction forming a second circle. Twist at the intersection and wrap a third circle, continuing until you have formed a sphere consisting of 4 circles. Twist the final circle at the top and reshape any of the pieces that are too wonky.

Next week’s hint: Top Notch Upstyle

Talk soon,

Ann

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Welcome to Girls Want Pearls #26! I created this weekly Monday series to showcase and share different ways to repurpose pearls, using them in both fashion and decor. Last week I showed you how to incorporate pearls into your Valentine’s decor. Today I’m going to show you 3 different ways to spice up a handbag using pearls.

Each method is different, to accommodate the different ways purse handles are attached. It’s best to choose a small handbag or clutch, this way the pearls won’t have to bear a lot of weight. It’s aesthetically more pleasing as well.

For my first example . . . a closet staple, the envelope clutch. This one could not be more simple.


You’ll just need a strand of pearls, connected with or without a clasp, and needle and thread. Open the clutch, lay the pearls in the fold, stitch on in 2 or 3 places and you’re done!

In my second example I’m using a vintage leather darling and jumbo size pearls. This method works for purses where any type of brackets were used to attach the handle.


Here’s what you’ll need:

And here’s what to do:
OR
It would also be super cute to repurpose a multi strand necklace for a purse of this type.

My third idea combines an existing strap or chain with a strand of pearls.


Here’s what you’ll need:

Start by tying one end of the pearl strand around the bottom of the chain or strap, forming a knot. Take a clear hair band and attach it to the chain or strap, below the pearl knot, using a slip knot. Now take the pearl knot and pull it through the loop from the hair band to secure.

Wind your pearl strand around the chain, and secure at intervals using the slip knotted hair bands. Continue around the strap to the other end. Tie the pearls around the end of the chain or strap forming a knot and secure in place with a hair band.

Clear as mud? Feel free to ask me to clarify in the comments!

Next week’s hint: Roly Poly Pretties

Talk soon,
Ann
Linking with: Savvy Southern Style,The 36th Avenue, No Minimalist Here, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,The Scoop, Mod Vintage Life, Between Naps on the Porch, From My Front Porch to Yours, Cozy Little House, Knick of Time, A Stroll Thru Life, Ivy and Elephants, Jennifer Rizzo, Style Elixir, Shabby Art Boutique, Funky Junk Interiors, Cheerios and Lattes, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Classy Clutter

Welcome to Girls Want Pearls #25! Whew, I’m so happy to be over here in my new place. Getting here was quite the ordeal! I think there are still a few issues to work out, so please bear with me. I haven’t regained GFC so if you were following me with that you might want to follow by email instead. So, on with the pearls!

This week I was inspired by my vintage pearl and pear garland (see it here). With Valentine’s Day coming right up I have hearts on the brain. Here’s what I came up with to deck out a tree, window or chandelier.


What you’ll need:
pearl strand
ornament dough or imitation marzipan
food coloring
sugar
large kitchen knife
waxed paper

I used imitation marzipan for this illustration but it can sometimes crack when drying. The sugar helps to conceal that fact but ornament dough might be a better choice. Here’s the marzipan recipe I used to make about 18 hearts:
1/3 cup flour
2 T butter
8 oz powdered sugar
1/4 cup water
food coloring
Boil water and butter. Add flour and stir until you can form a ball that doesn’t stick to the pan. Let cool, add powdered sugar and mix until the dough is easy to manage. Add food coloring.

Here’s a link to a no-bake ornament dough recipe.

Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on waxed paper. Flatten balls with a knife.

Cut flattened ball in half. Pinch the bottom of each half, forming a sort of triangle.

Now make a pearl sandwich, enclosing a section of pearls with each half of the dough. Push, poke and pinch the dough until it becomes the desired heart shape.

Adding the sugar
Spray the heart with adhesive and sprinkle on the sugar. I used two coats. You can color your own sugar with food coloring or buy it already colored. Allow to air dry, shake off the excess and you have a finished, festive, flirty heart garland.

Start by scoring the styro ball at the halfway point, all the way around. Then with your exacto or a kitchen knife, cut the ball in half. Slice off approx. a half inch of the top rounded area to make a flat surface.

Begin placing the beads for the cross, starting with the center “intersection” bead and working out from there. If your straight pins are too long you can clip them off. As a security measure, you can dip each pin in glue before applying to the styrofoam if you wish, or apply glue to the back side and prop it upside down to let it soak in.

Fill in remaining area with pearls, working from the cross to the outer edges of the styro disc. Don’t worry if you see spaces, you can easily push and manipulate the pearls, and the more you put in, the easier it gets to “smoosh” them into place. See my little friend? She must think it’s spring!

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