Pearls ~ Today's Hottest Jewelry Trend

AH, PEARLS!

Since pearls are my favorite gem, I'm loving the fact that they're showing up everywhere these days!

What more could a pearl-girl ask for, right?! 

I love how jewelry connects us to people, 

places, or certain times in our lives.

Meaningful jewelry is one of the phrases that echoed through the halls at the jewelry shows in Vegas recently, too. 

The Colosseum in Rome 

has this beautiful cross, 

which was challenging to photograph 

from where I was able to stand, 

but the ancient, rustic ruins inspired me 

back in 2012 & 2013 to 

create pearl jewelry that 

reminded me of my time in Italy.

Quite often, when I see pearls 

~ especially large, beautiful, baroque ones ~ 

I think of Ancient Empires

 and the important role pearls have played in our history. 

I believe this is why I like seeing pearls 

used in interesting, some-what rustic looking ways. 

I love seeing pearls mixed with textured metals

 or mingled amidst ancient coins, crosses, and other relics.

A couple of pearl trends that are hot right now are hoop earrings.

Hoops Are Trending - Big Time!

Personally I think Hoops, just like Pearls, 

are ALWAYS on trend. 

 

But then again, I can be seen wearing 

the same simple pair of sterling silver hoops daily. 

For years...and years.

Hey, when something works, you stick with it, right?

Another hot trend in pearls is

Baroque Pearl Shapes

Jewelry featuring baroque shaped pearls is one trend that's growing in popularity with no signs of slowing down soon.  (Yay!!)

I feel they're some of the most interesting and beautiful pearls around!

So tell me, 

What's your favorite type of pearl?

Your favorite piece of pearl jewelry?

Do you see yourself wearing any of today's 

hottest pearl trends?

If so, which ones?

Let me know in the comments below or hop on over to Instagram and let me know. 

I hope you've enjoyed our little Pearl-Time.

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Pearls, Baby!!

Cheers,

Shel 

For your further Pearl enjoyment,

I've included a few links to some fabulous resources such as:

GIA

CPAA

Pearl-Guide.com

This is Pearl - June 2022 Issue

(This writer/jewelry designer is on page 38!)

~ ENJOY ~ 

Michelle Ludlam-Buettner (Shel) is a Certified Pearl Specialist through the Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA) and she holds a Graduate Pearls Diploma from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). In addition to creating her own jewelry line, she is also a freelance copywriter specializing in the gem and jewelry industry who can often be found fawning over pearls in her spare time.  Follow Shel’s blog at MiShelDesigns.net and ShellyBuettner.com or see what she’s snapping over on Instagram @pearlgeek.

Bead Chat Magazine - December Issue

I wanted to give a big shout out to the entire crew at

Bead Chat Magazine. 

 

 

Would you just look at these earrings on the cover by Claire Lockwood?! 
Super Pretty!

 

 

 

If you're not familiar with Bead Chat Magazine, it's an online magazine started by Melinda Orr and run by her, Linda Younkman, Cynthia Machata, and Natalie McKenna with several other amazing jewelry artists as contributors.  

 

What started as a Facebook group of bead, jewelry and mixed media artists sharing information, supply links and support for each other turned into an amazing online community called ArtisanWhimsy.net  and it's definitely the 'hub' of our "beady-world".   And the online monthly magazine, Bead Chat, is the icing on the cake (if you ask me).

Cynthia over at Bead Chat Magazine contacted me a couple of months back to say they would like to do an interview with me and feature pearls in their December issue and believed I was their "Go To Pearl Girl".

I was thrilled to hear this!  (insert happy dance at desk upon reading that email!!)

Over the past several weeks, Cynthia, who writes amazingly well for the magazine, Natalie, who does a fantastic job on the photos and layout, and I exchanged emails, links, photos and details and they managed to put together an outstanding interview and Pearl Article complete with supplies links, knotting tutorials and educational information.  

And for this, I am truly grateful.

 

These two women are professional and super fun, creative (indeed!!) and just all around good people! I have to say 'easy to work with' is an understatement. They take everything you give them and turn it into beautifully laid out, eye-catching content and interesting words!

 

 

There's quite a few people, many of whom I didn't get to converse with, who, on a monthly basis really put their heart and soul into this magazine and make it the successful and much enjoyed magazine that it is.  Each month, the entire staff and their contributors work around the clock (from what I can tell!) to bring those of us in the bead and jewelry crafting world one of the most top notch magazines related to our industry - online or in print (IMHO, anyway).

 

In the pages of Bead Chat you will find links to tutorials, fun interviews, feature articles on really interesting and talented artists, helpful tips, trends within our industry and completely amazing photos of all types of jewelry - super stuff!

 

Super Cool Earrings by Lisa Lodge!

 

Yep, inspiration galore! 

Beautiful Shimmering Necklace by Lynda Carson!

 

 

Thank you again to everyone involved with Bead Chat, you're greatly appreciated and deserve all the kudos you are getting online from all of us in the beading/jewelry world!

 

So, whatcha waitin' for?  Head on over and take a peak inside! 

 

 

 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Feeling Grateful (and excited)!

Cheers,

~Shel~