Pop Beads and Pearls

Pop Beads

While setting up a recent jewelry piece on iKandies Etsy site, our Pearl Clasp Necklace, I was reminded of a necklace I had as a little girl.  Maybe you remember them - pop bead necklaces? These plastic beads fit together in such a way that when you pulled them apart, they made a small "pop" sound and thus the name.  These pop beads made wonderful "pearl" necklaces and bracelets any girl would love to have!


Today, what girl wouldn't love to have a strand of genuine Mikimoto pearls! But most of us have to settle for something a little less. Pearls used in many of today's jewelry designs may not be Mikimoto class, but they're just as pretty.


For example, several online stores are now selling shell pearls. The materials used in order to make shell pearls are the same materials from which cultured pearls are made. The core is made from carved seashell, usually formed into a round shape.  This is coated with a shell finish, containing mother of pearl that has been ground down to a fine powder.  Although man made, these pearls are of high quality so they are very durable and maintain their original shine.  Their color is not affected by perfume, detergent or skin oils.

Another example are glass pearls.  Swarovski Company is known for producing some of the highest quality glass pearls.Swarovski pearls have a core of the finest Austrian crystal and are coated with several layers of highly luminous pearlescense. The surface of the pearl is smooth and they are similar to natural pearls in weight and the way they feel against the skin.  Swarovski Crystal pearls are resistant to damage caused by sunlight and skin oils.

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner.  As you shop for pearl accessories for this year's wardrobe, iKandies hopes this information will assist you in making the perfect jewelry selection.

iKandies Pearl Clasp Necklace and Matching Earrings

Button, Button Who Has the Button?

Acrylic Peach Button Bracelet

 One of iKandies more recent sales was a unique button bracelet.

 At the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show early in 2011, I came across a vendor selling all the pieces needed to make a button bracelet. 

This included a base metal bracelet blank base, mother of pearl buttons in creams and greys and metal buttons. 

The pearl and metal buttons were layered in different ways on the bracelet base and these designs made quite a statement. I was inspired by the idea but wanted to brighten it up a bit. So as I was designing my take on a button bracelet, I remembered the acrylic flowers I had used in a necklace design and decided to incorporate them into my bracelet.

The finishing touch was to add some beadwork the middle of each flower or button component.  And Viola!  My Acrylic Peach Button Bracelet and Acrylic Burgundy Button Bracelet were born!

Acrylic Burgundy Button Bracelet

 For my next button project, I thought I'd try to create a design using these gorgeous Czech glass buttons...

Glass buttons from vintage molds