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We have found something rather fabulous!
Because sometimes a pearl needs to make an entrance.
GIANT VINTAGE PEARLS
STOP PRESS! We have come across some teeny weeny mini tiny hardly-there pearls today also! We will list these in the same section as the big pearls. Also, look under the Shiny Things heading under Bead Rescue to see shiny beads you might want to use for Christmas, and keep checking back regularly as we are adding things almost daily. Geez I've just added even more - maybe just browse all the rescue categories every now and then! Now, back to what I was saying ...
GIANT VINTAGE PEARLS
Not normal pearls. Not delicate little pearls. Not “oh, that's a pretty little pearl” pearls.
These pearls have absolutely NO idea how big they are.
We're talking: 14mm - 16mm - 18mm of glorious, old-fashioned, lustrous, slightly outrageous faux pearl. And honestly? We love them! Because sometimes a pearl needs to make an entrance.
THE LADY — 14mm
THE DIVA — 16mm
THE ABSOLUTE SHOW-OFF — 18mm
Are they real pearls?
No.
Let's get that out of the way.
If you are looking for a pearl to wear around your neck while attending a very serious meeting about international finance…
these probably aren't it.
😂
But if you want something that looks like a gorgeous
old-fashioned pearl, has a beautiful lustre and a lovely glow, without the price tag of a real pearl…
NOW we're talking.
These are vintage acrylic pearls from the great Bead Shack time capsule.
They have that lovely old-fashioned lustre that seems to glow rather than simply shine.
And because they're from an older style of manufacture, they have a look that is surprisingly difficult to find in modern faux pearls.
They're not trying to be real.
They're trying to be fabulous.
So, what on earth do you do with an 18mm pearl?
(... or 16mm ... or 14mm)
Well … we're glad you asked.
WEDDINGS
These would be spectacular scattered across a wedding table - Put them around candles - Tuck them amongst flowers - Scatter them through a centrepiece - Use them in place settings - Thread them into garlands - Add them to bows - Or put a few into a beautiful little bonbonniere.
And yes…
They're probably a little large for the average wedding necklace.
But that's okay.
Your table doesn't have a neck.
Your table can handle an 18mm pearl.
CHRISTMAS ANGELS
Now THIS is where we think they could be brilliant.
An 18mm pearl makes a rather splendid angel head.
Add a little body - Add some wings - Add a halo - Give her a gorgeous skirt.
And suddenly you've got a Christmas angel who looks as
though she has very important things to attend.
Large pearls are already used in beaded angel projects as heads and decorative elements, so the idea is very much tried and tested.
We are particularly fond of the idea of a whole family of them.
Mum Angel - Dad Angel - Baby Angel - Angel who has definitely eaten too much Christmas pudding.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
These could be absolutely gorgeous threaded into:
Christmas garlands - tree decorations – wreaths – bows - hanging
ornaments - table decorations - floral arrangements - gift decorations …
Large faux pearl garlands are currently used for
Christmas trees, mantels, tables and bannisters, so the oversized pearl look is very much at home in Christmas decorating.
And imagine one of these beauties hanging from a velvet ribbon on a Christmas tree.
Very old-world Christmas.
Very elegant.
Very “Grandma had excellent taste.”
FLOWERS & FLORAL
ARRANGEMENTS
Put one enormous pearl in the centre of a flower arrangement - Or several amongst the foliage - Or use them as decorative accents in a wedding bouquet or table arrangement.
They can add that little bit of “Why does this look so expensive?” Without actually costing very much.
BONBONNIERE & GIFT
DECORATING
Tie one onto ribbon - Put one on top of a gift - Use them as part of a favour - Add them to a beautifully wrapped wedding or Christmas gift - Or … just put one somewhere unexpected.
Because sometimes one giant pearl is enough.
CRAFT & MIXED MEDIA
And then we get to the people who see an giant pearl and
immediately think:
“I know exactly what I'm going to do with that.”
These would be wonderful for: mixed-media artwork - textile embellishment - decorative objects – ornaments - doll making – angels – figurines - theatrical costumes - vintage-style craft - altered art – wreaths – mobiles - handmade decorations - props and display pieces …
And we're sure there are at least 47 uses we've forgotten.
Because that's what happens when you put a big bag of beads in front of creative people.
AND HERE'S THE BEST PART…
These are NOT expensive pearls.
They're acrylic.
They're vintage.
They're wonderfully oversized.
And because they're part of The Great Bead Rescue,
we're giving them a price that makes us very happy to see them leave.
Because we'd rather see them:
at a wedding
on a Christmas tree
on an angel
in an artwork
in a craft project
or somewhere completely unexpected
than sitting in another box for another 20 years.
THESE PEARLS HAVE
WAITED LONG ENOUGH.
Give one a loving home.
Give it a project.
Give it a job.
Give it a reason to be 18mm.
❤️
Yours in beads and questionable self-control,
THE BEAD SHACK TEAM
SHOP THE GIANT VINTAGE PEARLS →
P.S. We would LOVE to see what you do with these. If you buy some and turn them into something fabulous, send us a photo. We have a sneaking suspicion that these pearls have a much more interesting future ahead of them than sitting in a box.
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