Cabrillo Extension: Pearl & Bead Stringing Made Simple
E. Drinkhaus-Davey
To My Students:
I am writing, by request of the Cabrillo Community Extension Department, to introduce myself to you. My
name is Estelle Drinkhaus Davey. I will be teaching the Pearl & Bead Restringing class that is being offered. I
began my pearl & restringing business in the Santa Cruz area in 1983. I service many local jewelry stores, as
well as a stringing service to the public. I’ve developed the restringing course that you are enrolled in over a
ten-year period, teaching for the Dominican Hospital’s PEP program, then Santa Cruz Parks & Recreational
adult education program. I am very excited to teach my class at Cabrillo.
During the first class we will begin by reviewing the tools and findings (clasps, tips, etc.) needed to restringing
beads and pearls. I will distribute the stringing kit that I have assembled for every student. The kit contains
everything you will need to begin, including: clasps, bead tips, essential stringing tweezers (the tool used in
hand-knotting), and a strand of rose quartz beads.
The material fee for the kit is $32.00. I will supply all the various threads you may need on your projects at no
additional charge. You will be learning the lost art of hand-knotting beads & pearls during the first class. I
teach with an extreme amount of care and patience so that after the first class, my students feel excited and
eager to practice.
I teach, in all, three methods of attaching the clasp to the beads. I encourage people during the second class to
bring projects from home to restring. During the third and fourth classes we will continue to work on projects
together as the class takes a form more like an old fashioned sewing circle. During the four evenings I will have
a full assortment of tools, beads, and findings for sale at a reasonable price. It is my intention to share my
enthusiasm of the wonderful creative expression of stringing & hand-knotting with all my students. You are
welcome to bring projects from home, though you will all be working on the beads provided in your kits while
the various methods are being taught. During the fourth class you will be able to work freely on your projects
from home.
I look forward to meeting you. If you have any questions prior to our first class, please feel free to call the
Cabrillo Extension Office.
Sincerely,
Estelle Drinkhaus Davey