Janis Joplin Earrings

Janis Joplin was known for her exceptional vocals that are described as "raw" & "untreated" - from the heart. A product of the blues era, Janis was influenced by singers who had powerful vocals like her own, such as Lead Belly & Bessie Smith.

She started singing as a young child in the church choir, but it wasn't until 1962 that she started performing at small venues on the University of Texas at Austin's campus, including the well known bar, Threadgill's.

In 1963 she left school & headed to San Francisco to follow her dream to be a musician. That same year she performed her biggest show yet, side stage at the Monterey Film Festival.

By 1966 Janis joined a band, Big Brother & the Holding Company. They grew popular in the Bay Area. They made their big break in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival. Their hit song was a Big Mama Thornton cover, "Ball & Chain," which showcased her unique voice.

After their performance at Monterey, Big Brother & the Holding Company signed with Columbia Records. The infamous Albert Grossman, who managed huge acts such as The Band, Bob Dyland, & Peter, Paul, & Mary, became their manager. Shortly after they recorded their first album at Columbia, "Cheap Thrills," which went gold in 1968. 

At this point band members started to become jealous at the attention that Janis was getting. In December of that same year Janis left Big Brother & started her solo career. 

1969 was a big year for Janis. She recorded her first solo album, "I Got Dem Old Kozmic Blues Again Mama!," she was arrested in Tampa, FL after a performance for using vulgar language on stage, she performed with Tina Turner at Madison Square Garden, made the cover of Newsweek, & sang with Tom Jones on his televised variety show.

It is now 1970. When Joplin heard her idol Bessie Smith was buried in an unmarked grave, she & Juanita Smith paid for a tombstone - it read "The Greatest Blues Singer In The World Will Never Stop Singing."

Back in Los Angeles, Joplin recorded her second solo studio album, "Pearl." 

Tragically, not long after her album was finished, Joplin died of an accidental overdose at Hollywood's Landmark Hotel. After she was cremated her ashes were spread in the Pacific Ocean & along Stinson Beach in Northern California.

Three days before she died, Joplin recorded a birthday greeting for her friend, John Lennon of the Beatles. Lennon later said he received the tape after she had passed. 

In Janis' last will & testament, she left $2,500 for her friends to throw a party in the event she died. The party was held at the Lion's Share club in San Anselmo, California. The invitations read, "Drinks are on Pearl." The Grateful Dead performed. 

In 1971 "Pearl" was released & quickly rose to the top of the charts. The track "Buried Alive In The Blues" was cut as an instrumental because Janis never got to record the vocals. The hit single "Me & Bobby McGee" was written by Kris Kristofferson, a former lover of Janis.

In 1995, 25 years after her death, Janis Joplin was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - only 8% of inductees are women. 10 years later she was awarded a Recording Academy Lifetime Acheivement Award at the Grammys.

In 2013 Joplin was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her star, the 2,510th, is infront of the Musician's Institute on Hollywood Boulevard. 

Miyuki glass beads are considered the "world standard" for seed beads.

Around 70 years ago Seiichi Katsuoka became fascinated by glass seed beads. By 1949 he had immersed himself in the art of glass blowing & learned the art of making these tiny beads. He passed this passion down to this son, Hiroshi, who continued his study. Hiroshi innovated the styles his father had taught him, creating new types & styles of seed beads. Eventually, the Miyuki Seed Bead Company was created. Miyuki was the first successful mass producing Japanese seed bead company. Delica, Drop Beads, & Twist Beads are among the original styles Miyuki is responsible for. Miyuki beads have become the "world standard" for glass seed beads. They are used by fashion designers, artists, & bead fanatics.

The word "Delica" denotes the shape of the bead. Delica seed beads are cylinder shaped. 

Size 15 beads are the smallest size available! Using a bead this small requires a significantly higher number of beads. Not to mention, the smaller beads makes the creation of these fringe earrings more difficult & time consuming. However, we have found the smaller beads look & sit better in the fringe earring setting. They fall more cohesively, so much so the fringe looks like one solid tube, rather than a stack of beads.

C-Lon Threads are a superior bead thread - essential for beading & jewelry making. It is a high quality, slightly flat, nylon monocord that is more durable than other brands of beading of thread. Even more, C-Lon Threads are permanently dyed & UV resistant, so the color will not fade or rub off. 

The ear wire is the part of the earring that goes through your ear lobe. We use 14k gold filled ear wires because they can be worn in the most sensitive of ears!

Gold fill is the highest quality alternative to solid gold, with a higher gold content than both gold-plated & gold vermeil metals. It has almost 100x as much gold as gold-plated jewelry! The gold is mechanically bonded to the base metal, so it can’t rub off like gold-plated jewelry can. Gold fill has the same qualities as solid gold jewelry at a fraction of the cost. 

While it’s name implies the metal is filled with gold, the gold is actually on the outside. The term refers to a thick outer layer of durable, pressure-bonded, solid gold that covers a base metal, usually brass. The USA industry standard legally requires 5% of the metal be pure gold by weight. 

Gold-fill is your best option after solid gold for quality & durability. It will not flake off or turn your skin green. Gold fill is nickel free & hypoallergenic, making it a great option for people with sensitive skin. 

Hypothetically, gold-filled jewelry can last a lifetime. Actual longevity will depend on a number of factors, especially how you care for it. 

14k Gold Fill is not supposed to tarnish, at least for a long time. However, it is possible for gold-fill to tarnish under certain circumstances, though it should not do so easily. Exposing your jewelry to chemicals, such as bleach, certain people’s body chemistry, chlorine (pools & hot tubs), salt water, sweat, & certain products, such as perfume, hairspray, lotions, & sunscreen. For more details, see our FAQ section or blog post on 14k Gold Fill.

 

Ultimately, gold-filled jewelry is perfect for everyday wear because it can handle the wear & tear of daily life. With proper care, you will be wearing these fringe earrings for years, even if you have sensitive ears!

 

For more detailed information on gold filled jewelry, see our FAQ page &  blog ☺︎

Our fringe earrings are made with high quality C-Lon Beading Thread & Miyuki Glass Seed Beads. Using these premium materials extends the life of your earrings, ensuring their shape, color, & look remain in prestine condition! 

Here are a few steps you can take to care for your fringe earrings ☞

・To deep clean your earrings - remove dirt that is trapped between your seed beads by gently sweeping a soft brush (such as a child's tooth brush) over your earrings.
▹ Make sure you do this gently! While the threads are strong & reinforced, if you pull too hard on the earrings you may compromise it's integrity.

・ For more frequent cleaning, use wet wipes or a damp cloth to clean the surface of your earrings. Dry them off with a dry cloth, preferably a microfiber (jewelry polishing) cloth.

・ Avoid pulling the earrings.
▹ When we weave the beads we reinforce the design by going back through the beads - making them sturdy & relatively durable. However, if they are pulled too hard the design can become compromised. If this happens, contact us! There may be an easy solution, such as pulling a certain thread, that we can guide you through. If it is more complicated, but is still fixable, you can send us the earring & we will repair it ♡

・Avoid hitting your earrings against hard surfaces. 
▹ Miyuki beads are known for their durability, however, they are glass! Knocking them too hard against a surface may damage the beads.

・Store in a dry area or box.
▹ Avoid storing your beads in an area with high humidity. 

Miyuki Delica Glass Seed Beads have been considered the world standard for seed beads due to their high quality, brilliance, & uniform shape. They are sought after by fashion designers & bead artisans all over the world. Miyuki beads are known for how uniform they are - the edges & size are perfectly squared, lining up & fitting into place when used in beaded pieces.  

 

These particular beads are plated with 24k gold. Due to the bead's tiny size & glass base, the 24k gold must be painted or dipped to coat the bead. In order to keep your Miyuki beads in pristine condition, check out our care instructions in the information box below ♡