Whale Tail

Whales of various species migrate past the Point Reyes peninsula for many months of the year. The best viewing is from the Lighthouse or Chimney Rock, and I’ve also seen spouts from Limantour Beach. As I was sitting down in the studio to create my first collection of 2026, the gray whale southbound migration was peaking, and I thought I’d try my hand at whale tails. These are a bit fanciful. First, the light gray beads with blue metallic foil. I didn’t realize that when I added resin to finish these beads, they would have the most incredible iridescence. The blue luster changes as you view the beads from different angles. In addition to the two whale tail necklaces and seven pairs of whale tail earrings, there are two “non-whale tail” bracelets and a couple of pairs of earrings made from the same iridescent beads.

Then there are the dark gray beads with silver foil. These are elegant and very sparkly and include three necklaces and four pairs of earrings.

Jeff and I had a challenging time photographing this collection! We attempted, with only limited success, to showcase the iridescence and sparkle while minimizing glare and properly representing the colors.