July 25th, 2012
The Pearl Lady, Pearl Studio, Joan Frense-Mulholland, Milford, Delaware, Freshwater Pearls are Her Specialty, Southern Delaware
“Almost every culture has a mystique about pearls that they are magical or divine.” joan frense-mulholland
When my friend, Susan, told me that she had met the Pearl Lady at a French class, I did not have any idea what she was talking about. A short road trip took us to the town of Milford, Delaware, which is about 20 or 25 minutes north of Rehoboth Beach.
Downtown Milford is transforming itself, with a lot of help from the people that care about this historic town. Galleries, shops, entertainment, restaurants, farmers’ market….the Mispillion River is the heart of this community, it has always been.
A pedestrian boardwalk goes parallel to the Mispillion River. The river passes through the center of Milford. It is approximately 15 miles long. It rises in northern Sussex County; flowing easter-northeastwardly to its mouth at the Delaware Bay.
Want to know more? Please visit http://www.downtownmilford.org.
The Pearl Lady is located at 4 Park Avenue, 2nd Floor, Milford, DE 19963. Tel. 302-228-2287. Email: The.Pearl.Lady-Studio@gmail.com. Website? http://www.the-pearl-lady-studio.com. The entrance is off Walnut St., around the corner from the Mispillion Art League. She opens Wednesday – Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. By appointment, as well. Meet Joan Frense-Mulholland, The Pearl Lady.
The building is unique. Inside, it is the home to other artists. You can see their works of art as you are going up the stairs and in the hall.
The Pearl Lady is at the end of the hall on the 2nd floor.
Just as Susan and I arrived, other customers were arriving also. Greetings in French. What a surprise!! The ladies were looking for pearls to match an outfit. To see Joan interacting with her customers was a treat. Very friendly, making suggestions and taking into consideration what her customers want.
Joan graduated from the Pratt Institute in New York. She traveled to far away places, working in the fashion industry. She went to Hong Kong; her job with Otto Versand, one of the world’s largest catalogue sales firm, sent her there. During her years there she studied pearls and started to make jewelry. She took classes in jewelry design, study the pearl history, and became knowledgeable in recognizing and grading freshwater pearls. She was lucky to be able to go to pearl farms and get the best quality before the exporters arrived.
In the year 2000, Joan moved back to Milford and opened The Pearl Lady. Her designs include reproductions of museum pieces. Her clientele is both, international and local. Her work has sold at the Smithsonian, Winterthur, and the Delaware Art Museum, where she was contracted to make pieces that looked like the jewelry in the paintings.
Joan gave us a little lesson on freshwater pearls. First of all, she said that freshwater pearls have gained in popularity in recent years because of the greater availability of highly lustrous pearls. Freshwater pearls are the only gemstones that come just the way nature gives them to us. They come in a breathtaking array of colors and shapes. They are also “solid nacre (solid pearl)” and will be beautiful and lustrous for generations to come. You do have to observe a few precautions, though.
Avoid getting perfume or hairspray on the pearls. The alcohol will damage the surface. Clean your pearls by wiping with a damp cloth after each wearing. Keep the silk cord from getting wet, if could stretch. Pearls need air and moisture. Do not store in plastic.
Joan has been stringing her pearls with wire, therefore, they will last longer. Just rinse them with water after wearing them.
While visiting Joan showed us a few necklaces she was designing for bridesmaids.
She offers classes through the Mispillion Art League. If interested, please e-mail her at The.Pearl.Lady.Studio@gmail.com.
Please note that Joan can work with you for a custom piece. Her collection ranges from oblong pink pearls to large rounder pearls the size of a marble.
Stop by and say hello, either in English or French!!
Talk to you later.
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I met Joan in my French class. I admired the beautiful pearls she was wearing and visited her studio to purchase a Xmas present for my daughter-in-law. I immediately became hooked to the jewelry designed and made by Joan. They are unique, elegant and complement any outfit. The wide array of colors and shapes keep you coming back for more. Forgive the ” pun”, but the Pearl Lady is a true gem. How lucky we are to have her in our corner of the State! A visit to her studio is a must!
I agree with you and thanks so much for the comments to my blog. I got a beautiful necklace the day I visited. I think it is, definitely, a must stop shop when visiting Southern Delaware.