A couple posts ago I mentioned how I have been further exploring the use of fibers in my pieces to add textural and tactile variety. I use a lot of "hard" components---stone, metal, ceramic, glass, etc. So in the ever-present quest for balance, I like to add in some "soft" ingredients, as well. The problem I have with so many textile-based materials is that they wear too easily. Either that or they discolor or soil, like sari silk, and are almost impossible to wash when incorporated into a larger piece. So I've found myself turning more and more to waxed twines made of durable material, such as hemp, flax, and nylon.
I'm such a fangirl of the magical and talented Rey at greybirdstudio and have always appreciated the way she wraps, weaves, and melts fibers into her intricate, organic pieces. So when she started offering her hand-waxed, dyed Belgian flax twine for sale to other makers such as myself, I squealed with excitement. The process she goes through to create the soft leathery finish is painstaking yet without a doubt worth it. I had the good fortune of snapping up a bundle of it one day---if you follow her work, you'll know how quickly things fly out the door! The twine is very fine and has a nicely tacky quality to it, allowing it to stick nicely to itself when overwrapped, as I did on the "bead caps" in today's pair. Bonus points that the fibers will not discolor with wear and contact with our skins' natural oils. I took a matched set of beautiful blush chohua jasper---one of my favorites---and knotted and wrapped and knotted and wrapped and knotted and wrapped and...well, you get the picture.
I was at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago last week and was amazed at the ancient jewelry from many of the native tribes of North America. OK, amazed is an understatement. My husband had to restrain me at certain points. But the underlying technique and overall aesthetic of today's earrings remind me of some of those pieces. Art influences art, always!Happy Wednesday,
Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy
Nikki, I totally get why you are so exited about this hand-waxed twine. It looks amazing! They way you knotted and wrapped it around these beautiful stones gives these stones a very special look. Yes, they could have been ancient. And where do you get these gorgeous stones from. Wonderful earrings!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous earrings!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!!! The waxed twine is so perfect on the stone drops! I adore these earrings!!
ReplyDeleteI love these! Very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThese have an incredible ancient quality to them. I would never think of twine for a bead cap. What a clever use of materials! Truly marvelous in every way!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the day. Erin
Nikki, you amaze me, constantly amaze me. What a wonderful fabric that is, and you worked it beautifully! Thank you for sharing Rey's twine. I hadn't seen it. As always, awesome!
ReplyDelete