I can’t believe I finished it! Well, maybe. It looks like I’ll have to get a different clasp because this one keeps opening up. But that’s an easy fix. So for now here’s the Chickadee and tubular peyote necklace.
It all started when I found this Chickadee-on-birch-tree focal piece in Anchorage last summer. It is made of glass, by local artist Elise Strauss.
The focal piece came on a thin silver rope, but I kept envisioning a seed bead rope for it. After I learned that the rope is made of thread and would not support the focal piece, I abandoned the project for a while. Eventually, I made a rope and strung beading wire through it. For those who need to know, the rope is done in 7-count tubular peyote stitch using 11° seed beads.
This project was the most technically challenging for me so far. It combined thread work with stringing, and I found no information on how to combine the two techniques. I needed the rope for its beauty and wire to support the focal bead. The rope had to be anchored to the wire so it wouldn’t slide, stretch, or bunch up. And the focal piece couldn’t hang directly from the beads or be attached to anything that rested on the beads, because of its weight.
I’m not going to bore you with my solutions. Just write me if you need more info, or check this post Peyote stitch and Chickadee Revisited.
your creation is great & the focal bead is wild. What is a 7 bead peyote stitch with rope.I know the peyote stitch and would like more info on what you created. Thanks
I do indeed love your creation, Love to know more about sevenbead peyote stitch with rope. And my little chickadee, love that bird. Pearl Julane Smith-July 29-2008
I love the simplicity of the tubular rope which really sets off the focal bead. I have also experimented with the the herringbone tubular rope and used the wire to give it strength. I searched online for research on how to connect the two, I didn’t have any luck so I improvised, but would love to know your solution because I wasn’t totally satisfied with mine.
Your work is beautiful!
Beautiful piece. I am always looking for a new and better way to accomplish something. Would love to hear your solution to combining the peyote tube with the wire. I especially like the fact that it doesn’t appear to have a stiff wire inside the tube.