wpe16.jpg (2058 bytes)STRAW INTO GOLD

Looking through a museum magazine, I came across a beautiful silver pin made from knotted wire. I desired to spin a metal thread and copy the pin.

I obtained the gold leaf from my mother's old craft supplies. After various techniques and attempts the gold thread was successful. I positioned 1 1/2 inch strips of gold leaf on paper, a few very delicate strands of unspun line linen were placed on the gold leaf. This was sprayed very lightly with adhesive. I finger spun the gold leaf and linen together. The gold was then in and around the linen thread and it was actually twisting and holding together. Cutting into the thread revealed that the gold was all the way through the thread. This thread is then sealed with clear enamel to cut down on the gold flaking off during the abrasive knotting.

This yarn I knotted into the pin pattern from the Smithsonian. I do not feel that it would hold up to wear and tear. The final knot is dipped in clear plastic to preserve it.

To display the pendant, I spun tussah silk in to a fine single with extra Z twist. It was then Navajo plied. The tussah cord is knotted using the familiar knot macrame knot, half square knot or half hitch sennit. The necklace slips over the head and finished with a traditional tassel. Two tassels are tied to the bottom of the pendant with a button knot. The simple earrings are made with a triple connection knot.