Waxed linen.
When I think of it I imagine the colorful options, know it is versatile, and then draw a blank. Its not in my wheel house. Friends like Linda Landig and Erin Seigel, to name a few, use it with great results. But for me… its a challenge. So thats exactly why I decided to join when Diana of Suburban Girl Studio announced this blog hop.
I sat down with my journal – and a coffee – to try to sketch… I like to think visually on paper in doodles. The characteristics of waxed linen that I was drawn to: multi strands, an assortment of treasures, versatility for beads of varying size holes, and I wrote down one word more, that really started the ball rolling. WOVEN.
In Greek myth, Athena ( Goddess of wisdom, war, and patroness of the arts) enters a contest with Arachne. Arachne, a human girl of consumate skill at the loom, commits a fatal mistake by bragging of her talent and offending the Goddess. They weave tapestries in competition, and although Athena wins, Arachne’s skill is great. Arachne hangs herself in the tatters of her weaving. Athena, in a moment of mercy, transforms the girl into a spider so she is allowed to/cursed to spin all her days.
I created a hollow polymer focal with aluminum tubing inside to act as a channel for multiple threads. The owl, representing Athena, is cast from a reproduction drachma. The web for Arachne is a linoleum stamp that I carved to use in clay. I toyed with various spider options, but they ended up distracting from the focal…
I have an amazing assortment of waxed linen from Mary at White Clover kiln. I also delved into my Czech glass treasure, from back in the days at the Shepherdess in San Diego. Just making the color decisions was the hard part!
My original plan involved all three of these strands. Two are double strands, knotted at intervals with beads spaced an inch or so apart . The third was denser, knots, 8’s and drop beads, continuously knotted. I liked the contrast of the more open strand with the denser strand. But all three – was too busy. Here is what I decided on in the end:
The front: greys, blues and golds. A linen tassle dangling from the embedded loop. ( Note the top. The channel inset in the pendant was too narrow. Wrapped loops solved that problem!)
The back: Arachne’s web
So I was left with a knotted strand – just waiting for a pendant. Here is the bonus necklace I created with one of my ceramic fairy pendants. ( Fired to ^10 reduction for you clay people out there)
So – if I can muse philosophical for a sec, I am glad I did this. I don’t see waxed linen being my go-to material. I respect it, and designers/artists who work with it. I can see using it as an accent in mixed media pieces. I am happy with my pieces, and would love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks to Diana for organizing the challenge. Please visit her page for the links to all of us participating! There are sure to be diverse offerings, and many beautiful things!
Thanks to Mary Hubbard for the sample bag of the waxed linen from her shop! I purchased it from her at Beadfest a year or two ago, and the plethora of pretty colors really inspired me to try my hand at linen and knotting!
To my fellow participants – I am currently photographing flowering cacti in Austin, TX – and visiting family. I apologize for the delay, but I look forward to “hopping” as soon as I can!
Jenny Davies-Reazor 
Love both designs but I have to admit to really being partial to your *bonus* necklace. It’s not as busy and has a great feel with the single strand.
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Hi Jenny. You chose a wonderful theme for your waxed linen piece. I am impressed that you created the pendant too for this special piece. I agree that the three strands was too busy. I like your design a lot.
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I love your reveal! Your pendant is amazing, and I love the tassel! Your bonus necklace is great too.
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Once again, you amaze me. That pendant is spectacular, Jenny, and I love the choices you made with the linen strands. I’m in love!!
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You know I love this. Anytime you do something involving myth I’m going to love it! BTW, that pendant rocks!!! Thanks for participating!
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I love all your tangled bits and pieces, especially that linen tassel wrapped with wire. Nice job!
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I love the Greek myth you shared and the pendant you created to represent it. Very nice work on your necklaces.
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Hi Jenny, These pieces are great. I love how you varied the knotting techniques and beads on the multiple strands. It adds so much texture and interest. Wonderful job!
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Wow – love the focal and the colors you used! The threads add to the web feel for sure. All kinds of baubles caught up… Love!
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I love the spiderweb pendant!
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Gorgeous necklaces! The double sided focal you made for the first one is so beautiful. Great job!
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We have lots of flowering cacti in our area. I’m just a hop & skip down the road in New Braunfels, TX.
Love your necklace & polymer focal!!!! Wow!! You’ve got talent!
Enjoy time with the family!
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Love your work Jenny – that first necklace is awesome. I find necklace challenging and particularly using waxed linen. You made it look fantastic.
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When I was a little girl, in school I remember when my History Teacher teach us Greek myth and I was fascinate. The same happen when I read your post!!! And your jewelry are so wonderful! Thank you so much!! 🙂
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You may not *feel* that waxed linen is your forte, but damn, girl, that is an awesome necklace! I love all the texture created by the knotting and the tassel. Of course we all know you are the queen of mythology expressed through jewelry and your pendant is nothing short of amazing. Great work!
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I love your necklaces! I am very jealous of your large collection of thread.
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I love your pendant you made, it’s gorgeous. And I love all the texture in your multi-strands for the pendant. Very pretty. And I really like your second necklace, too, with the extra strand. I’m only about 60 miles north of Austin, and I have tons of flowering cacti right now. Love it when it flowers. Not so much the rest of the time. 🙂
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Jenny, I love how much thought and planning you put into your design and I had an “AHA” moment while looking at your hollow polymer focal…bake the front and back first…then put it all together (sometimes the simplest things just don’t come to me right away!) I think you did a great job with the waxed linen even though it is not your go to medium. I especially love the strands you did with the 3 pearl segments.
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Loved the necklace it incorporated lots of linen.
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I really like both of these necklaces. You really captured the idea of a tangled web in the first piece, and I like the simplicity and light feel to the fairy pendant.
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Hi Jenny,
I love your necklaces and the little bit of Greek folk lore.
Therese
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Well, one, thanks for the lesson, I did not know that one! Two, thanks for showing your polymer process, very ingenious! And three, thanks for showing your process for knotting the cord. When I first looked at it, I didn’t understand totally what you did, but you showing your process allowed me to understand! And I think you do great with waxed linen cord and think you should have some simple pieces to sell at Bead Fest!
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Nice work, I like how you left the linen dangling, and how you connected the big focal bead. What a beautiful piece.
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That 2-sided bead with the channel is inspired! The waxed linen strands really add an organic feel to the piece.
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Clearly that 3rd strand was meant to go with the butterfly pendant. Love the Arachne necklace and the story behind it. Are you a member of the SRAJD? You could totally enter this for the Greek mythology themed challenge this month. I’m working on a piece based on Chronos and Zeus for it tonight.
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oh my, poor archne! i feel sorry for her, but I love your pendant, and love the design even more. the contrast of the two strands is pretty cool.
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Everything is wonderful!!
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The journey of creating with you is inspired! Wow, what extraordinary art. I love your Athena necklace — the linen tassel & combination of wirework & texile looks fantastic, as does the colorway — and what an exquisite, brilliant focal. Amazing. I’m in awe. And your fairy is charming, sweetness. Both pieces are rich in their unique designs; balanced & beautiful & moving. I learned from our challenge, also, as waxed linen is new to me too — and I am learning with each artists’ post! Gracias for a wonderful post, for the gorgeous art you create and share!Happy Hopping! ? TJ
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The pieces, the lore, the love!!!!! You are amazing!
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I always enjoy taking the journey with you. Thank you for sharing. And I LOVE the designs to bits.
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