Saoirse Byrne’s exploration of cordage began with learning to twist wild harvested plants with Tamara Wilder. Curious, she applied the process to the abundance of materials in her studio and life. Having held on to her great grandmother’s threadbare handkerchief for decades – precious but unusable – Saoirse turned to cordage. It became a strong, loving reminder of her – a necklace that she could wear and a process that she could share.

Saoirse’s work focuses on materials that can be salvaged and reused, as well as eco-friendly, naturally grown fibers. She loves to reclaim textiles and preserve the memories and joy that they once brought previous owners.

This necklace is made of silk chiffon which Saoirse hand-dyed using Osage orange wood salvaged from a Native American bow-making class. The fabric was then splinted together and woven by hand into cordage, which was then doubled-over and woven again into cabling, creating a strong singular strand from pieces of a soft, lightweight fabric. It is long enough to wear doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled for a variety of looks.

The bone beads used are intended to honor the animal by using its whole body, and the choice to use a variety of beads, sporadically placed, reflects the spontaneity of creation and the conversation the artist has with their work as they make it.

Materials: Hand-dyed silk, bone beads

Approximately 128“ long.