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.

Although fabric is commercially made in abundance in our modern world, weaving thread into cloth was once an arduous, communal effort, and even with modern machinery takes much more effort than most people give it credit for. In recognition of that effort Saoirse likes to keep scraps of any fabric that feels “special,” even if she doesn’t have a use for it in mind.

This necklace was made using metal pieces found washed up and scattered across Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California. They were initially collected decades ago and repurposed as a kinetic mobile, which eventually broke, and then the pieces were gifted to Byrne. Now they're reborn in combination with beautiful vermillion silk to form a necklace that makes a beautiful chiming sound as it moves.

Materials: Silk chiffon, found metal pieces

Approximately 34“ long.