Bead soup

[caeterle]

I've had this bead soup around from my early bead looming days when I wanted to use it as a background which I then didn't like. Over the years I kept picking from it and now I finally used it up with these two pieces. I had been wanting to use bead soup for the folded peyote components and with Valentine's Day coming up, I thought I could use some beaded hearts with them that I made some time ago. They are opaque red and didn't work at all, so instead I made some pearly white ones for them.



The second piece is also folded peyote, but I didn't want yet another pair of similar earrings, so I played around a bit and came up with this diamond. It's probably not something you do this way, but I like the look and am thinking about making some smaller ones for earrings. As I just had enough soup for one, though, I added a dangle that happened to be in the same tin as the bead soup (so much for being organized, told you I'm not ).
I really like this one, it's a bit shiny and a bit sparkly and a bit crazy

[brad]

I have been curious and wanting to ask, about the term peyote and its design? So....
Thanks, Brad

[caeterle]

There are beaders who avoid the term peyote for this kind of stitch. It is also called gourd stitch and has been used in different cultures around the world. Peyote has become the more popular name for it, though, and it's understood among even beginner beaders more easily which is why I use it.
The stitch can be used in flat or tubular pieces. Other than in square stitch or loomed pieces, you don't have straight rows of beads. You have a row of beads, in the following beads you always skip one, so the beads sit on top of the gaps from the row before, kind of. There is a 2 and 3 drop peyote, but I never tried that.

I have to admit that I had to look up why it is called that and Wikipedia has this about it: The name "peyote stitch" derives from the use of this stitch to decorate objects used in peyote ceremonies by members of the Native American Church. The name "gourd stitch" similarly derives from the use of the stitch in decorating gourd containers.

Does that answer your question a little?

[DawninCal]

Both pairs are beautiful, Cat. And, what a good use of bead soup. I love the center dangles in the second pair - they are so original and interesting.

Just because the way you did it, isn't the way it's done doesn't mean it can be done your way. You've reached the level of skill that you can invent your own methods that are unique to you. If you were of a mind to write tutorials (I know you're not), you could even claim invention of your ways of doing things. You are that good.

The explanation of peyote stitch was interesting. Do people hesitate to use it because of concerns about being politically correct? I would look at it as a stitch/name that honors the skills and contributions of the native people.



Dawn

[caeterle]

Thank you, Dawn!

The diamond is a pendant, I didn't have enough of the soup left for two (and probably wouldn't have the patience, either, also to make another dangle although I still have so many of those spike beads ).
I always think that what I do is already out there somewhere and usually do a quick search.

As far as I know from some very knowledgeable beady friends (one of them the anthropologist who has also done bead research), gourd stitch is the original name, both of them insisted on calling it that because they think peyote narrows it down too much as it's really a universal stitch that has even been found in Egyptian pieces, for example in Tutankhamun's tomb if I recall that right.

[Irith-Rita]

Interesting term "bead soup". I really love both art works.

[caeterle]

All beaders I know call it that, one of the first terms from when I started working with beads. I have heard of people giving or throwing bead soup away because they can't stand it.

Thank you, Irith

[michelle]

I would love wearing both the earrings and the pendant. Gorgeous! No one would guess they were derived from bead soup. Ha!

[caeterle]

Thank you very much, Michelle!