During the month of August Handmaker's Factory took part in the Craft craftcubed festival. One of the workshops we offered was in collaboration with Abby Seymour who I have the pleasure of sharing a studio with.
A two day workshop in which participants spent a morning with Abby making and painting porcelain beads and the following week they returned to their beads fired and ready to be hung on the cords that they made with me using a lucet. A lucet is a horn shaped tool that dates back to the Viking and Medieval periods. The cord made with a lucet is exceptionally strong and slightly springy and was often used in clothing such as the lacing of a bodice, for hanging items from belts and jewellery.
Forming and painting the porcelain beads required some patience.
Impressions of natural objects created texture on some and carving with tools formed more geometric shapes on others. Painting required a steady hand and a good eye!
The technique of making cord on the lucet took a little practice to begin with but it quite a repetitive process that was quickly perfected by everyone.
The finer yarns and a consistent tension made a neat cord.
Whereas the thicker yarns created chunky cords that were quick to make.
The finished necklaces looked amazing!
