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Frances “Casey” Case - Gifts of the Great Creator
Category: Sculpture.
Tubular peyote was used for the body of the piece.
My 1999 Miyuki entry is a dual function piece.
1) It is a usable vase for either fresh or dried flowers. The Lexan vase insert was designed by me, though constructed by someone else.
2) It is a usable, full-size purse mounted on an antique steel frame that I had re-plated with sterling silver and that I then finished with a black patina. The removable purse strap and clasps are also silver with a patina finish.
(See photo at bottom of page.)
My vase / purse is a beaded illustration of a Native American folktale book, Song of the Seven Herbs, by Walking Night Bear, illustrated by Stan Padilla. Stan Padilla has generously allowed me to adapt a few of his illustration details for my beaded design. I used 87 Delica colors to achieve a mix of realism and folklore. My herbs were derived from studies of Botany books, animals from nature books, etc.
In 1991, while searching western stores for a 21st birthday present for my son, I became fascinated with beadwork. After looking at many pieces, all great but none "just right", I decided to try to make this special gift. Beads and I bonded instantly and the resultant belt was a success, is still worn and got my son beading too. Seed beads, traditional stitches, detailed patterns and large projects are my favorites.
Four years ago I decided to try to figure out a way to create and bead very intricate patterns in tubular peyote, one of my favorite stitches. Like most beaders I find following the pattern and controlling the tension to take the most time, and to cause the most frustration and mistakes. My experiments lead me to create a proportionally sized grid which allows the beader to bead directly over the surface of the pattern. The technique eliminates counting rows and beads (since each colored bead space in the pattern falls directly behind the space in which the actual bead will be added), and also controls the tension.
My Miyuki Challenge entry was made using my "PATTERN PERFECT" Beading Surface and Technique. I illustrated all seven chapters of the Native American folktale, Song of the Seven Herbs. The illustrator, Stan Padilla, graciously allowed me to combine some of his ideas with my own. I used the Mylar version of my pattern surface to trace, from gardening books, and then create realistic images of the seven herbs. The serpent, depicted with its head and tail meeting, represents eternity. Starting at the serpent's head, the components of each chapter are pictured near the corresponding herb, ending with the seventh herb at the tail. (If you contact me I will be happy to send or email you a two page description of the seven chapters.) The finished beadwork is 12.75" (240 beads) around by 11" (160 rows) high. There are three layers of looped fringe at the bottom.
The piece was designed for an antique purse frame which is hinged in four places to create a square opening. However, friends felt the "story" should remain tubular for the flow of the folktale. Bowing to both my creative stubbornness and friends' ideas, my entry became both a functional purse and a flower vase. The plastic vase I designed fits inside the opening and the lining of the purse. Then an octagonal ring fits on the top edge of the vase and, when twisted 1/4 turn, locks to hold the frame up. Finally a base fits over the outside of the lining, with the vase inside it, to give the fringe a nice flair and the vase stability. The vase holds fresh or dried flowers.
Creating realistic "pictures" out of bead pixels is a challenge I enjoy and, now that I can bead directly over the pattern without losing my place or worrying about tension, watching these beaded paintings emerge is really fun.
Frances "Casey" Case lives in Tucson, Arizona. She has won numerous awards including "Best in Shows" at the AZ State Fair and firsts in store competitions. Casey's latest work, a purse titled Cinderella, Honey, It's Midnight, won "Best of Show" in Bead & Button's Bead Dreams 2000 and was pictured in the October 2000 issue of that magazine. Her work has been exhibited in a number of galleries and in the Bead Museum, at its new Glendale, AZ location.
In June, 1999, Casey received a Patent Pending designation for her "PATTERN PERFECT" Beading Surface and Technique and is actively working to share this idea with other beaders through countrywide workshops. The concept was the "Cool Stuff" feature in the Fall 1998 issue of Beadwork Magazine.
Casey's web page: http://www.glassicsbeadwork.com Casey's email: smokie@azstarnet.com
Casey & Pattern Perfect email address: smokie@azstarnet.com
Casey & Pattern Perfect snail address:
Frances Case
7033 E. Paseo San Andres
Tucson, AZ 85710-2205
Casey & Pattern Perfect web address:
http://www.glassicsbeadwork.com
The Story:
Mother Earth, Moon & Sun were central in the lives of early people of the Americas, and thus they are central in my design. The pleasing faces on Sun & Moon show that they were viewed as positive & friendly forces by the people. Serpent, which connects the seven tales of the herbs, is associated with Earth Mother; interconnecting all elements of Earth.
First Herb, Stinging Nettle, was created to restore the balance, peace & happiness destroyed by Evil Creator. It had all the best elements of Sun, Moon, Stars, Winds, Rain, Thunder & Lightening. It looked like real gold. Then the people overused and misused it, making it scarce. No one said thank you to Great Creator, either. So Great Creator changed the plant so it would not be so easy to use. He made the plant green. Then he put little hairs on the leaves and filled each hair with lightening, so that the people would be reminded to say thank you. You can see Lightening coming off my Stinging Nettles!
Second herb, Yarrow, was created to counteract a terrible sickness brought by a bad Medicine Man. The good Medicine Man became ill also, so he sent his grandson to bring the healing herb. The boy arrived at night and was unable to find the herb, as Moon was not bright. The only light came from Stars. Light Spirit asked Stars to send pieces of themselves to land on the herb so the boy would be able to find the plant. I have shown the boy praying at dusk, the dark side of Moon and the pieces of Stars falling onto the Yarrow plant.
Third herb, Dandelion, was created to help the people when their Medicine Man and his two special friends, Eagle and Mountain Lion, had to join Spirit Man in the World Above. There was no replacement for these three powerful healers, so at the Medicine Man’s request Great Spirit created a powerful medicine plant with flowers like the heart of the Medicine Man, Leaves like the teeth of Mountain Lion & roots like the legs of Eagle. You can see Medicine Man, Eagle & Mountain Lion.
Fourth herb, Violet, started as a crystal of Amethyst hidden in a cave, home of very helpful Little People. The Little People were upset because a new sickness they could not cure had come to Earth. The Amethyst Crystal had such a great heart and wanted to help, but could not move. Great Spirit heard the heart of the Crystal and asked Good Creator to lift the Crystal into his hands and change it into the little Violet plant so it could go out and cure the people. Good Creator gave the herb leaves the shape of hearts and flower the color of amethyst and the sky at sunset. I have shown the mountain/amethyst and Good Creators hand.
Fifth herb, Chicory, was given to the people when they were driven from their birth lands into the deserts. The people became weak in body and soul. The Medicine Man asked Good Creator for help. Good Creator sent Eagle, who said that in the morning there would be a plant all over the land that should be used for food. The tough, bitter plant made the people strong, but they still had sad hearts and minds. The Medicine Man went back to Eagle, who knew that only a piece of the sky could make the people happy again. Eagle picked pieces of the sky and placed them as flowers on the Chicory plants. The tea made from the flowers brought hope and joy to the people. I have shown Eagle dropping pieces of the sky onto the Chicory plant, and the Medicine Man.
Sixth herb, Rose, was given to the people for winter food. Moon lower went with friend, Bear, to collect blueberries for winter food. Coyote ate the berries as Moon lower filled each basket and left it to collect later. Moon lower and Bear decided to try again the next day, but a heavy snowstorm caught them in a cave, and they were lost and hungry. There were many bare Rose Bushes nearby. The Rose bushes could think of no way to help. A beautiful woman appeared and put good & nourishing red berries on the Rose bushes. Coyote, feeling sorry he had been mean to Moon lower and Bear, returned to lead them back to their people. Before leaving Coyote tried to sneak some Rose berries, but Rose bush got so angry it grew thorns. In the glow of the Moon, Moon lower, Bear, Coyote and the beautiful woman are by the Rose bush.
Seventh herb, Sunflower, came after a great cleansing of Mother Earth. The people had started to walk away from the Path of the Good Spirit and Light. To teach the people a lesson, Creator caused a terrible rain on Earth leaving only a few people, animals and plants. Sun and her friend, Bright Light, wanted to help heal Earth after the rain. Sun dried the land, but her strength was not enough to make the plants grow fast. Great Creator granted Bright Light’s wish to help, making her a plant to bring warmth and light into the day, and bear food for the people, birds and animals. Since Bright Light could never return to the sky, Great Creator made Sunflower the tallest flower on Earth; nearest Sun. You can see Sun, Clouds, Rain & Water.
Snapshot of the vase transformed into a purse.