Beaded Corncobs

I first started beading corncobs when I was living in southern Minnesota.

A local gallery owner invited local artists to make a piece about the current controversy over large-scale hog farming operations that was dividing the community. "Piggy" was my entry. I had used the actual kernels off a piece of Indian corn purchased at the farmers' market. I couldn't quite throw away the leftover cobs sitting on my beading table. Then, when I was ready to make the necklace chain for "Piggy", I suddenly realized that these empty cobs would work perfectly -- beaded, they would give volume to the chain and yet would be light and durable. Also, the beads would "catch" well on the cobs.

I keep coming back to beading corncobs because of their wonderful qualities and because they continue to take me deeper into the soil and life of my southern Minnesota roots.