Beading A Beautiful Friendship

Around my right wrist I wear a reminder of friendship and love. Intricately beaded into a woven pattern of iridescent blue, green, black, purple and white is a bracelet. My sister, Laura, brought it back from Central America where it survived a grueling backpack trip from Mexico to Costa Rica. She can’t remember exactly where she and her partner were when they purchased it, or even from whom. I never take it off, just like she never takes off the rainbow embroidered anklet I spent hours making for her. During her journey Laura learned how to bead a bracelet. Laura said she’d teach me “someday,” but alas we are both so busy. Beading is something you have to make time for.

At the September Green Thumb Garden Club meeting in 2002, my beaded bracelet caught the eye of Marjorie Klingman. This long time resident of Anacortes, was drawn to the bracelet on my wrist. She kept asking throughout the meeting in whispers if I had made it, how long it took, and if I would possibly join her at her beading club the next day. I remember it was the 10th of September, a Tuesday, because the next day I was going to the memorial service at Causland Park for those who perished in 9-11. I did however, give Marjorie my phone number to give me a call for “beading” within the next few weeks.

I was pleased when Marjorie called me two weeks later. She invited me to the Samish Longhouse; to eat lunch with her and then try our hand at beading- she mentioned earrings or a key chain. She gave me directions to her home and suggested I come a few minutes before noon. I was surprised the Longhouse was such a simple building located just beyond the D Avenue Nursery. I was use to the elaborate Longhouse at Evergreen State College, with its enormous eagle totem at the entrance. A Longhouse means anywhere Natives meet for gatherings. This Longhouse is sponsored by the Samish Tribe. They also sponsor a preschool next door. Elders of native decent and anyone over the age of 45 can come for lunch and eat for free.

Wednesdays are craft/beading days. A group of knowledgeable women usually stay after lunch, until 2:00pm or so. Most have their own sewing boxes filled with necessary equipment for beading. I have seen boxes that contain everything from round bracelets to Santa earrings, even a beaded case for needles. The small group has been beading together for four to five years.

I felt lucky to be a part of their assembly when I came with Marjorie that September day. Right away Marjorie gave me a needle, thread, and some elk leather on a wooden post. Some day this would be a big beautiful key-chain. I was asked to pick out three colors. I chose red, white and blue- to be patriotic. On this day a Native from a New Mexico tribe named Willy was standing by. He happily showed me how to hook the beads onto the leather, so the beads would be secure and not slide off as I worked my way around the piece. This was a method even the ladies were not familiar with. So everyone learned something that day.

It wasn’t long before I knew what I was doing, (it was called a peyote stitch). I could then put my work down and see if my new friend Marjorie needed any help. She was pretty far along on her key chain; her colors are yellow, orange, and white. At times she would double up on a bead, or skip one too many. These were easy problems to fix. I was just glad to be there to work on it with her. The next thing we knew it was time to pack up.

I could tell already, just by this one day together, I would make beading with Marjorie a weekly routine. Hey, I had a key chain to finish!

Well, here it is five years later! I have missed only one week with Marjorie since that first day. Our key chains are finished. I have learned a lot about beading and being a loyal friend. What’s next… only time will tell. And in my friendship with Marjorie, everyday is a lifetime!