Beading

[Wes/Tex]

Yeah, I've tried them but the technique I've developed uses a double run through the beads for security and it requires a fairly thin needle for two passes of the artificial sinew. A few years ago I made a child's size gun belt for an unusually small knife and cute little cap pistol I found when buying stuff for the antique shop. I made it in the "native" style like the few seen with beaded holster, knife sheathe, etc. Had some fairly white elk hide then and did the whole thing in that. Never sold it but donated it to the nursing home my dad was in locally for their Christmas auction to benefit the residents. Holy Smokes, when the dust cleared they'd gotten over $300 for it...I kept telling them, "Be sure these people know I did that, it's not a native piece"...people didn't care where it came from, it was "cute"!

 

[Rick Son]

Crimeny,don't tell me you do beadwork too!!!!!..I would have no problem starting beading,but i would never finish it,ADD thing,what did plains indians use if they had no needles.? Which is something i should already know.I have an item in my grandfathers old box i got and never knew what it was,maybe it is for sewing or something,it looks just like the top of a thumb with nail and it fits over your thumb and made of aluminum.

 

[Rick Son]

Wish i could figure out the pattern on those gloves with the hat is i posted,seems like butterfly on the hand part and trails and arrows to the ceremonial area on the cuff,any ideas?

 

[BrownBear]

...if they had no needles....

Huh? They had bone needles long before the advent of steel trade needles. The ones I've seen were made from bird bone. Some that were in the process of construction showed they drilled the hole first, then shaped the needle. I've tried it a few times, and it's actually pretty easy and quick, even with simple tools. Split the bone and use a pointed flake of flint or obsidian to drill the hole, then shave away the excess bone. I bet you could make one in about 5 minutes with a little practice. They don't have to be particularly strong if you have a good awl.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Wish i could figure out the pattern on those gloves with the hat is i posted,seems like butterfly on the hand part and trails and arrows to the ceremonial area on the cuff,any ideas?

The thing with Native bead work is that it can mean any of what you mentioned or none of it. Some specific shapes do/did represent specific things as did their colors. Usually the maker put their thoughts and feelings into the design to express thoughts, feelings or even wishes. Most Native designs will have or repeat four designs or colors that represent the cardinal directions and Medicine Wheel teachings, depending on the tribe or belief of the maker. A triangular shape could be a lodge in red or black or a distant mountain in blue...it's very difficult to try to interpret exactly what a design means, I usually advise folks to enjoy it and not fret over what it could mean. :wink:

 

[Rick Son]

That's what i end up doing,just enjoying

 

[Rick Son]

There ya go,i should have known that.