Native American Beading Question

[Dwight]

A number of years ago I did a glass bead facsimile of the USMC globe, eagle, and anchor.

I'm getting ready to make a jacket for myself, . . . kind of a "Randevous" type, . . . suede buckskin, . . . fringe, . . . all that.

I wanted to add some Native American style beading, . . . but wanted it to be germain to my own situation if possible.

Does anyone out there have an insight into the "meanings" or "interpretations" of the various patterns used by them when they did their designs.

FWIW, . . . I have Winsauke heritage, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight

[ChuckBurrows]

Dwight - I've been studying the subject of Indian symbology as it applies to beadwork for over 50 years and it boils down to what the maker wanted the pattern to "say" . There are some tribal symbols and in order to no more you would have to look up that tribe or talk to the elders (best way). The style of beading would most likely be floral for eastern tribes. If I can help in any other way let me know - beading is my life!

Edited December 17, 2013 by ChuckBurrows

[Dwight]

Thanks, Chuck, for the quick response.

I'm not looking to make anything all flashy or anything, . . . but I would like it to have at least an authentic flavor.

Long story short, . . . this is a special coat, . . . I'm making it for me, . . . but sized up one as my only son will some day have it.

The leather came from my favorite old uncle, . . . deer he killed in Wisconsin, . . . and again, . . . a randevous flavor, . . . some fringe, . . . bone buttons, . . . a sash belt, . . . possibles bag, . . . and I wanted to dress it up with authentic beading.

Many people laugh when I tell them this part, . . . but it is true, . . . I am a 13th generation direct descendant of Pocohontas. She was from the Wensauke (spelling????) tribe, . . . of which I never was able to find a whole lot.

I have heard that many times the decorations of the brave's shirt, . . . or beading he wore, . . . could sometimes tell a story something like looking at a soldier's ribbons, . . . if you know what they stand for you understand, . . . if you dont, . . . it's just so much fruit salad decoration.

Again, . . . I'd like for it to be at least somewhat authentic. The store I got my beads from before has gone under, . . . the label says they were size 8/0, 8-404 OP Yellow, . . . is the one description. I want to stay with that size, etc. as I still have a bunch of them left over.

Anyway, . . . if there is any direction you can point me, . . . again, I'd sure appreciate it. I've still got a half dozen rolls of dental floss to use up, . . . and I'd sure rather bead it up than work on my teeth with it.

May God bless,

Dwight

[ChuckBurrows]

Most of my beads come from Crazy Crow - you want the 8/0 size which are technically pound (aka pony) beads

for some good images of original beadwork I suggest these sites whihc will give some idea of the type work used:

http://anthro.amnh.org/north

http://www.splendidheritage.com/nindex.html

For eastern style beadwork the standard method of sewing was the so-called applique stitch - for basic stitches see here:

http://www.nativetech.org/glasbead/glasbead.html

hope that helps and again if more help is needed let me know..

[Dwight]

A little bird must have whispered in your ear, . . . "he likes to read", . . . I do, . . . and WOW, . . .

I didn't come up for air for about 2 hours, . . . only when I sent to Amazon for a book, . . . I thiink I'll find what I'm really looking for in it, . . . if not, . . . I'll go under for another hour or so.

Thank you for the effort, . . . I really think this might turn out to be one fun project, . . . at least I've got some better ideas now. It was really fun reading about "Wampum", . . . which I had heard about but never really understood.

Gonna have to get me some purple and white wampum beads and see about starting my first wampum belt one day this January when it is just too doggone cold to do anything but sit near the fire.

Thanks again, Chuck, . . . have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

May God bless,

Dwight

[WinterBear]

oooo, be really careful with bead sizes. There is a little variation between a size 8 in one brand compared to another. Yours are opaque Miyuki beads based on the inventory/item number.

I use Precosia, old Venetian or Italian, DynaMites, Delicas, and Miyukis, and when I mess up on an order- imported Indian or Chinese. I haven't had a chance to use other Japanese beads, French, old German, or old white hearts.

Anyway, if you get a bunch of brands, you're going to find that some won't play nice with other brands at all. When looking at seed beads from the side, they can look like straight-sided drums, bulged slightly like a barrel, a fat tire or donut, or a thin flat donut.

If I'm wanting very precise modern loom work, brick stitch, or peyote, I use Delicas. Delicas have large holes for multiple passes of thread and needle, and are about as high as they are wide. A cross stitch or graph paper pattern is easily worked with Delicas. Delicas are straight-sided barrels. They don't look quite right for traditional work because they are so precise. Sold by gram or ounce packages.

Miyukis are similar to Delicas, but not as straight-sided. They have slightly bulging sides, and are nearly as similarly tall as they are wide. They lend themselves well to brick and loom work, and like the Delicas, the finished pattern shows little distortion of cross stitch and graph paper patterns. They are less expensive than Delicas and aren't as precise, the the beadwork isn't quite as modern looking. Usually sold by gram or ounce packages.

DynaMItes have a similar shape to Miyukis, and likewise aren't as precise as Delicas. They give a less "tailored" appearance. They cost slightly less than Miyukis and are also usually sold in gram or ounce packages.

Most of my loom work is made with Precosia, a Czech bead. It is a short bulging barrel or a very fat tire when viewed from the side. As they are wider than tall, graph paper patterns distort. Once allowances are made for the shape, I have no issues. The holes are occasionally off-center or too small, and sometimes you'll get a bead that is very much thinner or thicker than its mates. They are inexpensive compared to Delicas, and are usually sold by the hank. I also like to use these in the duller/more traditional colors for rosettes and lane beading.

Occasionally, I'm able to get old Italian beads by the kilo. They are more irregular than Precosia, but were more often handcut rather than machine cut. The thickness/height varies more, and some holes are off center. They have a duller finish and the colors aren't as brilliant. White and powder blue are easiest to find in these old beads. I use them mostly for old-style loomwork and lane beading.

The imported seed beads from India and China are hit or miss, mostly miss. Sold by the tube, in gram or ounce packages, or by the hank. These tend to be irregular all over. The size, shape, thickness, and hole varies so much that any kind of loomwork or brickwork looks lumpy and careless. I don't even use them for teaching beadwork. When I get those by mistake, I give those to groups who work with kids for the kids to roll sculpey pendants in or use glue to stick the beads on ornaments. I don't have much use for them.

Edited December 20, 2013 by WinterBear

[Dwight]

Thanks, WinterBear, It's good to know what brand the beads are that I have left. The place I used went under when the economy went to Florida a few years ago.

Funny you mentioned graph paper, . . . I started to use that, . . . wound up using Microsoft Excel instead, . . . for the USMC logo I did for the gun bag.

First one turned out to be out of proportion, . . . went back and re-did the Excel, . . . voila, . . . second one wasn't perfect, . . . but it worked quite well.

It is really easy to use, . . . make the whole page the main color, . . . then change the individual beads to give you the pattern you want.

Anyway, . . . just passing on my little bit of knowledge, . . . maybe you or someone else will be able to use it.

May God bless,

Dwight

[WinterBear]

Too bad about the shop, but at least the beads can still be found, right? Fire Mountain Gems and Artbeads carry them, and they can be found in most of the online shops that carry seed beads.

I've never thought of excel. I might have to try that sometime. I actually moved to bead paper for charting some designs. Or I use a very fine grid graph paper and each "bead" is 2 squares tall and 3 wide. Works pretty well actually. I take graph or bead paper with me on campouts so I can plan things when I'm miles away from the computer.

It's funny you mentioned wampum. I'm currently making a copy of the necklace on the like below with Tara Prindle's simulated wampum beads. It's actually my second attempt-- I dropped some threads when weaving and didn't find out until I finished. So I started over. I'm currently a little less than 1/2 way done with the reweave.

http://home.cshore.com/waaban/wampumweaving/biasweaving.html

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Hey Dwight, I take it that you served in the Corps, so what about doing beaded copies of your ribbons?

I agree with Winter bear in that the Chinese beads suck.

[Dwight]

Hey Dwight, I take it that you served in the Corps, so what about doing beaded copies of your ribbons?

I agree with Winter bear in that the Chinese beads suck.

Uhhh, . . . US Navy, . . . Navy Reserve, . . . Ohio Army National Guard, . . . never made it to the Corps. Fact of the matter is, . . . when I sincerely did go to see about joining, . . . door was locked, lights were out, nobody home, . . . so I boogied up the street and joined the Navy.

But, . . . . yeah, . . . that is one area that would follow along the lines of some of the NA beading that was done. But I'm for now holding out trying to see if I can find any examples of anything done by the Powhatan tribe. I understand they were fairly big into wampum belts and the like, . . . but again I would like to let whatever is done be at least influenced by at least one original design.

From what I understand, . . . Powhatan was actually a group that was part of the larger Algonquin nation.

May God bless,

Dwight

[WinterBear]

Dwight, you might enjoy these links then:

Wampum belt designer http://www.nativetech.org/beadwork/wampumgraph/index.html

http://www.kahnawakelonghouse.com/index.php?mid=2

http://www.ganondagan.org/wampum.html

A pair of glass bead wampum belt reproductions on this page http://www.warof1812rph.com/images-2/six-nations/

A nice reproduction of the George Washington Covenant Belt or the Canandaiagua Treaty Belt made by twining http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2010/06/wampum-belt-by-mariah-blake-for-robert.html

This is a good go-to site. All kinds of belts from reproduction to important historical pieces. I can spend hours here. http://www.wampumbear.com/P_The%20Wampum%20Cabinet%20Archive.html, take a look at the photos here too http://www.wampumbear.com/P_Wampum%20Photo%20Gallery.html

A google image search for the "Dust Fan", "Tadodaho", and "Hiawatha" belts will bring up some very large wide belts that are incredibly impressive.

Amazon has a nice book. The pictures are not the best, and it black and white, but the paterns can be made out, and there is quite a bit of history provided. http://www.amazon.com/Wampum-Belts-Iroquois-Tehanetorens-Fadden/dp/157067082X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387732287&sr=1-2 Pay no attention to the third review - false review by someone who thought they were being "funny".

[Dwight]

Thanks, Winterbear, . . . now to distill all the examples into one or two products, . . .

I think I need a nap.

May God bless,

Dwight