Arts & Crafts

For generations wampum, the beaded belts and strings created from drilled shells and porcupine quills, have been used for personal decorations as well as official purposes and religious ceremonies. Wampum was introduced to the Iroquois at the time of the founding of the League of the Five Nations by Hiawatha, who taught the Five Nations that wampum should bring peace and bind peace and take the place of blood. Wampum came to be regarded as sacred. No Iroquois individual or nation would think of breaking a word or treaty if the treaty was made over a sacred wampum belt.

For the true connoisseur or the amateur collector of Native American crafts, this book is a comprehensive, well-illustrated resource for anyone wishing to recreate or study the beautifully decorated Plains-style knife sheaths of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Based on over 25 years of research and craftsmanship, the author describes the many styles and variations of Plains sheaths and offers complete step-by-step instructions.

Learn about the origins and history of the modern fancy dance and how it evolved into the styles of today. Step-by-step instructions of the techniques and materials used to create the basic regalia and accessories for each dance are concise and easy-to-follow. The text is complemented by black and white photographs of early dancers and beautiful color photographs of modern dancers.

Finger weaving, also called Indian braiding, dates back hundreds of years. The author, an experienced teacher of finger weaving, first introduces you to the basic techniques and patterns of the North American Plains and Woodlands Indians such as the diagonal, chevron, double chevron, diamond, double diamond, lightning, double lightning and arrow-head designs.

Author Gerald Findley has spent many years studying, reproducing, and teaching the art of fingerweaving, and he shares his expertise through these many pages of illustrations and descriptions. Each technique is simply described step by step, with a color illustration for each move.

What at first might seem like a complicated craft becomes pleasantly clear as the introduction of each technique is built on the one previously completed. One of the easiest-to-follow books ever published on this craft. Beautiful color illustrations throughout.

This book is in a class by itself. The author not only covers the rudiments of bead work, but also reveals the techniques he has learned from his extensive experience as a bead worker. This volume covers bead work found among the western Plains Indians, both past and present, and includes step-by-step color photographs and illustrations for each project.

Features dozens of full-color photos of first-rate Indian and non-Indian made beadwork from museums, private collections, and today's marketplace. This book is an artful contribution to the craft of bead working.

Originally written to encourage craft workers among the divisions of the Blackfoot Nation to learn the traditional styles of their own People's culture, this book is a collection of photographs of various articles of clothing, robes, toys, moccasins, instruments, bags, dresses, vests, and more that have been displayed in various museums throughout North America. Also included is basic information on sewing and the kinds of stitches used.

For centuries the Cherokee people have been renowned for their fine craft work. This is one of the first books to present examples of Cherokee baskets, pottery, woodcraft, beadwork, and more. Accompanying text describes the methods and techniques Cherokee craftsmen use to create their various crafts.

This catalog of Plains Indian material culture is a wonderful reference source for anyone in learning about the Plains Indian lifestyle. Richard green's enclosed exhibition traces the evolution of Plains Indian art and culture from early times to the present, and includes material from a wide range of tribal groups. This book includes over two hundred color photos of exhibit pieces and other items, along with many black and white photographs from the early 1900s.

Navajo Ceremonial Baskets provides an intimate look at the seminal importance of the ceremonial basket in Navajo culture. Each color, each stitch represents an aspect of nature, life, the people, and their ancestral beginnings. The baskets and the ceremonies in which they are used are essential to the well-being, balance, and harmony of both individuals and the community.