Show Us Your BEAD WORK, Pards

[Marshal Will Wingam]

A friend of mine is interested in doing some historically correct beadwork. That got me to thinking, we don't really have a thread just for that so, let's start one. Let's get those beautiful examples in one place. Post pics of your bead work here, pards.

[Camano Ridge]

Some "how to's" on bead work would be nice too. Chuck, KT, and Randy where are you?

[dwight55]

I'll jump in there:  totally period incorrect, . . . but it qualifies to the extent that it has 2400 beads I personally put on all by my little old self, . . . along with a half spool of dental floss.

It is on the end of a suede gun bag for a rolling block 45-70, . . . so I think most of the shooting world will forgive my political incorrectness.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Looks good, Dwight. You know, it's amazing how many beads it takes for some of these pieces. Thanks for the pic.

[Mogorilla]

I have done limited beading.   There is a great tutorial for it on PaleoPlanet. 
(http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/)

This is a braintan Apace inspired Rifle sheath I did.  Sewed with sinew, lined with trade wool, fairly period correct, but the beading design was the clients, his science/math team symbol.  Nerds, we're everywhere.



Here it is with two others of mine.  The beads here are purchased ones.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks for the link and photos, Mo. The beads really go good with all that fringe. 

[Graveyard Jack]

If I can ever get caught up on holster orders, I'm gonna dive head first into the beadwork. I've done a couple practice pieces but have no finished work. Gotta crap-ton of beads and books.

[ChuckBurrows]

A buffalo hunter's sheath with Cheyenne style beadwork


A pipe bag and pipe tamper with early (pre-1850] Cheyenne style beadwork

top of the pipe bag


a couple of gun cases and a sling with Crow style beadwork





A strike-a-light pouch copied from a Kiowa original


A close copy of an original Cheyenne quiver and bow case


A tomahawk drop or sometimes called flag - one side Cheyenne style geometric work - other side floral Metis style



A "medicine" bag for a friend - the pouch shape and some of the beadwork is copied directly from a Cheyenne  original -  I added several other bits and pieces of beadwork from other original Cheyenne pieces of the same era (1850's)
   

   

and sometimes less is more - a simple skipped bead outline motif on the sheath


I use 8/0 pound beads for most of my work which is most often pre-1860. Some beads are originals from the 19th Century while others are new old style stock from Crazy Crow. All beadwork is sewn directly onto the leather - either real braintan or the German tan from Crazy Crow - or wool trade cloth. Stitches used most are the Cheyenne style lane stitch (formerly lazy stitch) and the embroidery/applique stitch for floral or certain tribal styles such as Crow or Blackfoot. Crow work will often use 3 different stitches for different areas/effects.
For thread I use:
1) real sinew - elk or buffalo preferred, but deer will work
2) narrow imitation sinew - split in two
3) Cotton covered poly thread
4) Silk thread - my favorite and what I use on high end bench copies. I use fishing pole binding silk thread.


Along with the tutorial noted above see:
www.nativetech.org under glass beads http://www.nativetech.org/glasbead/glasbead.html
Also WIlliam Orchard's book - Beads and beadwork of the American Indians : a study based on specimens in the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation - is available for free download here:
https://archive.org/details/beadsbeadworkofa00orch

My best suggestion for learning is to pick a particular tribal style or two and copy the originals as close as possible. Once you're comfortable doing that working on coming up with your own patterns based on those styles. Generally the various tribal styles are post-1860 and are seldom if ever mixed - keep to one style until you're really familiar with the differences and how they may mix under certain circumstances.

[Blair]

Chuck,

The art work... I just can't say enough!
Thanks for sharing.
My best,
Blair

[Camano Ridge]

Chuck, thanks for the how to info. Great looking bead work.

[Mike]

I think i have just had a over load of envy. What great items. Please show more.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Beautiful stuff, Chuck. As always, you raise the bar with your work. Thanks for the information and pics.

I sticky'd this thread so we can find it easily. Since there are good links and helpful hints in it, I also put a link in the 'HOW-TO' thread.

[Major 2]

in addition to the fine work, Chuck's composition poses & photography is FIRST rate

I've said it before..."Bears repeating"  I'd be the 1st. in line to buy a book or 2 with his art .....

[KidTerico]

I have sold all my bead work along with almost every thing else so I only have a few to show. The first is a bag Chuck made for me and I think it is one of his best pieces. The sheath and bag is all I have left of what I made. KT

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks, KT. Yeah, those pieces are definitely of his best.

[KidTerico]

Thanks Marshal, the first bag is the one Chuck made and the other three were made by me. KT

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Nice work, KT. I guess I have to read a little better.  Those look good.

[KidTerico]

Marshal   I love it when someone is getting old besides me. KT

[Highlander999]

My First Effort at trying bead work.  I so wanted a nice scabbard for either my 1866 or Sharps.  I never totally finished it

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Cool, H999. Looks good.