Show Us Your BEAD WORK, Pards

[Firewind]

Hi guys, greetings from Europe. Just stumbled upon this thread, lots of talent here, and thought I'd share some of my modest work, hope you enjoy.

This piece is a recreation of a beaded trade blanket from the second half of the 19th century, in a typical style of the Northern Cheyenne. The blanket itself is a 4-point size, 75×90″. The strip is over 6′.

The strip is beaded using the lane stitch technique onto Canadian deerskin with pure cotton thread, and sewn onto the blanket with 100% red wool. All seed beads are vintage Salvadori and antique Venetian, in traditional Cheyenne colors: white, Bodmer Blue (translucent), Cheyenne Pink, light blue, corn yellow, catlinite red.

The rosettes are complemented in typical Cheyenne style with twisted deerskin dangles, ornamented with antique Venetian crow beads in cobalt blue and Cheyenne Pink, brass beads, antique brass thimbles, and antique dark blue French silk ribbon.

The finished piece was smoked over a campfire, with white sage, juniper and cedar.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks for sharing, Firewind. That's some fine beadwork. Nice work.

[Firewind]

Thanks for sharing, Firewind. That's some fine beadwork. Nice work.

Many thanks Will. 

[Silver_Rings]

Howdy Firewind,

That is some fine bead work.

Silver Rings

[Firewind]

Howdy Firewind,

That is some fine bead work.

Silver Rings

Thx Sir, much appreciated.

[KidTerico]

  This is my latest. Not done yet . I am having it matted and framed. KT

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Nice work Kid 

tEN wOLVES 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Very nice, KT. I have yet to do any bead work. It looks like it could be fun.

[KidTerico]

Thanks T W and Marshal Will. Its a pain in the BUTT. I cant see very good and shake way to much. It takes  for ever. KT

[KidTerico]

Finally done. I got it framed. KT

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Looks good, KT. Thanks for sharing the pic.

[KidTerico]

Thanks Marshal Will. KT

[Ben Beam]

I'm inspired by such beautiful work, and may give it a try myself. I noted that on close ups of many of the pieces that there's some staining to the beads that gives them a very aged/rustic appearance, and was curious if this is because they are vintage beads or if people are doing something to stain them?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I believe the newer beads are brighter in color than the originals. Also, some people may soak them in something to stain them slightly. I wouldn't know what would stain a glass bead very well, though. If you look on ebay you may be able to find some of the vintage ones.

[Ben Beam]

This beautiful piece from the first page of this post shows what I'm talking about well: see on the beads that some have brown staining:

[Graveyard Jack]

I'm inspired by such beautiful work, and may give it a try myself. I noted that on close ups of many of the pieces that there's some staining to the beads that gives them a very aged/rustic appearance, and was curious if this is because they are vintage beads or if people are doing something to stain them?

You can't stain glass after-the-fact and it doesn't change color with age but I have been able to get some "crap" to stick to them and the leather they're sewn to to make it look more aged. Then it tends to wear off the high spots and the effect is really nice on an aged piece.

[Ben Beam]

Is this crap crap, or other crap? I'd rather not use crap crap if I don't have to.

[Graveyard Jack]

In this case the crap was Tandy's professional waterstain and/or antiquing gel. It's a little thicker than regular dye and has waxes in it.

I still want to experiment with other "crap" to see if it works better.

[1961MJS]

Very nice, KT. I have yet to do any bead work. It looks like it could be fun.

It looks EASY, but LOOKS ARE DECEIVING.  It was much easier to learn to carve the dang leather.  Line after line of seven beads, now hard can it be?  Well, them beads are small, they need to be purdy straight, using a beading needle to poke holes in the leather ain't gonna work, and the awl makes the hole too big.  Daughter didn't think much of the idea either and she was 26 at the time.

Later

[Marshal Will Wingam]

It looks EASY, but LOOKS ARE DECEIVING.  It was much easier to learn to carve the dang leather.  Line after line of seven beads, now hard can it be?  Well, them beads are small, they need to be purdy straight, using a beading needle to poke holes in the leather ain't gonna work, and the awl makes the hole too big.  Daughter didn't think much of the idea either and she was 26 at the time.

Later

Thanks for the input, there. I suspect that a specially made awl would be in order for that, then.