Speckledhen **Beading is DONE Pg 39**

[Scrambled Egg]

Cetawin!!!!

Girl, that is awesome!!! Beautiful work!!!!!

but what's up with the badger?!!! I would expect an indian princess or something mythological!! You must be incognito!! Anyway, your work is gorgeous!!!

 

[HorseFeathers]

Quote:
Thank you.

Ah yes there was a story/meaning behind the design.

The reason I chose to make a shield of sorts was because of the symbolic nature of the circle and Suede being a beloved pet. Also the shield is symbol of protection. So, my belief that our pets pass and crossover to wait for us in the afterlife or are reborn to come to us again in this lifetime, is represented. Suede was born to his life with Cyn, he will pass before her and crossover...she will see him again, maybe several times more in this lifetime as his spirit is reborn into another pet to live with her through her days...when she crosses over they shall be together again.

The 7 knots are very symbolic for me as the number is very sacred to my people. There are 7 clans of the Cherokee, 7 sacred ceremonies and 7 directions honored.

The Clans:

Aniwahya - 'Wolf' Clan
Anikawi - 'Deer' Clan
Ani Tsiskwa - "Bird" or "Small Bird' Clan
Anigilohi - 'Long Hair' Clan
Anisahoni - 'Blue' Clan
Anigatogewi - 'Wild Potato' Clan
Aniwodi - 'Paint' Clan sometimes called 'Red Paint Clan'

There ceremonies:

The First New Moon of Spring Ceremony
The Green Corn Ceremony - held in August
The Ripe Corn Ceremony - held in the end of September
The Great New Moon Ceremony - held in October
The Reconciliation Ceremony - held 10 days after Great New Moon
The Bounding Bush Ceremony
The Uku Dance replaced the Great New Moon Ceremony every 7th year

The directions:

The numbers 4 and 7 are sacred in relation to the directions. 4 representing the primary directions of North, South, East and West with the Sacred Fire in the center, where they meet.

7 Represents the 7 directions honored by the Cherokee, north, south, east, west, above, below, and "here in the center", the place of the sacred fire.


So, when I look at Suede's picture, hear him crowing, talk to Cyn about his him, his behavior and demeanor, I get a "feel" for his spirit, or him. I feel strength, loyalty, devotion, gentleness, a guardian and lovable. I see those things in the design and the strength of it. So, as silly or weird as it may seem to some or many, I actually prayed long and hard about the design. I sat my little butt outside in the wee morning hours (cold too lol), and I prayed for guidance and meaning. I did that 7 mornings...each time facing a new direction. Then I sat down to sketch it.

I can only imagine what someone may think by reading all of that...but it so much a part of who I am, how I was raised and where I came from that to me, it is normal. Some people go to church on Sunday pray....I sit in the woods before the Creator each morning, seek advice and guidance. I put so much of heart and soul into a gift I create that it is important to me that it has the right purpose and comes from a good place. I can think of no better place for it to come from than my heart and my beliefs.

I am not beneath picking up a rock and talking to it...it is old and has seen many things...it is wise. You would be surprised what you can learn from a rock. As children we are sat on a rock to contemplate our actions or behavior.

Sorry this was so long and filled with information many may not care to read. But in short...yes there is a long story behind the design and the gift itself.

Wow. I do not have Native American roots (I wish) but I am very into spirit animals and/or totems. Mine is an Osprey.

 

[gypsy2621]

Quote:
Thank you.

Ah yes there was a story/meaning behind the design.

The reason I chose to make a shield of sorts was because of the symbolic nature of the circle and Suede being a beloved pet. Also the shield is symbol of protection. So, my belief that our pets pass and crossover to wait for us in the afterlife or are reborn to come to us again in this lifetime, is represented. Suede was born to his life with Cyn, he will pass before her and crossover...she will see him again, maybe several times more in this lifetime as his spirit is reborn into another pet to live with her through her days...when she crosses over they shall be together again.

The 7 knots are very symbolic for me as the number is very sacred to my people. There are 7 clans of the Cherokee, 7 sacred ceremonies and 7 directions honored.

The Clans:

Aniwahya - 'Wolf' Clan
Anikawi - 'Deer' Clan
Ani Tsiskwa - "Bird" or "Small Bird' Clan
Anigilohi - 'Long Hair' Clan
Anisahoni - 'Blue' Clan
Anigatogewi - 'Wild Potato' Clan
Aniwodi - 'Paint' Clan sometimes called 'Red Paint Clan'

There ceremonies:

The First New Moon of Spring Ceremony
The Green Corn Ceremony - held in August
The Ripe Corn Ceremony - held in the end of September
The Great New Moon Ceremony - held in October
The Reconciliation Ceremony - held 10 days after Great New Moon
The Bounding Bush Ceremony
The Uku Dance replaced the Great New Moon Ceremony every 7th year

The directions:

The numbers 4 and 7 are sacred in relation to the directions. 4 representing the primary directions of North, South, East and West with the Sacred Fire in the center, where they meet.

7 Represents the 7 directions honored by the Cherokee, north, south, east, west, above, below, and "here in the center", the place of the sacred fire.


So, when I look at Suede's picture, hear him crowing, talk to Cyn about his him, his behavior and demeanor, I get a "feel" for his spirit, or him. I feel strength, loyalty, devotion, gentleness, a guardian and lovable. I see those things in the design and the strength of it. So, as silly or weird as it may seem to some or many, I actually prayed long and hard about the design. I sat my little butt outside in the wee morning hours (cold too lol), and I prayed for guidance and meaning. I did that 7 mornings...each time facing a new direction. Then I sat down to sketch it.

I can only imagine what someone may think by reading all of that...but it so much a part of who I am, how I was raised and where I came from that to me, it is normal. Some people go to church on Sunday pray....I sit in the woods before the Creator each morning, seek advice and guidance. I put so much of heart and soul into a gift I create that it is important to me that it has the right purpose and comes from a good place. I can think of no better place for it to come from than my heart and my beliefs.

I am not beneath picking up a rock and talking to it...it is old and has seen many things...it is wise. You would be surprised what you can learn from a rock. As children we are sat on a rock to contemplate our actions or behavior.

Sorry this was so long and filled with information many may not care to read. But in short...yes there is a long story behind the design and the gift itself.

Thank You for Answering Ceta,
I knew there was something behind the design.
There is never too much infornation when it comes to heritage and how things come together.
I had an old Aunt who is Lakota Souix who refered to all designs and patterns as maps to the soul.
I tend to forget now days the correct term is design or pattern and tell one of the kids to get me a map for a particular project. They look at me weird, At my age I am not going to change terms for the younger generation lol. yep stubborn.

 

[Cetawin]

LOL I hear ya. Your Aunt wa correct...the Lakota well all the Souix are wonderful beadworkers and quillworkers. Bead patterns are made for a specific person. I can take months designing a pattern for someone's regalia...because that must be unique to them, hold meaning for them and be the same on all the items.

 

[GracefulBantams]

It's just beautiful!

But of course, you had a very handsome subject

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

Cetawin - out of curiosity I weighted one of my beaded bags last night and it weighted in at 6.76 ozs. Wondering if you went grocery shopping yet.

Have you ever seen any pictures of any Victorian Pictorial Beaded purses? They are made with size 22 micro beads. They were done on a fine canvas and up to 1000 beads per square inch. It's a lost art - glad to see that you are keeping the art of beading going in your very special pieces.

Sandee

 

[Cetawin]

Nope have not taken him shopping yet. I am going to get a me accurate weight on him though. LOL

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

Quote:
Just for the fun of it, thought you might like to see a picture of the purses I was talking about. Here is the link. You would have had to have had really good eye site. I have some of these beads they are no bigger then gains of sand.

http://www.antiquepeek.com/Purse_micro_beaded.htm

Sandee

 

[Cetawin]

Oh nice. Yes I know all about those tiny beads. I did a fully beaded toy horse and travois, cradleboard, quiver and etc in size 22 and 15 beads. never again! Sie 13 and some 15s is as small as I mess with anymore. LOL

This is a live horse but the one with the tiny beads was a breyer horse and all the other items tiny tiny

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Absolutely GORGEOUS!!!