The Complete Guide To Traditional Native American Beadwork

A definitive study of authentic tools, materials, techniques, and styles.

Though often dismissed as coincidence, chance, or "hunches," many people experience visions (realities beyond one's current space and/or time). Through meditation and unconditional love, Pebbles from the Path teaches readers to recognize and explore visions in daily life. Presenting insights gained through his own consciousness work, John details the simple techniques he has used to discover and explore visions. This book is designed to allow readers to journal their insights and own their discoveries as they explore their spiritual path. Among the topics covered: -Attaining and sustaining a meditative state -Understanding the limits of meditation -Dealing with disruptions during meditation -Identifying visions -Knowing and sharing unconditional love (agendaless love) -Journaling to honestly explore visions -Sharing visions -Sending in the Angels -Questioning visions and dealing with errors Also included is a collection of John's visions, how he dealt with the people involved, and the insights he gained.

Beadwork has been steadily gaining popularity among crafters, and no area of the genre garners more interest than the intricate designs of the Apache, Comanche, and Lakota peoples of the American Southwest, who use their designs to relate legends and pass down tribal lore. Here are 15 authentic projects using such traditional stitches as the flat and circular peyote stitches, the Comanche weave, free-form feathering, and more. Each project is accompanied by a rich explanation of how the colors, shapes, and combinations of materials interact to tell a story. Abundant color photographs and illustrations guide the reader through this unique art form.

Full-color photographs illustrate the rich art of Native American beadwork in this combination practical how-to and coffee-table book. A historical perspective explains how and why beadwork is produced and what techniques are popular today. Clear and concise directions show how to produce beadwork in the Native American tradition, including lane stitch, loom, applique, gourd stitch, and Comanche brickwork. An illustrated gallery showcases historical and contemporary beadwork. Also included is information on research, tools, and materials.

"I can think of no recent book about traditional crafts which has delighted me more than Joel Monture's Complete Guide to Traditional Native American Beadwork. All too often, books of this nature are either as boring as a repair manual, or obscure and inaccurate. Monture's triumph is that his book is not only the best and most complete book about virtually every aspect of Native American beadwork tools, materials, styles and methods, it is also clear, interesting reading. Written from the point of view of a Native master craftsman who is also a gifted teacher, and accompanied by striking full-color photos, it can serve as either a beginning point or a lifelong reference tool. I am confident that Monture's book will bring him wide praise, not only from beadworkers, but also from any person who delights in knowing more about the meaning and the history of an indigenous artform which is finally attracting the sort of critical attention and informed appreciation it deserves." --Joseph Bruchac, author of Keepers of the Earth * Includes all the basic stitches and designs * Contains a special section on natural tanning methods * Extensive glossary * Full-color photos of authentic Native American beadwork

This start-to-finish guide enables even beginners to create beautiful beadwork based on designs that originated with the Chippewa, Iroquois, Pawnee, Seminole, Winnebago, and other tribes. Step-by-step instructions include diagrams for 71 patterns. Patterns include stars, geometrics, sunbursts, flowers, and other motifs for two types of traditional applications: bead weaving and applique weaving.

Keywords include: bandolier, bannock, beading bags, Blackfoot, blanket strips, breaking beads, breech cloth, Chippewa-Cree, contemporary stitch, Crow beads, Earth Maker, fur trade, half leggings, hexigon beads, knife sheath, looms, quillwork, saddle bags, tobacco bags.