| Beadwork is the art or craft of | | | | American traditional cultural arts. |
| attaching beads to one another or to | | | | Jewelry |
| cloth using a needle and thread. | | | | Each piece of jewellery, in its shape, |
| Beadwork is the most traditional form of | | | | patterns, and colors, speaks of the |
| Indian art. Beadwork is often found only | | | | wearer's culture. Those using beading as |
| on prestige items due to its costly | | | | a hobby can derive satisfaction from |
| labor intensive demands. Beadwork is the | | | | being able to make simple beaded |
| form a woman will often choose when a | | | | jewellery for grandchildren or friends. |
| most special gift is called for; the | | | | Beading activities in therapy have been |
| beaded object is love made visible. | | | | associated mostly with children, but |
| Today's modern beaders are using | | | | with the surge in popularity of beaded |
| traditional beads and material to create | | | | jewellery over the last several years, |
| their own jewelry, including necklaces, | | | | beadwork has become an acceptable adult |
| bracelets, and ear rings. | | | | craft intervention. |
| Beads | | | | Beadwork is also used in purses, |
| Beads were carved and shaped of animal | | | | jewellery, picture frames and other |
| horn, turtle shell, and deer hooves, and | | | | whimsies. Most of the finest beadwork is |
| even modern plastics. Beads have also | | | | still done only for relatives and gift |
| been used for religious purposes, as | | | | giveaways. With a host of different |
| good luck talismans, and as curative | | | | styles, colors, materials and crafting |
| agents. Beads range in size from under a | | | | techniques, Native American Beadwork is |
| millimeter to over a centimeter. Beads | | | | known for its beauty, its craftsmanship, |
| are truly universal, and are among the | | | | however it plays a crucial role in the |
| oldest items manufactured by humans. | | | | ceremonies and traditions of the Native |
| Native | | | | American people as well as helps |
| Native women were inspired to invent | | | | preserve the culture and traditions of |
| beadwork techniques unknown to | | | | the numerous tribes within North |
| Europeans, as well as beautiful and | | | | America. It is sometimes difficult to |
| sometimes spiritually or | | | | decide whether beadwork is a craft, an |
| historically-inspired culturally unique | | | | art, a communicational system similar in |
| designs. Native American beadwork can be | | | | principle to a written language or part |
| carved from shells, coral, stones, | | | | of a symbolic code used for their own |
| animal bones and other materials, | | | | purposes by specialists in traditional |
| reflecting the Native Americans deep | | | | magic. We here in America should |
| relationship with the earth and mother | | | | acknowledge a debt of gratitude to |
| nature. Native American beadwork | | | | Native Americans (as the closest people |
| examples have been found for centuries, | | | | to us, with unique and outstanding |
| dating back to their arrival in North | | | | beadwork traditions), while respecting |
| America long before the first of what | | | | the facts that the new beadwork is not |
| would be many settlers arrived in the | | | | of itself "Indian", nor necessarily |
| late 1400's from Europe and elsewhere. | | | | "Indian-based", and that beadwork |
| Native American Indian beadwork is one | | | | everywhere is admirable. |
| of the finest expressions of Native | | | | |