Iroquois Style Raised Beadwork

If at first you don't succeed...

My first attempts at this magnificent bead embroidery style developed by the Iroquois Nation people. Women of the Mohawk and Seneca tribes perfected this technique to achieve a thee dimensional look to their finished pieces. Some designs are as much as an inch high above the surface area.

More beads than are required are used to form a "arch" over the pattern area. Getting it just right isn't as easy as it looks, as I soon discover. I'm hoping to learn this beautiful style from someone who knows and understands it. Are you out there, master?

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• beading
• bead
• embroidery
• iroquois
• raised
• beadwork
• seed
• beads
• mohawk
• seneca
• tutorial
• instructions
• howto
• crafts
• how-to

[Kawench]

LMAO @ threatening you....please, you wish! Yes we preserved and hid OUR work for so long, that's our business! You're just another WHITE WOMAN trying to be like us...don't bother writing back, you're wasting your time!

[tsummerlee]

@Kawench You're an abusive nut. Get help.

[Kawench]

I don't have to learn anything "NEW", like the women of my Nation, I have perfected this style of work. I do what I know. I am not alone on this, most Kanienkeha'ka and Tuscarora women are stingey with our work, especially when we worked so hard to preserve it, and along comes a youtube video showing the world how to half ass our work....do your homework before you post any more beading videos

[LeiDeVine]

@tsummerlee I'm Cayuga and I was ALWAYS raised that beading, patterns and techniques were ALWAYS to stay in our family and anyone who gave out those secrets and taught our ways to those who were not of our blood were shunned. It's a sign of great disrespect in my household to be doing what you are doing.

[debican01]

Is someone being a bit prejusice (mispelled)? Oh, it's okay for them but not us WHITE folks. You are doing such a great job with this and love learning from you. I will try all your tips and tricks. Hugs, Debi

[tsummerlee]

@LeiDeVine That's just dumb.

[tsummerlee]

@LeiDeVine Maybe you should read the whole thing in context, then. That might be helpful.

[LeiDeVine]

@tsummerlee Im sorry but all I saw was "white people" in this whole damn reply. I think it's funny you're claiming her to be poor, uneducated and taught to be a victim all while trying to teach yourself how to bead like her.....oh the Irony.

[LeiDeVine]

@Kawench Amen to that...In reality she could never know how to do our work and the techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation. No white person could EVER know the true techniques.

[tsummerlee]

@Kawench Its my time to waste, isn't it? Or are you trying to control that, too? I'm sure you're sitting in some public library (funded by white people,) using high technology (developed and purchased by white people,) because you've been taught (by non-white people) that you're a helpless victim. And because you've done such a shitty job of making a living from your beadwork, and because you didn't get enough hugs from your daddy, you're entitled to tell me what to do, or not to do.

[tsummerlee]

@Kawench Or what? Are you threatening me? You've preserved and hidden your work so well, no one knows about it, and that's a shame. Instead of hatin' on me, why not make a video with me instead? I'm game. And just so you know, it was women from the Niagara Nations who spoke up, excited to tell me about their mothers, grandmothers, aunts and family friends who loved to make these things. I still get two or three messages a month from Mohawk and Iroquois ladies wanting to help.