Beaded Coin Purse

[Inna]

The object on the right is a beaded coin purse I made as a Christmas present for my friend.
I really hope she likes it.
The unfinished object on the left is an amulet bag for my friend's Mom. I hope she likes her present too.
The backs are just white leather. The images are supposed to be the lotus flower.

[halfjackd]

Wow, those are gorgeous!  I especially adore the one on the right.  Your friend is lucky to have you!

[spurtiic]

Wow...how did you do that? Did you make the bag it goes on or did you buy it already made and just use needle and thread?  I'm clueless.
Those are very pretty! 

[Inna]

My friend in high school was Saulteux Indian and her Mom wanted to pass along her crafty heritage - of course her daughters wanted nothing to do with their heritage so she taught me instead. I have searched for it on the internet and I think it is called bead embroidery. What you do is string beads on one thread and sew them down with another thread - like couching in embroidery. It's really simple to do - you do the outlines first and then fill in the centers - larger/simpler motifs work best. The beads are sewn to a piece of felt and then when the motif is finished you sew the "patch" onto something else. I happened to sew the "patch" onto two pieces of leather that were cut to fit the patch - added a zipper and then stitched around the edges with a picot beaded edge technique. This is how my high school friends Mom made beaded string bolo ties, bun covers, hair elastic amulets, and moccasin tops. She was a really amazing teacher. It's too bad her daughters were ashamed of their heritage.

[XbelovedXoneX]

those are amazing!
it sounds fairly easy to do, but i think it's one of those things i'd have to see be done in order to do it. i'm such a visual learner!

[CrazeeMoi]

That is beautiful!!  And its wonderful of you to carry on the heritage!!  (yes, what a shame to be ashamed of a heritage)  Maybe some day,  they will grow up and  see the good of it,  not just the bad.    Anyway,   those are just beautiful!!

[JKaz]

Those are both gorgeous!
And my first thought was, "Are those lotus flowers?" so you did a fantastic job!

I wish I had someone to teach me how to do something like that. Your explanation sounds like it's easy.. but I'd have to see someone do it before I even attempted it.

[Inna]

I couldn't find much on how to do this technique on-line - I have read some books in the library on native crafts that were wonderful.

http://www.turtletrack.org/Issues01/Co03102001/CO_03102001_Beading2.htm
http://www.nativetech.org/glasbead/glasapli.html
http://www.kstrom.net/isk/art/beads/art_bea2.html

[arrhythmia]

Very beautiful. Awesome to be able to carry on a tradition.

[smarmyclothes]

gorgeous!