I have been working on a Native American costume for a long time now. I don't really know how long but I know I have had the saddle tree for at least a couple of years. Part of the reason they are so hard is there is a lack of documentation out there. You have to know where to look (I still only know a little bit) photos are hard to come by and good documentation is essential to a good live show entry. So part of what I have been doing all this time is trying to come up with sources for information. I ended up picking up a great book for information called Native American Saddlery and Trappings. It's actually a paper doll book but it is very informative as well. That and I got a book on Native American bead weaving.
I did actually start trying to do a beaded costume. I have the bead loom, the super tiny delica beads (I think that's what they are anyway) and I got a few inches of bead work done. I realized something important about that time. I really hate doing bead work. *sigh* so I put the project aside for awhile and thought about it some more. I also wasn't sure how I would do the beading on pieces that were not exactly rectangle.
So after awhile I decided that I would paint the designs on the costume. Native Americans often did this for real so I figured it was OK for me to do it. And let me tell you, even when you are "just" painting on the designs it take a long time. But I think it was worth it, here's my finished costume.
Here is the picture that I mostly copies for the costume I made. The saddle blanket I made was from another crow saddle so hopefully that won't give me trouble. I didn't make the stirrup decorations or the pommel flaps but the rest I did. With more fringe because I like fringe, lol. I like the way the costume came out and I will be happy to show it but I don't imagine I will be making another Native American costume any time soon. Now I need to get some dolls...
4 comments:
Very nice! I don't think it's really possible to do beads small enough to really be in scale so I think painting is a better idea.
I have that book, too. I bought it more than a decade ago and someday I might even put it to use! :)
BTW, your costume looks great!
In scale is always an important thing to me. I have seen some TINY beads but they are still "big" in model horse scale.
Thanks for the compliment Jen. I think I got the book because you recommended it on your blog. I'm not positive about that one though, lol.
The native-americantack group on yahoo was started by a fellow hobbyist just for that reason. There are lots of photos for documentation on there. It's awesome! And you can ask questions about anything. Sometimes it's the blind leading the blind, but often we figure stuff out ;). Beautiful set!
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