Creative Native American Beading [Hardcover]

Theresa Flores Geary Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2005

Following her successful Native American Beadwork, Theresa Flores Geary offers another beautiful collection of traditional beaded projects. These exquisite items range from a Huichol Lace Sun Catcher (perfect for beginners) to an advanced-level Waterbird Pendant, from a simple Ladder Chain Bracelet to a Sun Rosette Medallion. An Indian Girl Trinket wears clothes styled after Apache camp dress, often decorated with sewn trim: she wears moccasins, a silver necklace, and turquoise jewelry. The Sage Bear Sachet combines a powerful animal symbol with the use of relaxing herbs. It's made of seed and bugle beads stitched onto leather or ultra suede. In addition to the patterns the guidance on technique, there's fascinating background information on the myths and legends that inspired each design. A Selection of the Crafters Choice Book Club.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Theresa Flores Geary, taught by her mother and elders from the San Carlos Apache tribe, has been creating beadwork since the age of fourteen. Besides making jewellery and other beaded objects, Theresa has developed a line of bead kits that she sells to museums, gift shops, and retail outlets throughout the USA. She also teaches beadwork classes, and is the author of "Native American Beadwork" (1402703309). The author lives in Arizona, USA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; 1St Edition edition (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402710771
• ISBN-13: 978-1402710773
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #407,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a retired clinical psyhologist with a long standing career in Tucson, Arizona. In my retirement, I am spending time writing books, beading and always looking for new bead art techniques. Another wonderful hobby is organic gardening and growing gourds, which I also love to bead. For the latest creative projects and gallery of friends, see www.beadbible.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative Native American Beading, June 9, 2005

By 

David R. Bingell "Labeadaloca" (Lakeside, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Native American Beading (Hardcover)

I have a Master's Degree in Museum Studies, and have devoted much of that study to the care and well-being of beadwork from all over the planet. I also interned at the Bead Museum in Glendale, AZ during the summer of 2000, where I learned much of this knowledge, but also I have worked for the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center in Omaha, Nebraska, where I learned preventive conservation techniques. I, myself, am an accomplished beadworker, and have found this book to be filled with many great designs and techniques; ranging from very simple, to difficult. The average beader will find this work to be most rewarding, while beginners and advanced beaders alike will definately learn something new. It is one of the best technical books out there, with lots of helpful, clear photographs.

I am familiar with many of the projects in the book, however, I immediately sat down and began working on the Blue Violet Flower pattern and fell in love with the outcome! Many of the projects are pieces you will find for sale on some reservations today, as I also worked for the White Mountain Apache Tribal Museum and Cultural Center -- and have seen them there first hand. The purchaser of this book is getting the authentic thing, and that is rewarding in a time when beadwork is moving further and further away from its Native roots.

Good Work Theresa!

David Bingell

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!, August 23, 2006

By 

JC (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Native American Beading (Hardcover)

I own many beading books, but this one is a favorite I go back to over and over for the beauty and originality of the designs, as well as for the clear instructions. Projects are suitable for beginners who want to build their skills, as well as for the more advanced. The designs are Native American in theme, yet with just enough of a modern twist to be unique and a great jumping off place for one's own designs. I highly recommend it!

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bead tales and design, September 2, 2005

By 

Leota Harriman (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Native American Beading (Hardcover)

"Beadwork has an amazing history through the millennia. Even with so many brilliant examples of beadwork found on all continents except Antarctica, the Native American style of beading remains extremely popular worldwide. It is characterized by bright colors, bold designs, and extravagant beauty with natural themes. Embedded in the designs are symbols of spiritual significance to the native cultures originating them."

"People who do beadwork readily acknowledge that their beads 'speak' to them. Beads are like letters that are merely abstract symbols for composing words of human expression. They form a universal language that appears to cross all cultures."

from Native American Beadwork, Theresa Flores Geary

Theresa Flores Geary weaves tales and plant lore with drawings and patterns, as well as practical advice like how to finish your knots, in two lavishly illustrated books on Native American beading techniques and projects. She also nourishes a creative space with plenty of opportunity for improvisation and design on the part of the beader.

Much of a beader's time is spent looking closely at beads. Full-color photographs throughout the books breathe detail into the process of creating about three dozen beaded projects for beginners to advanced beadworkers. The photographs include finished beadwork pieces by many artists, as well as close-up shots of the bead projects at various stages of completion and diagrams which are easy to understand.

Of Tewa and Aztec ancestry, Geary started doing beadwork at 14, taught by her mother, Anna Flores, and later received advanced instruction from elders of the San Carlos Apache tribe while working as a clinical psychologist. For the past ten years she has devoted herself to full-time beadwork, writing books and teaching.

About a project with a traditional Thunderbird pattern, Geary writes: "A famous Kiowa poet, N. Scott Momaday, describes a different beast that roams the sky during a thunderstorm... Momaday's beast has a horse's head and a fish's tail. From its mouth lightning flashes, and its tail embodies the hot wind of a tornado. During a particularly violent monsoon-like season in southern Arizona, his description comes to life."

Geary's descriptions bring to life many projects, including a round peyote-stitched hatband for advanced beaders, Apache weave (or brick stitch) earrings, loom designs, Huichol lace, miniature ears of corn using a corn stitch, and eyeglass and badge holders. The range of designs makes the book useful to experienced beaders and to those just starting out. Lists of materials and instructions are clear, and most show ways that the patterns can be adapted to other projects.

Some of the stories Geary spins are old and pass on culture, and some are new, told in a clear and personal voice. The whole is a delightful how-to on beading techniques for any level of experience in a rich cultural context.