Beadwork has been steadily gaining popularity among crafters, and no area of the genre garners more interest than the intricate designs of the Apache, Comanche, and Lakota peoples of the
American Southwest, who use their designs to relate legends and pass down tribal lore. Here are 15 authentic projects using such traditional stitches as the flat netting technique, flat and
circular peyote stitches, the Comanche weave, free-form feathering, and more. Projects include a Leather Medicine Bag, a triple strand Fetish Necklace, a Kokopellia Amulet Bag, Navajo Corn
Earrings, and others, each accompanied by a rich explanation of how the colors, shapes and combinations of materials interact to tell a story. The instructions cover tools, choosing
materials, special ceremonial beadwork and using a loom to create special effects, while abundant color photographs and illustrations provide a visual guide to an art form that reflects the
spectacular natural beauty of the Southwest.
