Native Beading - Beaded Strawberry

Today I was lucky to attend An Introduction to Native Beading at the ROM. This full day event was tied to the Anishinaabeg: Art & Power exhibit. As a group we were able to view the exhibit with our instructor, Naomi Smith of Black Tulip Designs. She was able to give us more details about some of the amazing beaded pieces on display.

Here are some pictures I took during our visit.

Details of a bandolier bag

Love the maple leaf on this bandolier bag

Beaded woman's hood

Beautiful beaded baby moccasins

Beaded Octopus Bag

Details of tentacles on octopus bag

Detail of the octopus bag

After our visit to the exhibit we returned to the class to start our beaded strawberries. Naomi's kits included all the needed beads and fabric. She had sewn together the fabric pieces for the body of the strawberry. We had to fill it with emery sand and sawdust and sew it close.

Empty Body of the Strawberry

Filled and Sewn Strawberry Body

Then it was lunchtime, yum!!

After lunch we learn how to attached the velveteen cap and embellish with beads.

Halfway around the cap with beaded embellishment

Once the embellishment was completed we learned to secure thread for the hanging loop.

Hanging loop added

 Secured a new length of thread and started to add the seeds to the body of the strawberry.

Halfway done seeding my strawberry with seed beads

 The last step is adding the tassels. Our kit included three antique basket beads for the tassels.

My finished beaded strawberry

 Here are some pictures of all the strawberries created during the class.

Overhead view of our strawberries

Another view of our class of strawberries

Thanks once again to Naomi, her helpers and the ROM.