Beading and Bracelets

Friendship Bracelets, Native American (Navajo & Apache) Patterns,

and Project Inspiration & Objectives

Friendship Bracelets

History, Origins, and Color Symbolism

History & Origin of Friendship BraceletsKnot-tying arts have developed

independently in different parts of the world. Some of the earliest decorative knots from China still in existence today are from the period 481 to 221 B.C., according to the County of Middlesex Cultural and Heritage Commission. Over time, the Chinese developed many uses for knots, including clothing decoration, buttons and household objects.

Macrame, a craft of tying knots to create intricate patterns, is said to have developed in 13th-century Arabia. Arabian weavers are thought to have started creating knotted patterns with the fringe at the edges of items made on a loom. In following centuries, the practice traveled to Italy and France. Sailors picked up this knot-tying practice

to pass the time at sea. To this day, the basic knots used in macrame are the same knots that are an invaluable part of the sailors' knot-tying repertoire: the half knot, the square knot and the half hitch knot.

Macrame became popular in 19th-century Britain and was revived in the U.S. in the 1960s; although its popularity waned in the following decades, macrame appeared alive and well during the beginning of the 21st century.

Life Script suggests that the friendship bracelet is a direct descendant of Central American Indian crafts. The friendship bracelet first appeared in the U.S. during the 1970s when it was popular to wear ethnic items.

List of sources at the end of slideshow.

[purpose]

Meaning of Friendship Bracelets

1. According to Central and South American Indian tradition, you tie a bracelet onto the wrist of a friend who may wish for something at that moment. The bracelet should be worn until it is totally worn-out and falls off by itself, at which moment the wish is supposed to come true.

2. A friendship bracelet is given as a sign of friendship. It is intended to be tied on the wrist of a friend and worn continually as a symbol of lasting friendship.

I have found 2 different versions… You can choose whichever suits you or your purpose for making it better

List of sources at the end of slideshow.

Are the colors of the bracelets significant?

MakingFriends.com suggests selecting colors for a friendship bracelet that reflect the character traits of the intended recipient:

List of sources at the end of slideshow.

• Pink -- kind • Red -- honest • Orange -- energetic • Yellow -- cheerful

• Green -- responsible • Blue -- loyal • Black -- strong

[purpose]

Native American Patterns

Apache bead patterns&

Navajo rugs

View the following images to inspire your own creation

[performance]

Native American Patterns: Apache

Note: These patterns contain many rows (strings), but can be adjusted to work with fewer rows (strings).

[performance]

Native American Patterns: Apache

Note: These patterns contain many rows (strings), but can be adjusted to work with fewer rows (strings).

[performance]

Native American Patterns: Apache

Note: These patterns contain many rows (strings), but can be adjusted to work with fewer rows (strings).

[performance]

Native American Patterns: Navajo rugs

[performance]

Native American Patterns: Navajo rugs

[performance]Native American Patterns: Navajo rugs

[performance]Native American Patterns: Navajo rugs

[purpose] objectives & goals:

Students will…

Learn of the origin of Friendship Bracelets

Study Native American patterns and Apache Indian culture

Create 2 different pieces using paper beads (Details on next slide)

Create a homemade loom

On graph paper, plan an original pattern inspired by Native American patterns

Create a seed bead bracelet on a loom in the planned pattern

[purpose]

Paper Bead Options:

Column A Patterned necklace using paper

beads only–simple stringing method

Patterned bracelet using paper beads only–simple stringing method

Set of earrings–simple stringing method

Keychain using paper beads only–simple stringing method

Objective: Create 2 different pieces using paper beads

Select 1 from each column, or 2 from Column B. Advanced students must choose 2 from Column B

Column B 5-strand necklace w/ paper & seed beads 5-strand bracelet w/ paper & seed beads Friendship necklace & paper bead combo Friendship bracelet & paper bead combo Necklace using native loom technique Bracelet using native loom technique Set of earrings–including seed beads,

&/or any Column B method Keychain using any Column B method

View examples in class.

Sources/Resources• Friendship Bracelets

– http://www.braceletbook.com/history_of_friendship_bracelets.html– http://friendship-bracelets.net– http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Friendship-Bracelet

• Beading with a Loom– http://www.fusionbeads.com/Basic-Beading-on-a-Loom– http://beadwork.about.com/od/loombeading/tp/How-To-Bead-On-A-Loom.htm?p=1– http://beadwork.about.com/od/loombeading/tp/How-To-Weave-In-Warp-Threads-On-Loom-Beadwor

k.htm?p=1

• YouTube How-To Bead w/ Loom Videos– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txZtuoiE_70– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r1yCunZA-w

• Printable Seed Bead Graph Paper– http://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=9201– http://bnb.jewelrymakingmagazines.com/en/How%20To/Free%20Graph%20Paper/2007/06/Free%20

Graph%20Paper.aspx

• Native American/Apache Culture & Patterns– http://www.nativetech.org/beadweav/bweav.html– http://americanindianoriginals.com/apache-jewelry-western.html

What do we do now?Choose one of the following:

• CLOZE Read the packet about the Apache Indians by tomorrow. Tomorrow you will receive questions based on the reading.– Underline key vocab

– Highlight or circle things you find interesting

– Write questions, or “I wonder…” statements in the margins… MINIMUM of 3 questions!

• Start planning your loom bracelet design using graph paper.

• Start planning your paper bead project

• Make more paper beads

• Watch a beading demo