Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Ledger Art Drawings Pins Earrings Necklace


History: During the 19th century, Indians of the Apache, Cheyenne, Sioux (Lakota), Kiowa and other tribes of the Great Plains were deprived of all traditional and cultural ways of life. Being very adaptable our ancestors created art in the traditional record keeping method what is called today pictographs. These pictographs were historic, symbolic and visionary records of events that occurred. The available materials for this were discarded ledger books. Ledger art or ledger drawings are highly recognized and represented in most major art museums around the world today.



Symbolism: Some of the Ledger Art drawings are records of important visions and dreams, often depicting spirits or mystical beings. Some are records of important battles. Some are records of unusual heroic and significant events. (The one I love the most is of a woman who kills two enemies simultaneously.) Our history and spiritual power is recorded in these Ledger Drawings. They are of utmost importance to all of us, Indian or non-Indian. “Lest we forget”. It is for this reason that I was inspired to create these earrings, necklaces and pins. Bless us all for our new found compassion, forgiveness and bravery in a new world.



Artist: Paula Bidwell of Native Talisman Art is an American Indian artist, jeweler and author. She is also considered an Indigenous Healer and spent many years on the reservation learning traditional healing and ceremony. She combines being an artist and indigenous healer into her art. Paula believes strongly that we are all related and there is very little separation between us. Her art resonates with all cultures and peoples.


Monday, October 26, 2009

Irish Celtic Knot Earrings with Native American Dangle Eagle Feather






Inspiration: The artist Paula Bidwell is Native American and married to an Irishman from Dublin, Ireland. In their many years together they discovered their cultures and traditions are very similar. Paula feels it is important to be able to create jewelry which is significant in it’s meaning whether Irish or Native American and to bring to the future the ancient customs and cultures of both of their people.


Symbolism:


The Irish Celtic Knot never breaks or ends, because of this it is a symbol of the eternal. It also tells us that time has no meaning. For instance, our ancestors and their knowledge is as alive as it ever was, there was no ending to it. Wearing these earrings is a strong reminder that we have lost nothing. Our history, knowledge and culture and spirituality are completely alive. The Irish Celtic knot is also a warning to expect complexity in life and relationships, to never forget the interconnectedness of all people, places and things. As the knot weaves, so do we.


The Native American Eagle Feather will take our prayers, wishes and desires directly to the Creator. Many of us have watched the eagle as it soars upward in the sky only to see it go so high it literally disappears from sight. This is why the eagle is considered to be in direct communication with the Creator. The feather is considered a great gift from the Eagle who listens intently to our words and even our silent thoughts. The Eagle also closely watches all of our actions.


Combining the Irish Celtic Knot and the Native American Eagle Feather are the perfect symbols of life on earth and how to live it. Both cultures benefit and enhance each other in ways nothing else can. Bless both of our cultures and the ancestors that gave us this knowledge and wisdom.


Artist: Paula Bidwell of Native Talisman Art is an American Indian artist, jeweler and author. She is also considered an Indigenous Healer and spent many years on the reservation learning traditional healing and ceremony. She combines being an artist and indigenous healer into her art. Paula believes strongly that we are all related and there is very little separation between us. Her art resonates with all cultures and peoples.


Saturday, October 17, 2009

Blue Tipi Tepee Native American symbols

Blue Native American Bead Design Earrings with Six Dangle Eagle Feathers



Description: The bead design rectangle is .75 inches wide by 1 inch long. The six dangle eagle feathers are .25 inches wide by 1 inch long. The entire earring with eagle feathers measures .75 inches wide by 2.5 inches long. Made of hardened acrylic and hand cut. The ear wires are surgical steel. These earrings are extremely light weight and can be worn even through the night.

Symbolism:


The beadwork pattern on these earrings represents the home, the family or the clan. There are four tipis (teepees) facing above and below. This represents the past, present and future. It also states that we carry the memories of our ancestors and we are protected and guide by them.


The Eagle Feather will take our prayers, wishes and desires directly to the Creator. The feather is considered a great gift from the Eagle who listens intently to our words and even our silent thoughts. The Eagle also closely watches all of our actions.

Inspiration:


I’m 57 years old and when I began beading many of the old ways were still in effect. I wasn’t allowed to just jump in and start beading. I had to hear the stories about beads and their history. How our patterns and designs came into being and how they changed throughout time. How to earn the rights to various designs and how to dream new ones. Throughout this education some of my favorite patterns were the tipis because they represented family life. I believe these patterns are important to everyone so I created this set of jewelry. I hope you wear the pieces in good health and well-being. Mitakuye Oyasin (We are all related)


Artist: Paula Bidwell of Native Talisman Art is an American Indian artist, jeweler and author. She is also considered an Indigenous Healer and spent many years on the reservation learning traditional healing and ceremony. She combines being an artist and indigenous healer into her art. Paula believes strongly that we are all related and there is very little separation between us. Her art resonates with all cultures and peoples.


Available for $17.95 plus $3.00 shipping at:

Native Talisman Art


Sunday, October 11, 2009

New Raven Crow Irish Celtic Gaelic Jewelry

Description: 1.25 inch diameter Raven with 1.25 inch long dangling black Raven feather. Made of hand cut hardened acrylic. Surgical steel ear wires. Very light weight.


Inspiration: The artist Paula Bidwell is Native American and married to an Irishman from Dublin, Ireland. In their many years together they discovered their cultures and traditions are very similar. Paula feels it is important to be able to create jewelry which is significant in it’s meaning whether Irish or Native American and to bring to the future the ancient customs and cultures of both of their people.


Symbolism: Raven is very important in Irish, Celtic and Gaelic cultures and spiritual practices. In general, Raven is known as an oracle, protector, and guide in both this world and the next. The two circular whirlwinds on Raven’s body and wing make Raven an even more powerful protector. One whirlwind spins counterclockwise which causes confusion to negative influences. The other spins clockwise and sweeps away all unwanted negative influences. The Raven feather dangling below is a gift from Raven representing this world and the next and reminding us to fear nothing in either world.


Artist: Paula Bidwell of Native Talisman Art is an American Indian artist, jeweler and author. She is also considered an Indigenous Healer and spent many years on the reservation learning traditional healing and ceremony. She combines being an artist and indigenous healer into her art. Paula believes strongly that we are all related and there is very little separation between us. Her art resonates with all cultures and peoples.


Under $20 available at:

E-Bay - Native-American-Talisman-Art

Etsy - Native Talisman Art

1000 Markets - Native Talisman Art



Sunday, October 4, 2009

Native American Symbols - Turtle



Symbolism: Turtle Island is another term for the North American continent. I remember hearing the story when I was a little girl. I’ll tell it as best as I can remember.


A long time ago there was a tremendous flood. The survivors were the creatures that could swim and fly. Immediately after the flood, the turtle, dove to the bottom and brought up a clod of earth and placed it on it’s back. Soon the other animals and birds followed the turtle and dove and dove into the water bringing up more and more earth placing it on Turtles back. Suddenly winds from all four directions gusted and gailed and the turtle became large and larger and the clods of earth grew larger and larger eventually making a new earth on the turtles back. Everything re-populated and we have the turtle to thank for saving the North american continent.


Symbolism: The Eagle Feathers take our prayers, wishes and desires directly to the Creator. The feather is considered a great gift from the Eagle who listens intently to our words and even our silent thoughts. The Eagle also closely watches all of our actions.

Inspiration: The turtle shield earrings have a green circle showing the earth and the red and green triangles showing the healing medicines from above and below. Head and tail pointing north and south show us we will never be lost. The Eagle feathers remind us that if we ask we will receive. The Eagle Feathers in these earrings are my design with the black tip in the shape of a Water Bird. The Water Bird dives into the water and brings up medicine from the bottom of lakes depositing them on the shore for us to use. Much like the Turtle, the Water Bird has an affiliation with land and water. These earrings are deeply symbolic and remind us that we have available everything necessary for a successful life in this world.


Teachings: Some turtles are engraved with thirteen segments on their shells. These represent the thirteen moons in a lunar year and the thirteen cycles in a woman’s body. In each of these moon segments there are teachings. I cannot tell all the teachings, but in general there are lessons of patience in the slow movement of the turtle, perseverance in the Turtle’s untiring completion of every journey, awareness of surroundings, knowledge that we have everything we need represented by Turtle’s home on it’s back and adaptability represented by the fact that Turtle can live on earth or in the water.


Artist: Paula Bidwell of Native Talisman Art is an American Indian artist, jeweler and author. She is also considered an Indigenous Healer and spent many years on the reservation learning traditional healing and ceremony. She combines being an artist and indigenous healer into her art. Paula believes strongly that we are all related and there is very little separation between us. Her art resonates with all cultures and peoples.


These earrings are available for $18.95 plus $3.00 shipping at:

Native Talisman Art

Etsy Shop Handmade

E-Bay

1000 Markets