Western Style Beading by Cindy Walker
Learning to bead has taken me a lifetime, but there is always more to be learned!
Beaded Rosettes
Custom designed hand beaded rosettes for your horse's headstall or bridle or hair ties - can be made with tie backs or pin backs or Chicago screws or as barrettes or left unbacked to be sewn onto bags or clothing or whatever you like.
Custom hand beaded horse tack can be commissioned HERE
How did I get started beading?
The person who taught me how to bead was a neighbor, a red headed cowgirl, married to a horse training cowboy, who beaded her own horse tack and hat bands. I later traveled extensively throughout Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, and Idaho attending pow-wows and historic re-enactments where I picked up little bits and pieces of beading advice from a few real Native Americans and a lot of other non-Native artists and craftspeople who wanted to share their skills and expertise so that this beautiful beading tradition would not be lost.
While much of my bead-work has been inspired by the indigenous peoples of the Americas because I admire the colors, patterns and styles, I also use design elements from around the world. European and Medieval inspired beading patterns with dragons, roses, crosses, Celtic knot-work and Medieval and Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance are designs that I can't wait to make up into something unique and beautiful just for you, your dog or your horse!
Natal / Umbilical Amulets
Many people take great care to preserve the umbilical cords of their children which are often stored in a specially created amulet, bag or pouch. Some tribes of the Native American peoples also have this practice and they create beautifully beaded amulets that they historically would hang from the cradleboard of the child and later would be worn by the owner as part of their ceremonial regalia.
Unfortunately, many of these beautifully beaded amulets from past generations are now only found in private (non-native) collections and museums. I feel that the original natal amulets are a personal and cultural legacy which should be returned to the indigenous tribes from whom they were appropriated and not bought and sold freely on the market.
My amulets are an homage to this beautiful practice. I make these so that non-native hobbyists and collectors and Natives alike may have access to this sort of item to add to a collection, use as a decoration, wear as part of their regalia or give as a gift, perhaps for a birth, baptism, christening or other sacred occasion.
Custom Bead Embroidery on Jackets, Bags or other items is always available.
Disclaimer: In compliance with Public Law 101-644, the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 I clearly state that I am NOT a Native American. I am a non-Native crafts-person or "hobbyist" of European descent. I am not an enrolled member of, not associated in any way with, any Native American group, tribe or organization, nor do I have any Native American ancestry that I am aware of.
My work is purely "art" and stems from my own personal interpretation of my American life and my own experiences and travels. My artwork may, on occasion, be influenced by my appreciation of the artwork and crafts of the many diverse cultures and societies of this planet upon which we all share a mutual 'tribal' heritage."
Everything on these pages is copyright protected property of
Cindy Walker ~ Ghost Horse Studios 2000 - present