Well, here we are back to On^ste/corn. We've got the Cornhusk Workshop this Sat. 10am - 2pm. $10./doll. Make a doll, wreath, bows or flowers ... it's easy:) . Are you smarter than a 2nd grader? lol ... come find out! I've shown classes from gr. 2 to 11 to make them, so you certainly can make these. I'll have the big black table out in the livingroom, covered with a sheet of heavy plastic, damp husks ready to use, wire, string, scissors, snips etc. Oh, AND the coffee/tea and maybe a little snack! These little guys [check earlier post for 'lady' doll] were made to accompany the story of the 7 Dancers, but we don't tell stories till the first snowfall. We are still too busy getting ready for Kohsla':ke/ Winter but it's still Kanana':ke/Fall. At this time of year we also say Yutekhway^he'/She is storing food. ... lots to learn ;) ... last 'month'/moon was referred to as Yey^thokwas/She gathers food and next moon will be Tehut^n^hela:tuhe:'/We are giving thanks. Then Wahsu:tehs/Long Nights and the cycle starts again with mid-winter. ... more to come ;) N^ki'wa/see you 'round!

These little guys are cuffed with real mink fur. At this time of year I go to thrift shops to look for fur coats, collars etc. for the baby mocs. Usually the collars or what's known as a 'stole' are not attached to a coat so they may be relatively cheap but it's getting harder to find real fur [ it's become politically incorrect to wear ]. The prices range from $20. for baby size, $40 for youth [ age 3-10 approx.] then $60. for ladies' and $80. for men sizes. I only put fur cuffs on youth & adult if asked. They get beadwork from time to time as preferences vary. The tops of the vamp on the larger ones shown here are raw edged. Other leather work includes: beaded edged change purses $5. ... sm. fringed pouches $20. [12cm -20cm long; 9cm-12cm wide] ... I think I showed one earlier. Conchos and beaded fringe also varies; rarely are any the same as parts of the hide I've saved to do the front 'flap' makes each one distinctive. I've always preferred a natural look wherever possible.

Gourd Geese

Neighbours gave us handfuls of little sea shells from vacation with hurricane Earl. I placed them on view at the kitchen table in 3 clear wine goblets. To bring a Thanksgiving look to them, I then put them in a basket with 'Indian corn' and long-necked gourd 'geese' ... as tho' drinking from the goblets ;).

This led me to thinking about the geese flying south soon and why they fly in formation, which takes us back to our Hotenoshone Creation Story of Sky Woman falling from Sky World, being caught by the beautiful white Snow Geese and gently stood down onto the back of the Great Sea Turtle.

Ok, so here's my Shania Twain story ... [true story] When Shania Twain came to the JLC, a couple ladies in the community [Oneida] came on the rez radio to say they had back stage passes to meet Shania Twain and if anyone would like to give her a gift, they would take the first ten or so to present to Shania backstage. So, I immediately printed a letter to Shania praising her for being a great role model for the native youth ... and sent along a pair of earrings similar to the black ones shown here [I rarely make them same]. A couple days later, the ladies came back on the radio to say thank you on behalf of Shania Twain to those whose gifts she received and my name was one of them. So, I can now say Shania Twain has a pair of earrings I made ;) ... [also Bet, for you/keep beadin'!]

I was invited to the Mennonite church in Zurich. The dreamcatcher cards went really well at the craft show Oct. 1-2. My 9yr. old granddaughter Anne helped set up and really enjoyed the day; she especially liked pricing and getting the bead box ready for sales. The cards I made for the show were done with black card stock with clan and eagle pics inside. They also had birchbark details; priced at $2. ea. Also, cedar boughs with 4 direction ribbons and 'story'tags went well. I usually have an explanation of how to use them in the home and their relevance to controlling dust mites etc. The baby mocs with mink cuffs were well liked, but no sales; people tend to not purchase if your table is first inside the door [ "I'll look around first" ]. Contacts will hopefully come from the bookmarks I handed out.