Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into
their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related
question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive
we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard.
The following week we choose a random winner.
Congratulations, Erin! You have won a hydrangea pendant from Heather Powers of Humble Beads.
Send Heather an email with your address and
she will get your prize out to you soon.
Erin Siegel of Erin Siegel Jewelry
American Pow Wow. I hope she enjoys the flute music, drumming, dancing,
storytelling and crafts. She’s already familiar with dream catchers.
Before she was born, I was gifted a beautiful dream catcher handmade by a
Native American woman I know. It hangs above her bed now.
As long as I can remember, I’ve always
been fascinated by the Native American culture. From their deep respect
and reverence for nature, to their great spiritual teachings, to their
beautiful handcrafts and beadwork. One Native American tradition I have
always loved and gravitated towards is the dream catcher.
Today,
I’m going to be sharing with you how to make your own dream
catcher-inspired pendant to capture the dreams, goals and positivity you
want to bring into your life! You will learn the traditional weave to
make the web of the dream catcher, then you can embellish your pendant
with a variety of beads, feathers and/or charms to represent those
dreams, hopes and wishes you want to catch. The finished pendant can be
worn on it’s own or you can incorporate it into your own beaded jewelry
design. The act of making this
pendant is a hands-on, creative way to realize your dreams, while making
a keepsake with special meaning that you can wear and keep as a
reminder of the things that are important to you. But, before I get into
showing you how to make your pendant, I want to share with you a little
bit about the origins of the dream catcher and a Native American dream
catcher legend. I hope you will find this to be fun, informative and
inspiring!
Origins of the Dream Catcher:
The
Ojibaway or Chippewa were the first to design these decorations to
protect their babies against bad dreams that might come along in the
night. Both good and bad dreams would be caught by the web, but only
good dreams could find their way through the hole and slide down the
feather to the baby’s head. The bad dreams, not knowing the way, would
get caught in the web and dissipate with the first rays of morning
light.
Since the beginning, many Native American tribes
have adopted the dream catcher and incorporated it into their heritage.
The Lakota are one such group that have done this. The following is
their story of the dream catcher:
Long
ago an old spiritual leader was high on a mountain and had a vision. A
teacher of wisdom appeared in the form of a spider. The spider picked up
the elder’s willow hoop and began to spin a web. She spoke to the elder
about the cycles of life. She said, “In each time of life there are
many forces, some positive and some negative. If you listen to the
positive forces, they will steer you in the right direction. If you
listen to the negative forces, they will lead you astray.”
When
the spider finished speaking, she gave the elder the web and said. “The
web is a perfect circle with a hole in the center. Use the web to help
your people reach their goals, making good use of their ideas, dreams
and visions. If you believe in the Great Spirit, the web will catch your
good ideas, let them float through the hole and down the feather upon
you.” The elder passed on the vision to the people. Now, many hang a
dream catcher above their bed to sift their dreams and visions. The good
thoughts are captured in the web of life and dropped down to the
person, the negative thoughts are caught in the web and perish at
daybreak, never to be a part of their lives.
Now, I
don’t know about you, but I would really like to adopt this concept!
Who’s with me? Okay, let’s make some dream catcher pendants to wear to
catch those good dreams from the air and let them float down into our
hearts!
Tools:
Instructions:
1. Use the cord to make a 1” fold at one end. Use the folded end to form
a lark’s head knot around the copper ring as shown in photo 1.
3. Trim the tail. Pull the cord down so that it sits on the inside of the copper ring as shown in photo3.
in photo 4. This is called looping. Continue making loops around the
ring 5 more times. Add seed beads as desired.
5. Bring the cord around the first loop created in step 4 and through the loop as shown in photo 5.
6. Continue looping in the same matter adding seed beads as shown in photo 6. Loop around the inner diameter of the ring twice.
7. Use the cord to string one 4mm bead; tie and overhand knot and trim cord as shown in photo 7.
jump ring to attach a chain or necklace cord to the pendant and enjoy!
How about you?
Do you feel inspired by the dream catcher? or Do you find inspiration in the traditions of another culture other than your own?
Please share and tell me all about it. I want to know!
.jpg)
a comment answering any of the above questions and you will be entered for a
chance to win one of my Dream Catcher Pendant Kits!
the jewelry book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather,
Ribbon and Cords. To find out more, visit her blog: Erin Siegel Jewelry.
Autumn Adams
July 20, 2013 at 11:49 amI like your instructions. They are clear and easy to follow. It's nice to have some background about the dreamcatcher. I like circles because they represent the unbroken cycle of life. Even though we die we are born again.
Kathy Lindemer
July 20, 2013 at 11:57 amI have a great interest in Native American culture. Last summer I had a chance to go out West and see their reservations. It saddens me that they live on some of the least desirable of the land. I read recently that the land where Wounded Knee took place is for sale. Johnny Depp has been talking about buying it and donating it to the Indians. I hope this happens.
Alice
July 20, 2013 at 9:50 pmAs a kid, I grew up with a love for the Native Indian culture. My father has a basement full of arrowheads, flint knives, and pottery, all found in the fields. Many times my sisters and I combed the freshly turned fields and hunted for arrowheads. My dad knew just where to find them by the lay of the land and proximity to water. He was never wrong and has found over 2000 pieces or more since the days of my youth.
Thank you for sharing this tutorial!
mairedodd
July 20, 2013 at 11:59 pmthis is really wonderful, erin – i too have hung authentic dream catchers in the windows just beside my childrens' beds. it is a beautiful story and teaches us much about the choices we make and how they affect our lives. this is a great kit – it makes me so happy to think of how accessible you have made this for people, how they will learn the story and pass it along.
Designed by Vera
July 21, 2013 at 3:17 pmHaving Cherokee in my lineage, I am always drawn to the Native American cultures. Their love of the land, sky, and respect of each other is something we are so missing today…. The bold colors in their designs are to die for…I love your dream catcher. Will have to give it a go. Thanks for sharing!
moonlitfantaseas
July 23, 2013 at 11:25 pmvery good tutorial Erin! I used to make dream catcher earrings years ago! The necklace is really cute!
Rising Designs
July 24, 2013 at 1:12 amFantastic photos , Erin. I will definitely try this with the kids in my 5th grade jewelry club. It's called Frugal Adornments". This tutorial will fit right in! Thanks.
Claudia Garrett
July 19, 2015 at 8:22 pmI love that you posted the history of the Dream Catcher. I've always been drawn to Dream Catchers and have tried my hand at making a few, but I really like this. Instructions are very good. My granddaughter has bad dreams and this will be great for her. Thank you