Creating Authentic Native American Crafts

Creating authentic Native American crafts can be challenging and exciting. This is a true art form and requires much time and patience. There are all sorts of authentic Native American crafts you can try your hand at though. Let’s take a look at some of the different things you can do with Native American crafts.

From baskets, wall portraits, and stunning pottery you really have hundreds of different options when it comes to authentic Native American arts and crafts. The question is whether or not you have the time and patience to stick with it so you can finish your crafts.

Native American Pottery

The people of North and South American continents had a wide variety of pottery traditions. Most pottery made in the earliest days was made by hand using a number of different techniques such as molding, coiling, paddling, and sculpture modeling. Most of the Pre-Columbian pottery traditions are already well known to the public as well as most of the major museums around the world. If you are getting into handmade pottery, here are some tips that might help make your projects more successful:

• Make sure that the clay dough is at the proper consistency

• Make sure you use a clay rope and make the spiral our of the bottom of your pot just like a coil snake.

• Keep building your shape or pot as the height of the clay continues to increase.

• Once you’re finished with the shape smooth the clay from the inside out.

Native American Beaded Jewelry

The Native American people are famous for the intricate pieces of beaded jewelry they can weave. Beaded jewelry making has also become popular in today’s culture, although the symbolism behind the necklace making may not be the same. In some Native American cultures women would make beaded necklaces every year for their birthdays until they turned forty. Every year beads were added to the necklaces and they women were rarely seen in public without them. In order to make authentic Native American jewelry you may have to visit some museums, check out some books from the library or find an authentic jewelry making magazine. They are generally quite easy to make and can be done in a fair amount of time.

Native American Slippers

Another part of the Native American culture is some of their shoes or slippers. These are generally referred to as moccasins and were used by the Inuit groups in Northern regions. They kept the feet of Native American people warm and also looked quite stylish. These will also take some time in making, but can make great gifts for others or even for yourself. Try looking online for patterns and materials you will need and be prepared to spend some time getting them just the way you want.

Native American Rain Sticks

Rain sticks are quite authentic to the Native American culture. They were used as ceremonial musical instruments to invoke the rain spirits. They can be made using cardboard tubes and aluminum foil, or you can make them much like the ones Native Americans made using real wood form trees.

Creating authentic Native American crafts is going to take some time and effort on your part as they are somewhat more difficult than a child’s craft. If you have the time to devote to your work then you will probably have much success.