Expert: Pamela Welborn - 12/10/2006

Question
Hello Pamela,
 I just came back from the Costa Mesa Gem Faire in California.  It was my first time but I was accompanied by my friends who are seasoned beaded jewelry crafters.  We all had great interest in some beaded animals and lizards on display at the Faire.  They are shaped and free standing.  They are artfully made from seed beads and  made to appear true to the coloration and look of the actual creature.  We were wondering if there is any information out there on how to create these creatures as we were told that the secret is kept by skilled artisans in a small village in Central America were they are made.
Thank you from all of us.  

Answer
well that can be the case.  I know that the Native tribes - part of the saraguro tribe do keep their designs to themselves.  I need to know if the holes of the beads were face up or were the beads on their sides?

If they were face up - it's called Huichol beading

http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/huichol/huicholindex.html

if they are on their sides, then it's 3D beading and the best book on how to do this would be:

http://www.beadedbear.com/publsh_a.htm#dcover2

if the link doesn't work go to http://www.beadedbear.com/  -  click PUBLISHING and then it's near the bottom of the page - Three Dimensional Beadwork


Let me know if you have any more questions

Pamy

Pamela Welborn
My Site www.violetbead.com * My Kits www.buythekit.com
My Blog www.violetbead.blogspot.com