There is always another beautiful shawl dancing around the corner!

I was desperately trying to shut my Cedar Chest the other day.  I pushed, pulled, rearranged and finally SAT on my Cedar Chest to get it closed.  The problem was a mountain of Shawls bursting out of my trunk.  Beaded Shawls, Give away shawls, Spanish Shawls, Ribbon work Shawls,

Shawls! Shawls! Shawls!  

What I know for sure is that anyone can always use another shawl.  Danette and I were at the dances in Hominy last year when a woman offered Danette money if she would sell her shawl.   I immediately said YES!  (After all it isn’t my shawl) Danette said NO!  (and gave me the Stink Eye) the woman was confused.  Danette accused me of selling the clothes off her back. (She was right!)

 

She has never been one to part from her clothes and I am not either which is why I had no problem saying YES!

When I feel like changing my wardrobe I just put a different shawl on and I am good to go.  

Recently, Danette went to the Osage Sovereignty Day PowWow.  She had a new style of shawl fabric that had Velvet Flowers on it.   She went out to dance one time and put the shawl over her chair.    In a split second this very nice woman came up to the table and said she had to have that shawl.  At first, Danette hesitated…..that is my shawl she said.  The nice lady  answered “That shawl is so pretty let me just try it on.  So Danette let her try it on and she could see true joy in the woman’s face (exactly how I feel every time I put on a new shawl) So I can proudly say she sold the shawl off her own back.

 The woman looks Lovely in her new shawl.

Danette called me later that evening and sadly told me that she had sold her shawl.  And I repeated my favorite motto.........There is always another beautiful shawl dancing around the corner!!  

Oh!! by the way Danette said she will not be selling anymore of her shawls!!

Memory Markers and Makers....our moccasins

The Osage word for moccasin is hom-pey. From the time our children are infants, we put tiny moccasins on their feet. Here is a picture of Julie's moccasins from when she was a baby. They are an exact minature of an adult size pair of Osage moccasins. 

 

Here is a photo of an all beaded pair of baby moccasins that were her fathers, Rusty Gilliland. Perhaps you have a pair that were your father's, mothers, or your grandparents. Often times we keep these small moccasins in our trunks or perhaps on display in our homes. These tiny treasures connect us to who we are. 

As we grow, we receive moccasins to dance in at our Osage ceremonial dances called the In-lon-Schka. Here is a pair of all beaded red moccasins for a first son called an elompah. These were commissioned especially for him by his mother. These moccasins took many months to make, because the artist wanted them made perfect for this special son. The hide they are constructed from is smoked brain tan. 

As we move throughout our lives, there comes a time to prepare for the next transition. I recall when my grandmother told me "Danette it is time to get my bundle ready for when I go home."  We gathered her blanket and her moccasins, and tied them in a bundle.  The bundle was prepared and set aside, ready for the next transition from her life on this Earth on to her next journey. 

We begin our life journey on this earth with minature moccasins on our feet. We mature and grow into our lives... dancing our ceremonies in our moccasins. At the end of our lives here on Earth, our moccasins carry us-physically, spiritually, and metaphorically. So truly moccasins are the memory markers and memory makers of our lives. 

Memory Markers and Makers....our moccasins

The Osage word for moccasin is hom-pey. From the time our children are infants, we put tiny moccasins on their feet. Here is a picture of Julie's moccasins from when she was a baby. They are an exact minature of an adult size pair of Osage moccasins. 

Here is a photo of an all beaded pair of baby moccasins that were her fathers, Rusty Gilliland. Perhaps you have a pair that were your father's, mothers, or your grandparents. Often times we keep these small moccasins in our trunks or perhaps on display in our homes. These tiny treasures connect us to who we are. 

As we grow, we receive moccasins to dance in at our Osage ceremonial dances called the In-lon-Schka. Here is a pair of all beaded red moccasins for a first son called an elompah. These were commissioned especially for him by his mother. These moccasins took many months to make, because the artist wanted them made perfect for this special son. The hide they are constructed from is smoked brain tan. 

As we move throughout our lives, there comes a time to prepare for the next transition. I recall when my grandmother told me "Danette it is time to get my bundle ready for when I go home."  We gathered her blanket and her moccasins, and tied them in a bundle.  The bundle was prepared and set aside, ready for the next transition from her life on this Earth on to her next journey. 

We begin our life journey on this earth with minature moccasins on our feet. We mature and grow into our lives... dancing our ceremonies in our moccasins. At the end of our lives here on Earth, our moccasins carry us-physically, spiritually, and metaphorically. So truly moccasins are the memory markers and memory makers of our lives. 

Memory Markers and Makers....our moccasins

The Osage word for moccasin is hom-pey. From the time our children are infants, we put tiny moccasins on their feet. Here is a picture of Julie's moccasins from when she was a baby. They are an exact minature of an adult size pair of Osage moccasins. 

Here is a photo of an all beaded pair of baby moccasins that were her fathers, Rusty Gilliland. Perhaps you have a pair that were your father's, mothers, or your grandparents. Often times we keep these small moccasins in our trunks or perhaps on display in our homes. These tiny treasures connect us to who we are. 

As we grow, we receive moccasins to dance in at our Osage ceremonial dances called the E-lon-Schka. Here is a pair of all beaded red moccasins for a first son called an elompah. These were commissioned especially for him by his mother. These moccasins took many months to make, because the artist wanted them made perfect for this special son. The hide they are constructed from is smoked brain tan. 

As we move throughout our lives, there comes a time to prepare for the next transition. I recall when my grandmother told me "Danette it is time to get my bundle ready for when I go home."  We gathered her blanket and her moccasins, and tied them in a bundle.  The bundle was prepared and set aside, ready for the next transition from her life on this Earth on to her next journey. 

We begin our life journey on this earth with minature moccasins on our feet. We mature and grow into our lives... dancing our ceremonies in our moccasins. At the end of our lives here on Earth, our moccasins carry us-physically, spiritually, and metaphorically. So truly moccasins are the memory markers and memory makers of our lives. 

These are my Peeps!

These are my Peeps!

My Grandmother Strikeaxe kept me after school when I was little. I would walk to her house. My snack would be waiting for me which I ate sitting in front of the black and white TV with 3 channels. Dark Shadows was my favorite show after school. On some days the TV didn't do it for me so I would wonder over to her gigantic coffee table and open the drawer where hundreds of photos of friends and family were scattered inside the drawer.  I took it upon myself to "organize" them which then became a scattered mess of hundreds of photos on the floor. Among the pictures I found these two treasures one day. These are family pins from the turn of the century. Grandma said women used to wear these pins with there Wahbonkah pins or as brooches. This pin is of Cora Wildcat Strikeaxe.






I do not know the name of this young girl. Someone loved her and wanted to wear her pin. I find it sad when I go to flea markets and garage sales where I see piles of long forgotten family photos for sale on some strangers table.I plan on burning all the pictures of myself with my eyes closed, goofy smiles or where my rolls are showing through my shirt. I am only keeping the pictures with my best side showing so they won't offend anyone walking by the flea market table after I am long forgotten. I keep this girl in my jewelry dish with my rings and earrings. I consider that to be a place of honor since I love jewelry so much. I just want her to know I may not know her name but she is not forgotten.




I wonder if she liked jewelry as much as I do?





I first met Danette at The Grayhorse dances in Fairfax Oklahoma. She is a ladysinger and always dresses in her Osage clothes to sing at the drum during our dances. I noticed right off that under her Wahbonkah pins she was wearing a family pin. This is her family pin of her Great Grandfather Ed Cox.


I think he looks very distuguished.


This one is of Danette's Great Great Aunt Jennie Long.




I love the little gold frame.


This beautiful pin is Danette's Great Great uncle Tom Cox.







Here is a picture of an Osage woman Old Lady White Plume wearing her family pins. I wonder if they will call me Old Lady Julie someday? I hope not!






The Cedar Chest is building a photo booth in our new store so that we can take pictures of your family in their Indian clothes and start making family pins again.

We think it is important to remember our Peeps!

Wampum Earrings for Christmas at The Cedar Chest

Purple Wampum Earrings, White Wampum Earrings
  
  
  

Bracelet Love

I have Bracelet Love!!  I found my true love when I was 8 years old.  My Grandmother Strikeaxe took me down to the Whitehair Trading Post in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.  We walked in the shop, and in front of us were cases full of beautiful jewelry.  Grandma told me to choose a piece of jewelry for myself; she always knew the way to my heart!  I chose a simple silver, turquoise and coral bracelet.  I still have it....







Doesn't fit anymore, dang-it!




 
I am now ??? (not telling) and over the years I have collected some very beautiful pieces.  This is a new bracelet I received as a gift; it was made by a Kiowa beader, Richard Aitson.  He has won many awards over the years at, Santa Fe Indian Market, The Heard Indian Art Show and many others. He used size 13 beads on this bracelet.  I practically go blind when I look at all the detail with those tiny little beads.  Since I am now ???  I really need to get a pair of glasses but I choose to strain my eyes instead!







Teenie Weenie!
 




I also like to go to flea markets.  I found this Sand Cast beauty in AZ.  It is very heavy and I love all the details. To Sand Cast you have to find a soft stone, cut it in half,  carve it on both sides, wrap it together with a wet leather strap, pour hot molten silver in it, and leave it for 3 days.  Actually, it is a very labor intensive process!  The Navajos have been practicing this art for ages. I find this very complicated I guess putting a wet leather strap around two rocks is just too much!





Beautiful!







I bought this piece at The Santa Fe Indian Art Market from an artist named Kewa Raincloud. I love the multi-colored hands and the copper inside. He put an oxidizing chemical on the bracelet, and buried it in the hot sand.  It said Hello Julie as I was walking by the table. Before I knew it I had put the bracelet on my wrist and it waved goodbye to Kewa Raincloud.





Now it's time to say Goodbye to you!