[Jewelry making - Article 01186] - Re: [Orchid] Why Is Beading So Popular?

[Silverspotstudio]

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Monika,

    Thanks for your compliments on the beadwork!   I'll get cracking on
    some herpetological designs ASAP :) 

    The loom I was referring to is the most basic of types: the boards
    (appx. 9" x 5") each have two holes in them through which the dowels
    (appx. 2 feet long x 3/8" diam.) pass (so that the general setup is
    rectangular). Screws pass through the boards at the sides of the
    holes and anchor the dowels so that the length of the loom is
    adjustable. More screws at the outer faces of the boards provide
    anchor points for warp threads. The even spacing of the warp threads
    is accomplished using two springs about 7" long, which are looped
    around screws driven into the upper edge of the boards. 

    The concept behind this loom is essentially the same as the "Indian
    Bead Loom" sold in most hobby stores. FWIW, I find these looms
    awkward to use and overly expensive. The "Indians" in question more
    frequently made a loom using a bowed stick, with rawhide or
    birchbark cards, pierced with evenly spaced holes, to separate the
    threads. Some native beaders also made a quite complex heddle loom. 

    Diagrams of looms like these can be found in Virginia Blakelock's
    book, Those Bad Bad Beads, and in Georg Barth's book Native American
    Beadwork. I'd be happy to send or post pictures of my version if
    anyone would be interested. 

All the best,

Jessee Smith
www.silverspotstudio.com

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