Okay, I tagged this as Bags/Wallets which strikes me as terribly funny ahahaha but it is somewhat accurate.
A coworker asked me to make a moss bag for her new grandbaby, for her daughter who is part Dene. My family’s people are Secwépemc, but I thought that using some fairly standard imagery would work - so, wolf paws. A little cartoonish, I’m definitely not the world’s best beader, but made with good thoughts and intentions. I’m also Super Slow at beading, so I was a month and half past deadline (eep!) She bought all the materials (but I get to keep all the leftovers! yay!) including hide from the toughest cow to every walk the planet. It must have died from natural causes, because I can’t believe anything else could have done it. Sewing with pliers, not speedy hahaha
So, where we live, the First Nations peoples historical fashion commonly have Ukranian influence once the colonization efforts got into full swing. The trim I used is in that general feel, I hope, without being directly derivative. Blanket stitched the raw edges - and you see my manky little sock with all the ‘dots’ on the floor? those dots are from punching approximately 19 million holes with a punch because, again, toughest cow ever.
I’m happy with it, she’s happy with it, I will not be doing leatherwork ever again, at least for a couple of months.
Consider my flabbers fully gasted. This is amazing! All the details that are both aesthetic and historical plus your own, contemporary influence. WONDERFUL!
@Edel and @Manders a moss bag is the specific name, I guess but exactly right, it’s a baby swaddle bag for all intents and purposes.
I think of it as a ‘bunting bag’ like the old nursery rhyme, but I don’t know if that’s because it’s the only reference I’ve ever had for it. I did a bit of research before I started, and my coworker told me about the one she was given when her daughter was born.
Beautiful moss bag and gorgeous beadwork - I love the colours! (And the blanket stitch on leather!?! I had trouble doing a blanket stitch on wool!) I recall learning a layer of moss was placed in under the baby, to act like a diaper, but so much better.
Omg that beadwork is just lovely, and I can absolutely commiserate with having to sew it with pliers, yowser that must have slowed things down a lot! I’m so glad she loves it and I’m sure her daughter and grandbaby will too
