Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Learning to Bead



Every Monday and Friday afternoon for the last two weeks, Aedan and I and some other moms and babies have been gathering in the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in community hall to learn how to make traditional hide vests and dresses. 

We sit around the table together, laughing and chatting while we work; Delores, our teacher, is there to answer our questions and help us along. Other ladies, from the offices next door, wander in and out of the hall with cups of coffee or tea, sharing their own beading stories and techniques. There are a couple of women there just to watch the kids, so we have some uninterrupted time to work.  Occasionally, someone puts down her sewing to nurse her little one, then picks up the work again.

I've come to really look forward to these afternoon sewing sessions. I love learning a new kind of handwork; in fact, I think I like beading more than knitting (just don't tell my nana that!)  I also love just sitting around, visiting with other women. I love the sound of our voices, close in the big, bright room, and I love how our laughter fills it. I love how our little ones play together so well. Most of all I love the sense of community. This is how it should be!



4 comments:

  1. Wow, that sounds wonderful!! I can't wait to see what you're creating.

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  2. I miss group sewing classes! I used to attend one when I lived up in the arctic, and I looked forward to it every week.

    Although, no beading in this house!! ahahah Definitely not something I enjoy, plus if there were beads here I am pretty sure my boys would just be pooping beads out! hehehe

    Can't wait to see what you create!

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  3. That is very cool. I'm glad you're enjoying your baby group. Sounds like lots of fun. Just be careful with little Aedan around...... Hmmm, brings back memories on an incident we had with a bead, only it was up a little girl's nose. Not really where it should have ended up.

    Those were some pretty long tweezers the dr. had to use to get it out!!!!! It took me an awful long time to get over the guilt of allowing that to happen! That's where us mom's really DO need eyes in the back of our head!

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