Native American Parfleche Bags $130

Jessica Wesolek

Plains Indians were nomadic and could pack up a village and move it in a matter of days - in order to follow the buffalo which provided most everything that was needed for their lifestyle. Tipis collapsed into a travois which was piled high with household items and pulled behind the horses.

One of the most important household items was the parfleche bag - a sort of decorated envelope made of rawhide which was used as a sort of suitcase while on the move, and hung up as wall decor once the tipi was set up again.

Parfleche Bags were made in a variety of sizes, but we will make them in a size that can be worn as a necklace and function like a medicine bag. Traditional rawhide is very stiff which made the bag difficult to open, so we will create our own version of "rawhide" which is soft, flexible, and lined with felt (and is not an animal product). Image transfer and/or rubber stamping techniques will be used to decorate the bags and fringe, beads, and traditional metal cones will be added as embellishment.

This is a project workshop. Every student will complete at least two Parfleche Bag necklaces in class: one of faux rawhide and one of Ultrasuede.

All necessary materials will be provided.

Please bring these tools: (Options shown in parantheses can be substituted, but will not work as well).

Watercolor Markers in basic colors
A Cutting Wheel with a new, sharp blade (You can use a Fabric or Rubber Cutting Scissors instead, but a wheel cutter is much easier)
Cutting Mat
Japanese Screw Punch with #3 tip (or 1/8" eyelet punch and small hammer)
UnDu or your favorite adhesive remover (for cleaning the punch)
Metal Ruler with cork back
Vanishing Ink Fabric Marker (or ball point pen)

Please contact Jessica with any questions via email at: GalleryDSF@comcast.net Website: www.cre8it.com