Yup'ik/Alaska Native contemporary and traditional arts and crafts
Caribou cowhide cotton = squinting
In replace of caribou hide – I am using cowhide for the shield and in replace of caribou hair some use cotton, in a minute you will see what I mean and by the end of this story hope you’re not squinting 😆.
I have been challenged to deal with loose hair that has to be white like cotton! I disliked (past) dealing with the loose in all directions fur – hair more like a bad hair day with a deadline.
Tried to be creative but dissatisfiedThe other day, I seen a row of white folders neatly set with black divider in between each folder and I said out loud, “I like the set up.” Eeee I said it out loud. What? I realized it have been sewing pieces of black and white. My first line of sewing was like a nightmare, hair sticking up! Fluffy! I thought I should be creative! I doubted myself and asked my friends online and they all agreed that it wasn’t it. I am so glad I get feed back!!!
Caribou line sewn, first tryI started all over! I just got to get through this sloppy stage hand sewing, and My uncle said, ‘sloppy is good.’ My black thread wasn’t cooperating and the caribou hair didn’t care. I thought of wax, need something sticky or tape or just wrap it and sew it, oh lick it! I put the caribou hairs in my mouth and smoothed it out – tasted salty and spat out a few strands – it worked! Just like when your child’s hair on picture day, smooth it out.
Ok, I did my first line like it’s supposed to be done, not exactly! It was like a bang cut uneven! My friends said keep trying. My mom said, you’ll get better and you’ll enjoy it soon. A friend said, trial and error makes excellent learning. I have had nothing but positive comments and they all inspire me! I get frustrated and complain like an out of control bad hair day person!
Don’t give up-keep sewing & find the cotton
When I contemplate while sewing and writing about my experiences – I thank God that he ordered rest! Resting is important and this summer I had a hard time resting and it is rolling over to fall. Lately, I sit and sew to rest.
Caribou linesI want to thank Mr. & Mrs. Hickman owners of Alaska Precision Taxidermy for donating caribou mane for my project. I was surprised with the generousity of shareing, as I was looking all over Fairbanks for caribou hair. Quyana!
Black Fish Tail
Front and back tasselsAs soon as I received the caribou hair, I went straight to sewing. Out of frustration I sewed cotton string on the second try – to my surprise the caribou hair and cotton look so much alike. I am still working on the lines as you will soon see the process and measurements. After the squires will be the shield and then the shoulder straps. I am calling it straps as it rests on the shoulders to the back and front – almost like suspenders. By the time I am done with this area I should have bifocals to help me see better.
squinting selfie = self portraitI have enjoyed the process after all 🌸Check back again for the shields, straps, otter and wolf parts to the Qaliq. Piurci!
Yup'ik woman from Akiacuaq (Akiachak) Alaska, living in Fairbanks Alaska. Alaska Native Artist. I am a poet! I am a wife of an amazing man from South Lake Tahoe, CA and a mother of two children. I enjoy the outdoors in Alaska. I made a Yup'ik woman's traditional fancy parka, "Qaliq." I am in a process of working on a child size parka and other Yup'ik traditional clothing. I share wonderful things about Alaska, the arts and the outdoors.
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