Using animals parts in my Native American crafts
By oscarbartoni
@oscarbartoni (2581)
United States
May 14, 2011 8:19pm CST
I use many different parts of animals in my crafts including teeth, claws, feathers, tails, etc. Most of these would normally be thrown out by by the people who killed these animals but I have found that some things are very interesting in jewelry such as rattle snake rattles in ear rings. I also use teeth of wolves, bear, and others plus the claws of wolves, bear, bob cat, lynx and others and bones of many different animals in my crafts. I also have some dream catchers put together using sharks jaws. How many of you use what would normally be thrown out in their crafts? I sell my crafts at pow wows and flea markets so I know that people want them.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
31 May 11
A lot of my animal parts, I get on line (eBay is one of the sites that I use and I also get the animal parts at pow wows. Taxidermist also have parts that I often use so there is a way to get parts to use in crafts, you just have to look in unusual places.
1 person likes this
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
3 Jun 11
If there is a slaughter house around, you might be able to get parts that usually wind up in a dumpster. Yes you may have to clean the parts (bones teeth etc,) up but by using the larvae of meal worms (from a pet shop) they can be cleaned up easily.
1 person likes this
@charmlenile (387)
•
15 May 11
aww... i know that there are allot of way's to recycle... but its sad knowing that there are people out there who kill them for fur and parts of animals for making accessories used by us humans... its ok if it was for recycling but others out there that goes for.. "i kill for money" should really be sued ~~ my opinion on animal accessories ... recycling ok.. but murder..? nuh uh!
@Galena (9110)
•
15 May 11
I like to use found items in jewellery. it can be anything from hagstones and shells from the beach (lately I've been doing a lot with limpit shells where the top part has been broken through, and it leaves a circle of shell)
to things I find in town on the ground, like lost buttons and beads from jewellery that has been broken or lost. obviously, I won't re-use the earring findings.
I also quite often go through charity shops looking for jewellery I can take apart and re-use parts of in new ways.
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
15 May 11
I have seen some beautiful artwork done with these type items. Even this art is rich in the history of some of our museums. Indians and Eskimoes used almost everything and never wasted any part of an animal.
I think the only thing I have not seen is the rattlesnake rattlers in earrings.
I think that one makes me glad I don't wear jewelry.
My son would love the idea though. Good Luck with selling your wares.
