Creating Huichol Bead Art | TheAncientSouthwest.com

[@SixStringSteve]

Fantastic ✨️ you're so accurate with that quill!

[@emilyterry8617]

Thanks for making the time for making this video! ❤ I’ve seen people a lot use string and a little needle to accomplish it in a shorter amount of time! Happy crafting!

[@AncientSouthwest]

You’re so right. I’ve tried needle and thread, and I’ve tried how they do in Mexico using guitar strings. What I end up doing every time is spilling all my beads by dropping the string. The only way I can do it is the slow way one at a time. Lol. I take forever to make these.

[@Birdie700]

ohh i like to learn how to do this its so pretty 😊thanks🇩🇰

[@michaellewin4641]

Thank you 😊 beautiful!

[@kjmcarl4257]

Wow. So inspiring. I’m going to try this. Thank you for sharing.

[@DarthMayder05]

this is amazing I am learning about my culture and wanted to really get into it more. Going to give this a try

[@AncientSouthwest]

Fantastic! It is incredibly fun and satisfying. It takes a bit to get the hang of it. I suggest buying a kit from an Etsy friend of mine. I buy my beads from her. She has great quality and the best prices I have found. I make my own sticky medium, but she sells that too. She also sells beginner starter kits for Huichol Bead Art. Her shop is KarBenKreations on Etsy and a beginner kit costs less than $20. XO

[@k.gardner2991]

wow..cool..love the thunderbirds! part of my spiritual name..i shall check out the merchandise very soon..peace from paco..my other name my friends gave me lol

[@teerich2011]

Wow so much easier than expected and get creative! Would like to try with glue. I live in Texas and I worry about how heat would affect the wax.

[@AncientSouthwest]

I’ve tried it with glue and it is very frustrating. Wax grabs and holds the beads. They slide around on glue, plus they stick to the awl. It doesnt word. Texas is fine. This art form is from desert Mexico. Just don’t leave it in hot direct sunlight.

[@baileymurry1477]

Thank you for the video! Where did you find the blank animal ornaments??

[@AncientSouthwest]

@@baileymurry1477 Hi. I stock up on them at Christmas. 🤗

[@diegoruiz3855]

Nice work. Thanks

[@mymja1]

I use tackie wax, and it works great and hardens well

[@AncientSouthwest]

Stephanie Durham I have used Tackee Wax from Etsy too -- OFTEN! It is an excellent product and I would recommend it to anyone. I've ordered kits and wax and beads from KarBen Creations (I think that's the name of the shop) many times. But as an artisan I do prefer to make my own medium. The mixture I make from Southwestern Pine and beeswax (with a wee bit of paraffin) is stickier and stiffer than Tackee Wax, which I prefer. But that's just me. Tackee Wax is the best prepared medium I have found for Huichol bead art anywhere on the internet. The only medium I like more is the one that I make for my own use. The smell and feel of my own medium puts me into a transcendental state perfect for creation. I source the Pine pitch from a tree in my friend's yard in Arizona. It smells like magic to me.

[@walkingbird916]

@@AncientSouthwest do you have a video on how to make a medium? I have made pine pitch before but not with beeswax. How much do you add of each for the mixture?

[@AncientSouthwest]

@@walkingbird916 I either collect or buy pine sap and melt it slowly in a container on one of those electric candle warmer pads (you know what I mean? They are like mini hot plates.) I melt together 50% sap and 50% bees wax (I’ve stopped adding any oil). I stir from time to time with something disposable. Once everything is melted, I pour it into a cupcake liner paper to cool and harden. If the pine sap is wild and dirty, the concoction will have a lot of debris in it and you may have to melt and strain it through cheesecloth first. But if it isnt too bad you can mostly just stir up, collect and throw away most of the junk and when you pour, only the smooth clear mixture will pour off anyway. The Huicholes use Compeche wax, but I haven’t been able to get my hands on any in North America yet. Working on it.

[@walkingbird916]

@@AncientSouthwest thank you for sharing and teaching! 💕

[@AncientSouthwest]

@@walkingbird916 My pleasure. Thank YOU. I hope you do this. It is really fun and satisfying.

[@merrinwinkel1140]

do the beads stay on long term? I wouldnt want to make on eif the beads fall off..beautiful work thanks for sharing!!

[@AncientSouthwest]

Merrin Winkel Yes! Hundreds of years at least (as long as you dont do silly things like bounce it or leave it in a really hot place).

[@josher3996]

Always good to check out your videos. Thanks for sharing this bead work! Keep up the hard work on the videos. I didn't see much of your posts on twitter, might be worthwhile! It'd be cool to get you to talk about some of your passion items on live stream called @NativesInfocus.

[@AncientSouthwest]

Josher H Thank you. I basically dropped Twitter because I can only do so much, you know? I’m also raising kids. I’d love to talk about something on livestream. Do you have suggestions and a live stream channel you host? I appreciate your feedback.

[@josher3996]

@@AncientSouthwest We typically broadcast on Periscope/ Twitter Live. All you need is the periscope app. We also allow call-ins using your phone or desktop (no twitter needed). Broadcasts can be found on our twitter page @nativesinfocus, Kevin will be doing a broadcast this evening. We post and encourage native related content to bring awareness, education, and growth. We can discuss more off this page, but it'd be cool to share some of your youtube clips, insights, and goals. (just throwing out some ideas).

[@kathyparks6222]

is there a recipe to make the wax that you are using

[@AncientSouthwest]

I go by feel, kind of how my aunt used to make flour tortillas. 😂 About 50/50 beeswax and pine pitch and a tiny portion of parafin. I melt it all together then cool it in a cake.

[@AncientSouthwest]

Actually I do sell a little project kit in my Etsy shop. Etsy.com/shop/eyeofgodart

[@walkingbird916]

Found the answer! Thx for sharing and I absolutely love your work. Beautiful! 💕

[@Nightflower651]

Beautiful. Quick question, does the beeswax and pine pitch easily melt if you're in warm temperatures?

[@AncientSouthwest]

Bianca Valles It can in high temps or direct sunlight.. I use a sealant over my work to prevent that happening too easily.

[@scottheffernan5286]

I am a beginning beader, (mainly weaving on a box loom made by me) and I've been enamored with Huichol beading since I was introduced to it. (My sister has a couple of pieces). I would like to learn it. I will travel and stay in that part of Mexico where necessary for immersion. Any suggestions you have for me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. S.

[@AncientSouthwest]

Scott Heffernan It is SO FUN! I suggest to buy this kit and just start. There’s no time like the present. Go to Etsy and look up a shop called KarBenKreations. They have a Starter Kit that is Excellent! Let me know if you find it. If you don’t maybe I can send you a link. KZbin won’t let me paste it here.

[@scottheffernan5286]

Sorry, It wouldn't let me go there. 😒 I'll figure something out. Thanks. S.

[@AncientSouthwest]

Scott Heffernan The direct link is www.etsy.com/listing/90331103/starter-kit-set-bfor-beaded-gourds-bowls?ref=shop_home_feat_3

[@scottheffernan5286]

@@AncientSouthwest 👍 Thank you. S.

[@imnormal4409]

hi :)) I have a question, where do you get the animal sculptures like the bear? and I was wondering if I could make a paper mache sculpture and then add beads to it but I’m not sure how that would turn out!!

[@AncientSouthwest]

I get them many places. Sometimes Etsy, sometimes christmas ornaments… recently I’ve been carving my own. I guess papier mache would work if it was firm enough. You will apply pressure when applying the wax and again when you press in the beads. Papier mache could buckle when pressed that hard.

[@chan1t03]

I can make u some sculptures

[@carlosc3882]

What size beads are used

[@AncientSouthwest]

The smaller the better. I like to use size 11 czech seed beads, but if you feel ambitious you could go down to 12. Real czech beads are uniform in size and that is important.

[@JanSti55]

Angelina, I have size 11 Czech beads but they don’t seem to be very uniform. Where do you buy yours?

[@opossumbottomdweller8875]

Can you make a video on how to make pine pitch?

[@AncientSouthwest]

Ok. I’ll put that on my list. Thanks.

[@AncientSouthwest]

Hi! I just posted the video you requested “How to Make Sticky Medium for Huichol Art” TheAncientSouthwest.com 🤗