Beading In The Native American Tradition, by David Dean, is a book that deserves a special place in the collection of the serious beader. Whether a beginner or expert, this book will become invaluable to your library collection.

David Dean is of Choctaw and European heritage. As a child he began to develop an interest in bead work and learned from some of his older relatives and also from Elder women of many tribes. Dean has more than thirty years of bead artwork he has produced and is a beader and fan maker of renown. Dean teaches bead work techniques and also teaches dances and history of the dances and costumes in the powwow circuit, where he also is a dancer.

Even if one is not a beader, it is an enjoyable experience to read the history of beading in the Native American fashion and look at the beautiful photographs of antique, as well as newer, items such as bags, moccasins, fans, belts and many other items.

For the beginner, as well as the experienced beader, Dean provides detailed instructions and drawings for every type of beading stitch from traditional and common ones to the uncommon ones. He has included instructions on how to construct Two bar looms, Bow looms, Heddle looms, and Box looms and how to use them. His drawings for these looms gives a detailed vision of what the looms look like.

Dean has provided pattern designs and blank graphs to design your own patterns. The patterns include designs from many different tribes and are in beautiful, vivid color.

The section on Tools, Materials, And How To Buy Beads is a wonderful and very useful source for getting one started on the right path for any of the projects in the book. This section will truly help the serious beader set up a very well organized beading area. Dean goes over the essential use of lighting, awls and needles, threads, backing materials, scissors and cutting tools, pliers, and thread conditioners in explicit detail. His information on how to buy and store beads is of great help. There is even a set of instructions on how to estimate the amount of beads you will need for any project you may have in mind. He goes over bead sizes and types and how to compare the different beads, such as Italian, Czech, French, and Japanese.

This book is a valuable addition to one's collection and an excellent source for the beader interested in Native American beading techniques and design.
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