Try this Dream Catcher Gourd Project will explain how how to add this Native American(s) talisman to a gourd and why it could help your sleeping. A great technique for those who love the Southwest Style.
Many of the American Indigenous tribes translated their spiritual ideas into their art. Decorating everyday objects with symbols helped educate people about their past and how to make sense of their environment. This art had meaning and function: The dream catcher solved the problem of a crying baby at night and helped explain the importance of dreams. Today, we focus more on the aesthetics of the talisman than its spiritual purpose. We don’t always use it as intended. But it is crucial to understand its beginnings and pass that on to our viewers. The dream catcher works well as a theme for our gourd art. You can use the elements as intended or adapt your meanings with the decorations you add.
Hopefully, my information on this topic will encourage you to try one and give it as a gift to explain the meaning you have given your elements.
Dream Catcher Gourd Project Background
Purpose of a Dream Catcher
The Ojibwe tribe created dream catchers to help children deal with their nightmares. Believing the powerful night air brings good and bad dreams, they created this object to protect them from evil. The dream catcher swaying gently in the breeze catches these dreams as they flow by and pass only the good ones to you.
By the way, good dreams know how to find their way through the holes and land gently into the mind of the one sleeping below it. Meanwhile, bad dreams get filtered and find their way back into the night air. Therefore, they stopped the babies from crying at night.
Making the Traditional Dream Catcher
Begin by moistening the willow bark or grapevine. Now, twist the ends together and place a heavy rock on the connection until it dries flat.
Once the hoop has dried, wrap it with suede lace or ribbon to ensure the suede does not overlap but rests adjacent to the previous loop. Make a hanging loop at the end of the wrapping.
Next, start the web by tying the sinew to the loop base. Now work clockwise, spacing out 8 knots around the circle.
Once you have the basic shape of the web in hand, start weaving the second layer. Ensure that the second layer’s knots are at the center of the earlier knots. Stop weaving the web when you have a tiny circle in the middle.
Here is a video of this process for you to watch.
HOW TO MAKE A TRADITIONAL DREAMCATCHER
How do you make a Dream Catcher?
If you are not a traditionalist, here are some videos and tutorials to help you learn the basic process. I recommend you try one before you start on the gourd.
Dream Catcher Gourd Project Background
Parts of a Dream Catcher have a meaning
Every element used to make the dream catcher has significance. Whatever you place in the center of the web represents the spider. Any beads you scatter around the web represent good dreams caught throughout. Feathers represent the breath of the night air. If you use traditional real feathers, the owl’s feather stands for wisdom, while that of an eagle stands for courage. Remember, you cannot use use any item from an endanger animal.
The good dreams are then said to slip down the feathers to the sleeper, while the bad dreams get caught in the web and are burned away by the morning sun.
The dreamcatcher’s web also represents the spider, a symbol of a web weaver, a protector, and a nurturer, known to be a spiritual helper to the Ojibwe people. This intricate web is also a symbol of the connectedness of all things.
The small dream catcher began as a protection for a baby. It hung on cradleboards to help collect the evil thoughts and spirit which surround them. The spider web design was most often used.
But warriors often hung a dream catcher in their hair with a snake pattern web to protect their skull. Today it has become a symbol of harmony in the culture and protection from outside evils.
Many American Indigenous artists have created elaborate dream catcher as art object with items all related to some special meaning for themselves or their tribe.
Dream Catcher Gourd Project Background
Where do you hang it, and how many knots should it have?
Traditionally, the dream catcher hung near a sleeping baby at the room’s opening. Today, you can find them in the living room, where you often receive your guests. Dream catchers are full of all kinds of dreams, and to avoid the negative and scary ones, hang the dream catcher in the East or South direction. Never face it in the North direction, as it will attract terrible vibrations.
A dreamcatcher with 13 points represents the 13 phases of the moon, 8 points symbolize the spider woman in the Native American legends, 7 points refer to the seven prophesies, 6 points represent an eagle, and 5 points symbolize a star.
Our Dream Catcher Gourd Project
This gourd project is quite consuming but not complicated if you can make a dream catcher before you start.
Raven’s Crafty Nest takes you through the process with only written words. Still, the images will help you see the possibilities of cutting a hole into your gourd and how to add all the elements you want to your dream catcher.
You can watch her create another dream catcher gourd where she adds feathers to the bottom.
Here are the supplies she uses.
- Gourd
- Dremel
- Drilling bit
- Woodcutter
- Sanding bit
- Tjoko paint / Chalk paint * Cream/ Ivory Paint * Gold paint
- Leather string * Maroon String * Brown String * Dark red paint
- Charms * Beads
Dream Catcher Gourd Project
Basic Process Steps
This project is quite time-consuming, but it is worth it when you see the end product.
Here are the twelve steps she takes to create her gourd.
Follow the steps:
- Draw the pattern you want to remove on your gourd.
- Use your dremel with your wood-cutting disc cut out 1 cm from the gourd.
- Use your sanding bit and work away until you reach the line.
- Drill holes 2cm apart around the edges using your drilling bit.
- Use a sponge and chalk paint and paint the outside of your gourd. Let dry between the layers.
- Paint the inside of your gourd with ivory or cream paint.
- Go around the edges with gold paint to create a border.
- String through the holes using your leather String.
- Start by forming a knot with your maroon string and start your dreamcatcher.
- Halfway through, change your string to brown string.
- Use a toothpick, maroon, and gold paint to create a “flower” pattern around a few holes.
- Attach charms and beads to your dreamcatcher. This project would take about two days to finish. You can use any colors or patterns on your gourd.
Watch the video to see this process.
More sources for creating a dream catcher gourd project
Here is a written tutorial with pictures that illustrate the weaving process.
You can watch our video artist create another dream catcher gourd where she adds feathers to the bottom.
Where you put your hole for the dream catcher can make a difference.
I hope ths information has inspired you to start your own dream catcher. If you would like more information on this taliman, I would refer you to this video, History of Dream Catchers.
Now, you can create your version of a dream catcher gourd. If you have already done several, can you offer tips to the next viewer?
Please, share your thoughts here in the comment box or share them with all the gourd artists on our Facebook Group Page.
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