Call of the Wild - Native American Stamps with Sheena Douglass

Hello, peeps, it's me again! Binge posting! lol

Back in October we were super excited at Sheena HQ! There was a very good reason too!  I love all of Sheena's collections but this was something close to my heart, Native American. It was like the Steampunk incident all over again, I needed Camomile tea to calm down! What a giddy kipper I was, well, so were all the team, and rightly so! This is an amazing set of dies and matching stamps.

Without further a do.. I shall introduce you to the tribe! Here is the wise and wonderful chief, as the sun sets, giving thanks to Grandfather Sun.

“Out of the Indian approach to life there came a great freedom, an intense and absorbing respect for life, enriching faith in a Supreme Power, and principles of truth, honesty, generosity, equity and brotherhood as a guide to mundane relations.”
― Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux Chief ( 1868-1939)

As we know every tribe needs a medicine person or woman, although this is not a term created by the Native Americans. This wise woman carries with her the power of Eagle medicine, a connection to great spirit which enables her to bring balance to the realm of the Earth. Here the sun rises on a new day. I made the medicine wheel to compliment this scene. 

"Native American women will lead the healing among the tribes. Inside them are the powers of love and strength given by the Moon and the Earth. When everyone else gives up, it is the women who sings the songs of strength. She is the backbone of the people. So, to our women we say, sing your songs of strength; pray for your special powers; keep our people strong; be respectful, gentle, and modest. -Village Wise Man, Lakota. " 

This is a medicine bag I made using the faux leather technique, hand stitched too. 

Here the great eagle soars into the sky..

"The voice of Great Spirit is heard in the twittering of birds, the rippling of might waters, and the sweet breathing of flowers..." Gertrude Simmons Bonnin (Dakota Sioux -1876-1938) 

Grandfather Sun has risen, and the eagle brings you a message from Great Spirit, he carries with him creative forces soon to be unleashed! 

For this sample I combined it with the birds in flight from Sheena's Urban and Country stamp collection. 

. "The old Lakota was wise. He knew that a man’s heart, away from nature, becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to lack of respect for humans, too. So he kept his children close to nature’s softening influence." Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux Chief ( 1868-1939) 

For this card, I multi cut the cactus die and then cut it into segments, working into the centre. This could also work as a Dhalia. 

Grandfather Sun has set and made way for Grandmother Moon, and the wolf meets his silver ally. The wolf seeks to teach all of Earth's children the mysteries of life, he seeks out new paths for you to follow, so, take the courage of the wolf and set out on your adventure. 

I do love this dreamcatcher, such an intricate die! 

With this creation I wanted to do something different. The Native Americans believe that all animals have souls like humans, each bird has its own spirit, and the energy of that spirit is contained within it's feathers. They are viewed as 'gifts from the sky' and when they arrive they always bring a message and a purpose. So, for this card I tried to interpret that belief and wanted it to look like they were floating and tumbling from the Heavens.

This is another more modern interpretation with the dreamcatcher on a notebook. 

So, I hope you have felt the Call of the Wild and the power of Great Spirit move through you.

Be at peace with yourself, your brothers and sisters and the world around you. 💗

Crafty hugs

xx