How to decorate authentic on your cradleboard

The cradleboard was made by Native americans. It was ment to give the baby a straight back, and easily take the baby without use of hands. Beautiful cradles were made by different tribes like Cheyenne, Nez Perce, Sioux, and all the others. This project cost much time, I spent from 9:00 am, to 7:00 pm just cutting the wood, and sewing. I spent about 5 hours beading horses, flowers and other things on it. Read carefully and you'll see my version of the cradleboard

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Imagination
• Supplies to decorate (like feathers, pouch, fringe rosettes, ect)
• Your finished cradleboard.
• maybe quills or beads

1. Look at pictures of cradle boards and decide on your materials you will decorate with. Feathers add a nice touch (see tips and warnings.) They added beautiful quilled medicene wheels and dreamcatchers.
2. Prepare your decorations next. Here is a listing of decorations they used: Medicene pouches, rosettes, feathers, medicene wheels, dreamcatchers, horsehair, beads, copper, buttons, paints, even small drums, animal tails, fur, paws, dangling beads on the hood for amusement.
3. Start adding your decorations. Dreamcatchers would be usually on the bottom or middle. The cradle board pictures will inspire you. (google cradleboard pics) You can also ask the natives themselves for assistance and information. Good luck!

Tips & Warnings

• I painted white turkey feathers to look like eagle feathers.
• Do not add disrespectful things to the board like the dyed feathers like you see in craft stores. (colors such as green, blue, pink, ect.)
• First bead your cradle board before you sew it altogether.
• If you are to paint feathers to look like eagle use the authentic colors grey, brown, black.
• If this is for your own or someone elses baby add each thing tightly on so it doesn't break. Especially if you are to add dangling beads on the 'hood".