This is the 3rd Boho Dreamcatcher I made for my so-called balcony on the first floor.
I bought the wreathe at the Dollar Store (Dollar Stop) last year in the fall.
The red chord is a silk cord for jade & pearls and other jewelry working in China. in China the color red is believed to have "power" or "strength", thus why it's often used. (I used to have amy own store selling imports from China).
It has cowrie shells which were money for centuries in many cultures including China, and even North America, but all over.
It also has Buddhist mala beads, and the Chinese word "long" in Traditional script which means Dragon in Chinese. (I'm also working on my own independent film with Qilin that are related to Dragons)
I saw these willow wreathes at the dollar store a few weeks ago, so I got one!
I already made a dreamcatcher from scratch from grapevines last month, so I wanted to try one of these and do something similar.
It's made with a number of items from my old store I used to have, especially Buddhist mala beads and jade from China, and the medallion, which was a popular one we sold back then.
This project actually came together rather fast, compared to my other dreamcatcher I made. However, it still took several hours worth of prep and hand work.
Wild concord grapes grow all over the place in New England, leftover from Pilgrims and Vikings centuries ago.
I built it up over time, until I couldn't safely reach all the grapevines because Virginia creepers took over, and not only they a kind of poison ivy, but I'm HIGHLY allergic to them, and can also spread it by touching people after I've been afflicted with it. I'm actually NOT allergic to regular poison ivy, tho'. *shrugs*
Anyways, some morning glories got mixed in there, because they wouldn;t let go of the grapevines, so I left 'em in.
I had to let it dry all month.
Then I grabbed all my bits & bobs. I'm Mescalero Apache, but this will be Boho Chic themes, or Gypset, kinda Hippie stuffs.... I used Buddhist mala beads from my many travels in China, Chinese red silk chord for making jade or pearl beading stuff, jade fetishes, and manao yu jade mala beads, and crystal beads.
Pretty tricky stuff!
Then, I put ribbons on it. I have ALL KINDS OF RIBBONS. I got some from Mexico, different grades from China, including silk high grade ones from my mother-in-law from China.
And, I added bits from an old dress my daughter had, that I used to make other things, and had pieces left over from. I still want to add feathers. Need to get some.
I haven't quite figured out how to hang it yet... looking for some stuff to hang it on.
