| When we think beads, we normally think of | | | | elaborate beaded jewelry for different purposes. |
| bracelets, anklets, hair ornaments and necklaces. | | | | Among them were dream catchers -- ritual items |
| What about beaded earrings? Well, earrings are | | | | placed on cradles and other sleeping areas in order to |
| mostly made of metal, enamel and precious stones, | | | | drive away bad dreams -- and beaded earrings for |
| some of us think. Earrings are fancy and | | | | the women. A common stone involved in the making |
| expensive!Fortunately, earrings don't have to be | | | | of bead jewelry is turquoise, which is said to lend |
| fancy, or expensive, or made of just one | | | | strength of conviction and character to the |
| extravagant material -- or a combination thereof. A | | | | wearer.Some beads are made of semi-precious |
| person can be elegant without spending a lot of | | | | stones, and as such make beaded earrings that are |
| money, and a person can be elegant without looking | | | | comparable to earrings made from other kinds of |
| so metallic!American Indians used to create very | | | | exotic materials -- like hemp. |