Spring into Pow Wows!

Spring is here, and with such a mild winter it has Sprung Early in most parts of the Southeast.  I have seen the Butterflies Fluttering, newly hatched Spiderlings Spinning and I have already gathered my first batch of Chickweed to dry!   I have been very busy with the new shop, listing auctions on eBay, restocking the shop, special orders, and Regalia fixes for my sponsor Dancers, so I have not blogged in quite a while. 

Please visit David at http://whitewolfewilderness.com/

We had such a Wonderful Thundering Spirit Pow wow this year, it was one of the Biggest attended in several years.  I want to personally Thank all the Drums, Dancers, Performers, Vendors, Tony & Myra, the Supportive Spectators and Public for helping keep this years pow wow so Special.  I also want to thank all those who chose Not to attend the pow wow this year, you all helped in your own special way as well, be Blessed. 

Visit their website here: http://www.cherokeeofgeorgia.us

This years Summer Run Kicks off for us at the Cherokee of Georgia Pow wow in St George, Georgia.  We were invited to vend this year and are able to attend due to being so near the location.  We are very excited to be able to see many of our Florida and Georgia Pow Wow family one more time before we head North on the Trail.  I didn't get to attend our family pow wow in March, so I missed seeing many Dear Ones in Florida. 

Uncle Tony and Thunder

As always, our schedule is tentative, with additions and corrections being made on our pow wow page on the dot com here: http://sixdirectionstraders.com/calendar.html  So check back often, or if you are looking for an event that we may not be attending that may be in your vicinity.  A new state icon was added to the pow wow page recently, I got a listing from a pow wow in Oklahoma.  So it is not just the Southeast area, I have listings from Canada, Nebraska, and such.  With that said, this is the lineup we have so far, after COG, Ken will either be MC or AD at all these events, so they are definite.  Fill-ins will be designated on the pow wow page, by the wrulf icon as they get finalized.  Much Love and many prayers ~wrulf

April 5 -7 , 2012 ~ Cherokee of Georgia Spring Pow Wow

St George, GA 31562

April 27 -29, 2012 ~Farmington Intertribal Pow wow 2012

   Farmington Community Center - 1723 Farmington Rd - Mocksville, NC

May 25 -27, 2012 ~ Mt Airy Native American Pow Wow

Veterans Memorial Park - 691 W Lebanon St - Mt Airy, NC 27030

July 13 -15, 2012 ~ Strong Sun Festival & Pow Wow  

Tanglewood Park - 4061 Clemmons Rd ~ Clemmons, NC 27012

July 20 - 22, 2012 ~ Drums of Painted Mountain Powwow

Presented by: Inter Tribal Council of Southwest Virginia

Virginia Community College ~   

July 27 -29, 2012 ~ Mocksville Native America Pow Wow

Davie Parks & Recreation - 644 N Main St - Mocksville, NC 27028

August 31 - September 2, 2012 ~ Foothills Native American Pow Wow

1679 US HWY 21 ~ Thurmond, NC 28683

September 14 -16, 2012 ~ Pfafftown Native American Pow Wow 2012

West Central Community Center - 6130 Yadkinville Rd - Pfafftown, NC 27040

October 19 -21, 2012 ~ Yadkin Valley Intertribal Pow wow 2012

Ft. Hamby Park - 1534 S. Recreation Rd - Wilkesboro, NC 28697

Military Combat Ribbon Peyote Tube Beads

Greetings,
I have developed patterns for several Military Combat Ribbons, using Peyote Stitch you can make Tube Beads for use in Chokers, Necklaces, Bracelets and the like.  I have also found a new site that has a Lot of Tutorials and patterns for different Craft Techniques.  It is called Craftsy.com and I have a Pattern shop on there which you can find at this link:
http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/416242

 I have made these Military Tube beads available in my pattern shop in a Free PDF file, there are 8 patterns including: Vietnam Veteran, Korean Veteran, Desert Storm/Saudi Veteran, Iraq Veteran, Afghanistan Veteran, Purple Heart Award, National Defense Service Ribbon, and Stars & Stripes Forever.  The file consists of a Labeled Pattern and Bead Chart for the Delica #11 Colors and amount of beads for each pattern.  You will need to know Basic Peyote Stitch and how to 'Zip' the bead, but Please feel free to contact me if you have any problems with any of it.  There are several other Brick Stitch Earring patterns I have there from doodles I designed. 

Skellyton Fringed Earrings

I have been getting a Lot of beading done and I am starting to get caught up on my special orders.  Pow Wow season is right around the corner and I have been getting updates for the pow wow page from all over NDN country, So be sure to Check out the Pow wow Calendar tab at the top.  If you have a Pow wow coming up, or know of one that is not listed be sure to contact us to get  it listed... FREE Advertising!

Also, if you would like to be considered for the Pow wow AD page here on the blog please contact us.  I will be updating that with a few more Sponsored events very shortly.  Again, Nothing Beats FREE Advertising, and I am Glad to help out!  Enjoy the Mild Winter, looks like we are having a few days of Actual winter here in the "Deep South", so I am going to make another cup of Hot Tea. 
Much Love and Many Prayers
~wrulf

Wear Your (Purple) Heart on Your Sleeve

wear one's heart on one's sleeve and have one's heart on one's sleeve

Fig. to display one's feelings openly and habitually, rather than keep them private.

                                                                ~the Free Dictionary 

"...to remind me of letting go of feeling separate from others and all forms of life expressing itself in this time and place that I find myself."
                                                 ~thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com 

Done in #11 beads this pendant is 3" X 2"

I am compiling this post today in dedication to the Purple Heart Recipients.  It seems to me that most older War Veterans will not and do not acknowledge their service in public.  In this day and age of understanding and acceptance we strive to Acknowledge the Vietnam Veteran, who has Hidden themselves for Many Many years.  NOW we have Boys coming home, excuse me... Young Men and Women Returning to their homeland with War Wounds again.  We Acknowledge them so much better than we did back then, and this is GOOD! 
Please know, that when we do see you in the Grocery or out in Public, and when you are displaying your veteran status in some way... That we Will say,

"Thank You and Welcome Home"

and that you should Proudly Display that Cap, Sticker, Key Chain, T-shirt, or whatever it may be that displays your Veteran Status and/or your Military Affiliation.  Please note that the Purple Heart Badge "For Military Merit" should be included in that display if you have been awarded that.  Let us know, so that we may Recognize you and Thank you properly. 

That being said, I am posting some information on the Purple Heart Award.  Many people may not truly understand what it is.  Included are sections from the military historical site and you can read more here:

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/purple_heart.aspx

A purple heart within a gold border, 1 3/8 inches wide, containing a profile of General George Washington. Above the heart appears a shield of the Washington Coat of Arms (a white shield with two red bars and three red stars in chief) between sprays of green leaves. The reverse consists of a raised bronze heart with the words “FOR MILITARY MERIT” below the coat of arms and leaves.

The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was established by General George Washington by order from his headquarters at Newburgh, New York, August 7, 1782. The writings of General Washington quoted in part:
“The General ever desirous to cherish a virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military Merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over the left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with a due reward".

During the early period of World War II (7 Dec 41 to 22 Sep 43), the Purple Heart was awarded both for wounds received in action against the enemy and for meritorious performance of duty. With the establishment of the Legion of Merit, by an Act of Congress, the practice of awarding the Purple Heart for meritorious service was discontinued. By Executive Order 9277, dated 3 December 1942, the decoration was extended to be applicable to all services and the order required that regulations of the Services be uniform in application as far as practicable. This executive order also authorized award only for wounds received.

Executive Order 11016, dated 25 April 1962, included provisions for posthumous award of the Purple Heart. Executive Order 12464, dated 23 February 1984, authorized award of the Purple Heart as a result of terrorist attacks or while serving as part of a peacekeeping force subsequent to 28 March 1973.

This brings me to the main point of Today's post... I am making this New bead pattern that I developed, available for anyone to make for the Veterans.  Please DO NOT Sell or distribute this Pattern and give credit where credit is due.  It can be done as a medallion/pendat as I did in prototye, or made as an amulet pouch, or as a patch to use on a shirt, jacket or cap.  I am sure the experienced beader will know what to do with it ;) Enjoy! 
This pattern was Developed in Honor of Sgt David Wilkinson who contacted me about my military combat ribbon beadwork and asked about adding in something for the Purple Heart. It can be done in Brick, Peyote, or Comanche style stitches. You should be able to right click on the picture and save.

Much Love and many Prayers

Spiderwrulf

Military DD-214's Online Now!

It's official! DD-214's are NOW Online.
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following
website for veterans to gain access totheir DD-214s online:
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

 This may be particularly helpful when a veteran need s a copy of his DD-214for
 employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with
 computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their
 military files.
 Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may
 now use a new online military personnel records system to request
 documents.
 Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard
 Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online web site. Because the
 requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC toprocess
 the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for
 additional information will be minimized . The new web-based application was
 design ed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the
 records enters mailroom and processing time.
 Please pass this information on to former military personnel you may know
 and their dependents.