After 400 yards of heavy canvas, 160 button holes, 40 carved willow pins, 36 stress patches, 20 spools of thread, 6 smoke flaps and 3 gorgeous days sewing outdoors at B4 Ranch, we successfully finished part 1 of our tepee workshop.
(all images by Honestly…WTF)
That looks so utterly amazing, a complete dream for me to escape a winter in Scotland & put on a feather headdress & build a teepee – one of these days!
You girls are sooooo damn creative! Love it!
amazing! its so beautiful!
best DIY EVER!
awesome!!
you two are talented teepee makers – was this just for fun or part of something bigger?
WOW! these teepees are amazing – me and a group of girlfriends stayed in some for my hen night, so much fun! is this in aid of a teepee inspired shoot perhaps?! you guys are inspirational x
Jealous I couldn’t partake 🙁 Looks amazing and fun, nothing more rewarding than building something with your hands!!
awesome
This is amazing. Do you have more info on the Ranch and workshop?
Thanks guys! Glad you like it! My mother in law (the tepee expert) actually hosted the workshop at her home in California. It was so much fun that we might do another one in the Spring. Lauren and I will definitely let you know if it happens! xx
It is unbelievable that something like that can be made by hand (and sewing machine) by women in a weekend!! And to create in that environment must have been amazing. Did you know that this month’s Vogue shows Stella McCartney’s home in the English countryside with teepees in her backyard? Hope to be able to come up and participate in the spring. Keep creating and inspiring us !!!!
how creative!
this is the most impressive DIY project i’ve EVER seen!
Erica, is there anything you can’t do???
I am so deeply jealous of your sewing machine collection. If they’re missing someday, it may be me!
i just have to say you dressed up exactly as one of my good friends….she has that Forever 21 cardigan and she wore her look with moccasins too! and also building a tepee sounds amazing!
This is amazing. I wanted to just as talented…I’d whip up my own tepee.
My goodness! This looks awesome! How can your readers figure out how to make this tepee too?? :))) DIY??
@Chelsea, The Indian Tipi is a very informative book on the history and construction of the tepee. You can find it on Amazon! hopefully, we’ll be doing another tepee workshop in the future! xx
wowzers, okay this IS incredible! kudos 😀
California! That’s where I live!! I definitely want to come to the next workshop. Owning a tipi is a lifelong dream of mine! And making your own – just a brilliant idea!
Um, have you ever considered the idea that cultural appropriation is pretty insensitive to Native cultures? http://nativeappropriations.blogspot.com/2010/04/but-why-cant-i-wear-hipster-headdress.html
Agree with Linda.
I agree with Linda as well
Appropriating a headdress might be considered insensitive when the appropriator doesn’t understand or respect the important and nuanced cultural significance of the original garment. However the term appropriation implies that the original work is used in the creation of a new work, or at least used in a new way. In this case the tipi is serving the same purpose it would have for the originating culture, as a shelter from the elements. It is not cultural appropriation, and in fact its not appropriation at all.
Please make sure you understand why cultural appropriation can have negative connotations before making misinformed public comments. Otherwise you do a disservice to those who are truly affected by it.
I agree with Abe. If anything, this post, and this blog in general, pays respect to and honors different cultures and the nuances that make them unique and beautiful.
this is fantastic!!! oh my word. Do you guys have the workbook available anywhere??!!!!??
Women didn’t traditionally wear head dresses in the North American tribes that used this kind of Tipi (which is the Dakota word for home). So yes, Abe, it is cultural appropriation. On top of that these women are the benefactors of a colonial society who created legal policies to exterminate the indigenous people. They even wear “Indian style” clothes they bought from a shopping mall that steal old designs with deep personal meaning from the surviving families that live today. That’s another example of cultural appropriation, Abe. So… please make sure you understand what cultural appropriation actually is so you can recognize it before making misinformed public comments.
Does it get wet? Do you always take it down before winter? You built the deck? Ontop of gravel maybe? I just bought some land, I’m looking for inexpensive and creative building ideas. I wouldn’t make it so big. I’m only one girl with one sewing machine. 400 yards of canvas!?! I’d be sewing for years. Thanks for sharing your very cool tepee.