Strictly speaking, this isn't a textile -- but a pair of beautifully beaded leather moccasins. They were made by the Ojibwa in Minnesota and given to my great grandmother, Jenny Wedin, when she was a little girl. The Wedins lived for a while in Minnesota as her father did business there before moving to Valley City, ND to become a farmer. These moccasins were dearly loved, and worn to an inch of their life! The soft leather soles have almost given up -- but the beaded work is wonderful as is the black velvet band across the top with its green and white beaded trim.
Below is a photograph of Jenny with her new husband, William Westergaard -- a prominent and successful farmer in Valley City. From the few dresses of hers that I have seen (including this wedding dress) Jenny had something like a 20 inch waist. Absolutely tiny...and yet she was reputed to be quite a horsewoman, famous for galloping her spirited horse across the farmlands when she was a young woman.
