Beaded Buffalo

While camping in South Dakota one autumn, we spotted a storm heading toward us like a locomotive. As we dashed to the tents, barely missing a trailside rattlesnake, the gray-black clouds chased us like dirty tumbleweeds. We dove into our shelters just as the maelstrom hit, watching gale-force winds flatten tents and bucket-size raindrops pelt the land.

When the storm passed, the land and sky were an eerie gold as sun filtered through the clouds. Off in the distance we watched lightning strike and felt the ground shake under our boots from the thunder.

This storm-inspired design is affixed to a 10″ x 10″ buffalo leather bag, and there’s a soft-fur back, with full coverage front flap to protect the bead work. A small bead panel on front has dangling brass cones with horsehair and large pony beads.