I have been beading for over thirty years, beginning in junior high school, but it went to a new level while in college. I was majoring in anthropology and one of my professors discovered I did beadwork. He was also the curator for the department museum. Since the museum did not have anyone familiar with beadwork, I was recruited as a work-study student to assist in giving tours of the museum, and to become the museums "bead person". My two main goals while there were the completion of a Plains Indians beaded strike-a-light pouch, and a bead display depicting samples of beads that were commonly used by Plains Indians. Because of this I became a more serious and accomplished beader, and became knowledgeable in the history and researching of beads.

After receiving a bachelors degree in anthropology, the reality and conflict of finding a job in my field while still being able to eat set in. I returned to college and completed majors in chemistry and meteorology. I now work in the field of chemistry, but the interest in beadwork and bead research has stayed with me. I still have most of my bead research materials, including copies of "The Bead Journal" from it's premier in 1974 through 1978, "Handbook on Beads" by W.G.N. Van Der Sleen, "The Universal Bead" by Joan Mowat Erikson, and other misc. books and magazines. I also have a copy of the Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 86, featuring CHIPPEWA CUSTOMS by Frances Densmore, 1929. This is the source referenced on our vintage bead page for the origins of the dream catcher charm.

Maggie can be contacted at maggieendres@hotmail.com if you would like more information on her beadwork, sizes, availability and custom orders. Please keep in mind that each piece is individually done, and there will be some variation in commissioned pieces.