For thousands of years, corn has been a staple crop for Indigenous people from all across Turtle Island. For the people along the east coast, the most common way of drying and storing corn is to attach each ear's husk into a long and beautifully crafted braid. These artisticly woven braids would then be hung from the rafters of the longhouse, the main living unit for the clan. As the braided corn dried, rising smoke from the fires and dances below enhanced the flavor and reduced any potential insect damage. Throughout the winter and spring, braids would be taken down taken down and prepared in numerious dishes or for planting. 
 
At Lost Colony Trading Post, one of our resident artists, Ronnie Francisco has recreated these iconic braids in miniature using seed beads.  These gorgeous miniature braids can be used as wall hangings, hung from the rear view mirror of your vehicle, or used as decorative ornaments and jewlery. Each ear is pain stakingly beaded using size 6 glass seed beads, then  braided together.  The total length of these pieces are approx. 6 inches long, with gold buck skin as the husks. Each ear is 2 inches long. These are one of a kind items and therefore variations occur with each braid.