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Native American communities known as the first owners the American continent, have dominated the continent for a long time although their numbers have decreased considerably today. The earliest known history since the first settlements on the continent is based on the ice age. It is pointed that the first crossing from Asia to America took place via the Bering Strait, the land bridge that was allegedly formed due to the freezing of the ocean. In almost every corner of the America, there are a great many of indigenous communities which were numerous before the discovery. Native Americans create beadwork as one of their cultural characteristics. Today, geometric motifs are commonly used in ornamental designs. The northern part of the country rarely uses curvilinear motifs. Native American motifs use the star motif differently, as there are many motifs similar to Turkish motifs. One of the important common cultural features of Turks and Native Americans is their similar belief systems. In both cultures, the elements of the sky were found valuable and considered sacred. In this study; it is aimed to determine whether the star motif that appears in different areas in Turkish and Native American cultures belonging to different beliefs which don't have a border between them, has a common expression language, for which purposes and meanings it is used. This study is limited to the star motif which is commonly found in Anatolian weaving and Native American beadwork. In 2015, field research was done on the Arizona Navajo reservation by interviewing resource people and looking at literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the present state of bead work, which is one of the handicrafts in prison, is determined different product and motif suggestions are made and results are investigated. This research was carried out in Ankara 1st and 2nd L type closed prisoners. The materials of the study are information obtained from educators in the prisons and prisoners who one dealing with handicrafts, beading products, handicrafts items made after the courses and the literature. The method of the study is face to face interviewing. Moreover, seminars are given on traditional motifs, colour info, designing new products for inmates. After the given seminars, new motifs are observed on wood works, however there was not any new motifs, different colours or new products design on beading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]