Ellie Mae Maney

Ellie Mae Maney is a mostly self-taught beadworker who comes from a family of basket weavers.  Ellie started doing beadwork at 9 years old when she learned to make daisy chains from Helen Smith.

Ever since Ellie has picked up stitches on her own.  She has won ribbons for her beadwork in the Cherokee Fall Festival.

Ellie Mae Maney continues to practice her craft at her home in the Big Cove community along with teaching her daughter and a few friends the basics of beadwork.

Ellie May Maney

“I started doing beadwork at 9 years old. ”