The Seminole Tribe of Florida has about 2,200 members and the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida Indians has about 500 members. Some still live in chickees and wear clothing derived from traditional styles. The tribe built these chickees for cultural presentations of Seminole traditional arts, crafts and foodways. Patchwork Sewing Madeline Tongkeamha creates colorful patchwork used in modern Seminole clothing. The women artisans of the Seminole adapt textile arts to suit traditional functions and changing needs.
Patchwork is the process of sewing pieces of cloth into rows of designs, joined to make garments.
Seminole women use the sewing machine to evoke fire, rain, or storm in traditional patterns. Beadwork Martha B. Jones makes contemporary Seminole beadwork necklaces, belts, and sashes. In the 1992-1994 Apprenticeship Program, Jones was an apprentice in palmetto stem basket making. Dollmaking Agnes N. Cypress of Immokalee, will be demonstrating traditional styles of dollmaking. The dolls are made of palmetto fibers, hand sewn to create the head and body, and dressed in traditional Seminole costumes.