I used to make beaded jewelry and wear it around. Then I started getting glared at or yelled at, and called a racist because the pattern I thought was “neat looking” happened to belong to this culture or that culture. I’d learned as a kid that for some reason I wasn’t allowed to wear certain styles, no matter how pretty I thought they were because somebody was always insulted by what I wore. Heck, I started wearing all one color (black) so hopefully no one would be offended, and people still yell at me for THAT.
White people aren’t allowed to be ethnic. Which is too bad, because I think there are some gorgeous things out there. I’m not trying to insult anyone, I’m not trying to lay claim to someone else’s culture, I just like pretty things.
You were not copying anything, just making designs that pleased you.
Those that were offended because they thought they had a copyright or patent on the designs you made should have been more mature than they were and appreciated what you had made.
They could have sat down with you and explained that their ancestors made similar patterns.
They should have been honored that the spirits of their ancestors chose you to let them see the beauty of the creations channeled through you. (Ok I made the “spirit” stuff up, but maybe they could have seen it that way.)
I know a very wise old Indian that I am sure would have had no problem with what you did.
Years ago I needed some shoes and had some leather so I made some sandals.
I created the design to be functional and durable, and such that they would stay on my feet securely
Some time later I was on the coast of California and ran into an old leather-worker.
I showed her the sandals that I had designed and made and she told me that it was a classic design from the Greeks many centuries ago.
She also told me that every sandal style had been made and that no new ones could be created using the same materials available years ago.