Our New Look

First off let me say how sorry I am for neglecting our blog.

We have been frantically working to get our new home page up and ready for the holiday season. Please take advantage of the information we have gathered for you and revisit us often to

find out what's HOT in the Southwest.

As you all know I am a huge fan of the Native American artists and I hope you feel we bring you the best there is to offer. Each week we will be adding new products as well as featuring our current artists. This time we are featuring Gale Self. He is by far my favorite artist. The piece to the left is a wonderful example of his stone cutting skills. This enchanting butterfly set is out of the Kingman mine and is a stunning turquoise color with copper matrix. Please check it out in detail on our new home page.

I would love to hear from you all to know what you like and any ideas you have for future features. Please feel free to come and chat with us.

A Contemporary Look

I have talked a lot about our jewelry so this time I thought I would venture off that subject a bit and introduce one of our fantastic belt lines.

The belts pictured here are done by Kippy's out of California. These belts use the best of the best. The quality is unsurpassed, they are so sure of what they produce they attach an almost unlimited guarantee on their products.

I have a number (to big to discuss here!!) of these and wouldn't dream of not putting one on each time I walk out the door. The crystals they use are Swarovski, and we all know the refraction they have.

Kippy's uses some of the best designers out there. They provide us with looks from very traditional to the wild, all depends on how brave you feel. Some of them are done with Italian leather others use hair-on-hide to give a little more casual feel.

Many of the stars out there wear Kippy's. I have seen many photos for Gretchen and others supporting these stunning belts. So take a look and see if there isn't one on our site with your name on it.

The Naja

The attached photo is of an outstanding piece done by Gale Self.

This is a green turquoise Naja done from stone out of the Kingman mine in Arizona.

The Naja is actually a Navajo word meaning crescent-shaped pendant. Both the Naja and the Squash blossom were introduced to the Navajo by the Spanish. The Naja is similar to the crescent-shaped pendants that hung from the headstalls of Spanish silver bridles. The Spanish first borrowed the design element in earlier centuries from the Moors of North Africa.

Gale has enhanced this Naja by making the center piece removable allowing much for versatility. He has a unique way of taking a very traditional item and putting a more modern twist on it.

My obsession

So when did my obsession start? Much to my dismay when I started thinking about this post, it's been almost 34 years since my husband (then boyfriend) purchased me my first piece of turquoise jewelry. Even with my Mother's Native American Heritage she never wore much jewelry, so I don't think I could get by with blaming her!!

As a young girl the pieces he first bought me were certainly smaller and more delicate. Where as today I wear many of the large impressive pieces. Guess as I grew so did my jewelry. That's the best part of this jewelry, the sizes and styles are endless, so no matter what your style or taste, there's a piece to fit you.

Indian Jewelry has been made for centuries, today it is created, worn, and sold almost everywhere in the Southwest. American Fashion designer Bill Blass made the statement " American Indian jewelry is indeed timeless and looks wonderful when worn with modern clothes--day or evening." I agree wholeheartedly.

Many times I wear very traditional pieces, such as the squash blossom with a concha belt, this look isn't for everyone but it's a good fit for me.
There are other times I pull together a much more modern look with my Indian pieces complimenting my Kippy's or Simon's belts.
Large turquoise pieces are a killer look with that little black dress. I guess the key here is what ever look you put together, if you love it----- it works!!!

Like with most jewelry, it's about an attitude and how it makes you feel.

In future posts I will try and touch on the different types of jewelry made by different tribes, the most common stones used and some of the other traditions with this fantastic art.

Until next time !