Perfect Gifts for the Holidays

Native American Indian Jewelry makes a wonderful gift during any time of the year. But these individually handmade pieces of art are especially fitting as holiday presents.  

With the holiday season upon us, what better time than now to buy unique, one of a kind presents for the Native American jewelry lovers in your life? The popularity of American Indian jewelry has never been higher. When you buy Native American made jewelry, you are buying something that is not factory made, mass produced or imported; it is handmade by Native American Indian artists who create unique, one of a kind, works of art - no two pieces are identical.

 
The Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and Santo Domingo silversmiths, lapidarists and bead-makers have gained a world-wide reputation for their beautiful and distinctive jewelry. Unlike much of the assembly-line manufactured jewelry on the market today, Native American art is painstakingly hand-crafted, carrying with it the artist's own unique style and personal vision. Indian jewelry is rich in culture and tradition, since Native Americans have been making jewelry for well over one hundred years.
 
Whether you’re in search of rings, bracelets, necklaces or earrings, and whether you are an avid collector or neophyte, www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com has the quality, selection and prices that you are looking for. We strive to have something for everyone.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE

www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com

November is Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month

View our entire stock of new, dead pawn and vintage American Indian jewelry. Over 1200 authentic Native American handmade Bracelets, Rings, Earrings, Necklaces, Squash Blossoms, Pendants, Concho Belts, Buckles, Bolos & other Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and Santo Domingo jewelry items are available in stock and ready to ship within 1 business day from the time of your order.

 www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com

 

 

 

Native American Silversmith: Kirk Smith

SAD NEWS FOR THE NAVAJO JEWELRY WORLD   We recently learned that one of our favorite Navajo silversmiths - Kirk Smith - died tragically on Monday, September 17, 2012. Kirk Smith was a student and former brother-in-law of the late master silversmith Harry Morgan. Kirk Smith's work is considered collector and investment quality. He began making jewelry in the 1960s, learning from his grandfather. His artistry and his vision will be sorely missed.

Below is an article from the local New Mexico Channel 4 newsroom:


"KOB Eyewitness News 4 learned what led to the death of a renowned Native American artist outside a Subway restaurant Monday night.

Albuquerque police confirmed on Tuesday that Rayono “Kirk” Smith died after being thrown from a moving pickup truck near Menaul and Princeton.

According to Smith’s family, he and his wife were in town buying supplies for his silver jewelry-making business when they stopped at the Subway to eat before heading back to their home in Grants.

That is when a blue Dodge pickup drove through the parking lot and hit Smith’s truck. An eyewitness told KOB that Smith went out to confront the driver, but that the driver and two others in the truck just laughed. Then they drove off and Smith jumped onto the truck's hood. The driver swerved to get Smith off the truck. Smith did fall and was found critically injured on Claremont Street. He later died at University of New Mexico Hospital.

Smith's cousin, Calvin Martinez told KOB the reason Smith confronted the driver of the pickup truck, was to get him to stay in the parking lot until the police could be called.

 Jewelry by Navajo Kirk Smith

Gene & Martha Jackson Jewelry

Martha and Gene Jackson are Navajo silversmiths from Chinle, Arizona. They have been making beautiful handcrafted sterling silver jewelry since the 1980s. They are featured in many Native American jewelry books and have won many awards. Gene's father was a silversmith, working in old traditional styles. Gene learned his skills from carefully observing his father and later refined his abilities by attending a class at the Navajo Community College. The well known Navajo silversmith Kenneth Begay, was his teacher. Some of Kenneth Begay's influence can be seen in Gene's pieces. Martha collaborates with her husband, from whom she learned silversmithing. They both prefer to work with traditional designs and materials. They stamp their work with a hogan symbol and their last name "JACKSON". Their son, Tommy Jackson, is a well-known silversmith in his own right.

Click here to see our latest selection of Navajo handmade jewelry by Gene & Martha Jackson 

 

Copper Indian Jewelry Makes a Comeback

When the price of sterling silver hit almost $50 an ounce this past year, well known silversmith Johnathan Nez began using copper instead of sterling silver in some of his popular bracelets. The results are strikingly beautiful! Johnathan was just one of a number of Native American silversmiths who began fashioning their usual turquoise jewelry out of copper instead of sterling silver. The trend was born out of necessity. More and more artists were having difficulty affording the silver they needed to make their jewelry.


The tradition of using copper in jewelry began many years ago for the Native Americans. Before the Europeans came to America, native metalwork was fairly simple, consisting primarily of hammering and etching copper into pendants or earrings and fashioning copper and silver into beads. It wasn't until the Navajo, Hopi and Pueblo artists learned silversmithing from the Spanish in the 1800's, that the use of silver in metal jewelry arts blossomed in the Southwest. 

During the Fred Harvey era, when there was a big demand for inexpensive tourist trinkets and jewelry, copper was often used in place of silver. For example, the Bell Trading Post, founded in 1935 by Jack Michelson in Albuquerque, New Mexico, produced tourist/Fred Harvey era pieces made by Native Americans. The majority of jewelry made was made from sterling silver, turquoise and copper.

In the 1940's when Hopi silversmiths Fred Kabotie and Paul Saufkie started the G.I. training program for Hopi veterans to learn silversmithing, students worked with copper for practice because it was less expensive and even produced a few pieces for sale.  Today many young aspiring silversmiths begin their jewelry making careers using copper until they master their jewelry making skills. 

Often a protective coating has been applied to the copper jewelry to help prevent tarnishing.

Some other interesting facts about copper:

Copper jewelry has been worn for thousands of years for relief of the pain of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. Copper has been used for medicinal purposes as far back as ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome as well as in the ancient Aztec civilization.

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE IACA SHOW

Bennard & Frances Dallasvuyaoma
Wait until you see their "Warrior Woman" bracelet! 

Warrior Woman Link Bracelet

PICTURES FROM THE IACA SHOW

Orville and Darlene Tsinnie with their grand daughter, a budding young artist.

Gallup, New Mexico - The Source

I arrived in Gallup, New Mexico this afternoon (Sunday) a little after noon time, so I drove directly to re-known Earl's Family Restaurant on Route 66. I have always wanted to stop at this famous Rt 66 diner stop, but in the past, it has always been too crowded to get in, with lines of cars waiting!  I had already decided that no matter how long I had to wait, I would do it. But this time I was in luck. I found a parking spot right away and was checking out the Native American vendors outside the restaurant within minutes of my arrival. The Navajo taco was good enough but I was really there for a sopapilla with honey. Mmmm. The vendors stopped by my table at a leisurely pace & in a respectful manner. They answered my questions honestly, but you do have to ask the right questions..is it sterling silver?..is it block turquoise? etc...

Gallup is pretty much shuttered up and closed on Sunday, so I drove  about 8 miles east of town to visit Red Rock State Park. Beautiful spot and again nobody around. Just me and a few cute prairie dogs!

Pawn shopping starts tomorrow!

Indian Arts & Crafts Association (IACA) Spring Wholesale Trade Show 2012

Today was the first day of the Indian Arts & Crafts Association (IACA) Spring Wholesale Trade Show at the Hotel Albuqueque in Old Town. Weather in sunny New Mexico is a perfect 80 degrees with plenty of sun and a clear blue sky. The hotel and the food is great! What a wonderful time I am having! Already bought  jewelery from Earl Plummer, Tommy Jackson, Orville Tsinnie, Chris Nieto, Shane Hendren, Bennard & Franscis Dallasvuyaoma, L. Bruce Hodgins, Al Joe, Larry Joe, James & Doris Coriz, Sunshine Reeves, Albert Jake, Andy & Darrell Cadman, Gary Reeves, Derrick Gordon, Geneva Apachito & Benjamin Piasso, just to name a few. Lots of pawn & vintage jewelry too. Next stop...Gallup. Stay tuned....

Sammy & Esther Guardian Zuni Inlay Jewelry

Don't you just love the exquisite multi-gem jewelry of Zuni lapidarists and silversmiths, Sammy & Esther Guardian? Sammy & Esther Guardian are one of the best Zuni husband and wife teams working today. The artists are especially well-known for their inlaid birds and other animals and their intricate inlay jewelry is surprisingly affordable.

They started making jewelry in the 1960's and their work can be seen in all the Native American and Zuni jewelry reference books. (Gregory Schaaf's book American Indian Jewelry I, Volume 2 of Zuni the Art and the People by Ed, Barbara and Steve Bell, Barton Wright's Hallmarks of the Southwest,as well as Theda Bassman's Zuni Jewelry). They have won many awards over the years. These two Zuni jewelers have created mosaic as well as inlay jewelry. They make bolos, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, pendants and pins using gold, silver, coral, turquoise, jet, mother-of-pearl, abalone shell and penn shell.  

We have a great selection of Sammy & Esther Guardian bracelets, earrings, pendants & belt buckles featuring red cardinals, colorful hummingbirds, bald eagles, blue jays, roadrunners, and snowy owls. Visit our website www.tumbleweedsjewelry.com