I have a
life long love affair with Native American jewelry. My grandparents
starting selling turquoise jewelry in the late 1960's at their resort on Fort
Gibson Lake in Oklahoma. Their shop, White Eye Traders, was listed in the
book Zuni: The Art and the People as a trusted shopping resource.
My grandmother took silversmithing classes at Bacone College in Muskogee and
taught my grandfather. Even as a small child I was blessed with many
gifts of turquoise jewelry to wear. One Christmas, my grandfather made a
turquoise and silver bridle for my horse and a matching belt buckle for
myself. I have such fond memories of them. They were both very
talented artists.
I started my own business in 1986 selling at trade shows across the United
States. Now I only sell online and enjoy living on my farm raising and
training thoroughbreds. My mother and brother still travel and are long
time vendors at the Wisconsin State Fair, Minnesota State Fair, National
Western Stock Show, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Native American jewelry has always fascinated me for several reasons, mostly
because it is so beautiful and distinctive. It is unlike any other
jewelry in the world, nothing compares. Each piece is a work of art,
showcasing the artist’s own unique style. Silver jewelry is a large part
of the culture in the Southwest. Many Native American families in the
Southwest rely on income from selling their handcrafted goods. So when
you purchase authentic Native American arts and crafts, you are supporting the
traditions and livelihood of our Native American tribes. When you
consider that Native American jewelry is handcrafted from real silver and
genuine gemstones, it is such a great value, actually, a real bargain. I
pay fair prices to artists and I try to offer the jewelry at fair prices to the
customer. This keeps the merchandise moving so we together can support
more artists and their families.