Wednesday, August 8, 2018

+ Vintage Navajo Collection +

New vintage pieces are in my Etsy
Trading Post
& are ready to ship!


Here's a preview:










Tuesday, May 1, 2018

+ Gathering Clouds +

Happy May Day!
Featuring my newest collection:


My
+ Gathering Clouds +
Kinship Strand Collection




I'm finishing up these beauties and they will land 
in my Etsy Shop soon!

+  Hozhogo +

Sunday, March 4, 2018

+ Montana Made +

Another round of beautifully crafted
Museum quality
Native American collectibles 
by my Montana Hermit
&
are in my Etsy
Trading Post now!














Handmade by my friend known as the “Montana Hermit.” He is a master of his craft.  Each item is
uniquely detailed, beautiful to wear or to display.  Authentic. True to Native Tradition. No two are ever exactly alike! Every piece is a work of Art & a labor of Love!

He handcrafts each piece, often times using antique Trade Beads, hand rolled tin cones, old coins and/or unusual, age appropriate trinkets.  He brain tans hides in the traditional native way which requires a labor intensive special smoke process that is highly prized by collectors seeking these unique items. 

+ Every purchase of my Montana Made items supports an amazing artist who has fallen on hard times.
We Thank you & Hozhogo +

+ Inspired by Sacred Ways +
+ Born of Native Souls +

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

+ Sacred Ways & Native Souls +

I am delighted to introduce you to the work of a very talented artist, who crafts museum quality, replica Native American medicine bags, ceremonial drums, bows/arrows, quivers, jewelry, and many other artifacts from his tiny home in Montana.

His Medicine Bags are of deer, elk & buffalo hides.   He tans the hides in a labor intensive native tradition requiring a special smoke process.  Collectors highly prize these traditionally tanned items as they look, feel & smell so authentic! He beads by hand, working with many types of antique Trade Beads, old Italian/Venetian glass beads, 1920's Czech beads, as well as old clay & metal beads.

He describes himself as a hermit, and he really does look like the true definition of the word!  He does not seek the attention of others, and would rather his work speak for himself.  He remains unnamed here, as I'm (reluctantly) honoring his request for anonymity.

He crafts sporadically, in the winter months mostly, huddled by his wood stove, surrounded by odds-n-ends, dried sage bundles, hides, bones, feathers, tools, gadgets, stacks upon stacks of reference books, clay paints, brushes & his workbench.  He tries to find odd-jobs in the spring & summer months to help him make ends meet.  He reached out to me back in May, inquiring if I was interested in buying his overstock for my collection. The California gift shop where his pieces were sold for the past 7 years had folded and he was out of an income source.  Although I couldn't fund purchasing his overstock myself, my Etsy shop came to mind. Why not set up his goods in my little shop I thought!  And so it goes, Friends Helping Friends...

Here begins our journey.  Here I present to you, along with my desire to recreate an income source for my dear, talented, Montana Hermit, a gallery of collectible treasures!  Inspired by Sacred Ways and born of Native Souls...

+ Hozhogo +


Above: Beaded Mini Medicine Bags & Below: Summer Buffalo Hide Bag
 For purchase in my Etsy Shop 
+ Click on my Etsy Trading Post Icon +


+ Click on my Etsy Trading Post Icon +


Above: Beaded Yellow Flame Medicine Bag & Below: Beaded Cross Medicine Bag
For Purchase in my Etsy Shop
+ Click on my Etsy Trading Post Icon +


Below: Handpainted with Indigenous Clay Ink Paints
For Purchase in my Etsy Shop
+ Click on my Etsy Trading Post Icon +



Below: Part of my Personal Collection that I have on display in my
Cabinet of Curiosities
I also have his bags hanging in different rooms!


More of my personal collection on display




Detail of my personal collection


Final photo of my Medicine Bag Collection handmade by my
Montana Friend & filled with feathers he sends me.


Saturday, December 31, 2016

In the gloam of December

December 2016
It has been a remarkable year.
With firsts
&
lasts.
With love
& loss.
With adventures
&
Hard, hard work.
I am grateful for the many lessons
&
I will continue to count my lucky stars,
my blessings
&
to seek and create more Magic
in the coming new year...
2017


Wednesday, July 27, 2016

+ Warm River Collection +

Grey, green & blue 
Mist
Weeping willow, birch & pine
Forest
Clear, crisp & rising
East...
Teal, indigo & violet
Water
Rainbows, wild browns & brookies
Native
Meander, Wade & cascading
West...
Warm River.


+  Introducing my Warm River Kinship Strand Collection +

Featuring:
Turquoise, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Lapis, 
Glass & Seed Beads...
Vintage Stone Fox Fetishes.
Every color under the Moon...

Float on over to my Etsy shop to claim yours. 
Summer is here.











Friday, May 6, 2016

Embellished: Small Spirits


With Lemon-Lime Agates...


&
Persimmon White Heart Trade Beads


&
Blue Gray Sugalite with Lapis


&
Bamboo Coral


+++


Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Small Spirits Collection

+ Kinship Strand:  Small Spirits Collection +

I came upon the idea for this collection back in december on a day when I was deeply missing my beloved Abyssinian cat, Puja.  While enjoying a beautiful, mild winter day I had come across the loveliest Sapphire beads in such beautiful shades of pink & blue.  They reminded me of sweethearts & tender tears.  I had to take them home.

The Great Lakes Anishnaabe consider the 12th moon as the Small Spirits Moon & a time of healing.  By receiving both vision of the spirits & good health, one may have pure intentions, and share positive & powerful energy with family and friends for the highest good of all living things.

For all the Small Spirits, come & gone.  For the little ones we remember with tenderness, joy & endless love.  Pink hearts & tender blue tears to wear in honor of the Small Spirits who scratched, bit, kicked, licked & loved us.  Our little blessings.

~ Hozhogo ~


Monday, February 8, 2016

5 Things That Give Me Goosebumps...












1.  Owl Feather
2.  Blue Chalcedony  
3.  Antique Italian Glass Beads
4.  Gooseberries
5.  Studio Time

Monday, February 1, 2016

Sunday, January 17, 2016

The Thunderer continues...

New shades & newly listed in my Etsy Shop...take a meander through the Chalcedony, Lapis, Turquoise, Agates & Aquamarines!  They are sure to please!  Thank you!