This was a good thread about mistakes people made in buying turquoise. Definitely worth a read.
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I have an Elaine Sam necklace that is a bit larger that your “tiny” squash (mine wasn’t identified as a squash) that I wear a lot because it isn’t huge. That being said, I can see your disappointment once receiving yours, as I would’ve assumed it was way bigger as well. You definitely have the littlest I’ve ever seen.
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Thank you, thank you! 
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Your necklace is so pretty!
I offered mine, at the purchase price of $475. 
to my bestie for her cat.
Shockingly, she declined.
I am reevaluating my choices in life at this point!
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That is an excellent thread. It was one that I read before I even actually joined the forum.
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That’s too funny! I can’t imagine my cat letting my jewelry anywhere near her. I did see your dog in your picture, and I almost asked you if it fit him 
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It takes time to assemble our collections, and gain knowledge along the way, and as @Xtina said, we’ve all had our disappointments and head smack moments.
The learning curve can be a little steep, especially online, when you can’t physically see and handle the item (no quarter or ruler for size for example - I’ve been caught out on that one). I’ve been able to resell mine that I wasn’t super thrilled about, and with a tiny budget, I don’t get into too much trouble - I’m still waiting to be able to buy my big squash when it comes along when I have the ability.
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I did meet a little girl at the Pendleton Round-Up that had the cutest little “squash” on, she came over to inspect my purse and jewelry at dinner one night from the next table. 
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That’s ole Magnus Superchunk. He is a diva and weighs 137 pounds. He scoffed at the first squash…he is a fancy man and likes what he likes.
My gal Gus is 146 pounds and wants nothing to do with any of my nonsense.
Here is Gus. Her name is actually Maddie but she has the soul and personality of a gassy, crabby Grandpa so Gus she lovingly became.
Sending love to your kitties!!! 
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Love this!!!
Are you an Oregonian too?!
I’m in south Salem.
I live in IN which not surprisingly has a lack of shopping choices for Native jewelry, but there is a wonderful western art museum called the Eiteljorg in Indianapolis. The museum holds a Native American market every summer (this past summer there were over 140 artists). Years and years ago, a couple shop owners from Gallup would bring in crates of pawn jewelry to sell (they eventually stopped this; I would guess because it took away from the artists’ sales). Whatever you purchased came with the pawn ticket. Over a few years time, I bought a number of rings and one necklace, and I kept all the tickets!
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I am indeed - just up the road in Canby.
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What an adorably chonky doggo! You might enjoy this thread…Even Mosi loves Native art
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Wow! What treasures!!
So cool!!!
Hoozier girl!!!
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Waving at you from a bit southwest!!!
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Hallelujah and thank goodness for the more modest pieces that give us pleasure and were affordable enough for us to buy in the first place!
I have one brooch whose turquoise is so rough that no one would call it high grade, yet the setting is so charming that I didn’t mind it. And sometimes lower grade can also have its own beauty… which is fortunate as I can’t afford the really fancy stuff
Personally I like the colour change (as a member of the “I lean towards green!” club). It makes the stones feel almost alive, and there’s an unpredictability to it, even serendipity, that is very appealing. Japan has many types of pottery clay, and some cups, teabowls and sake cups will actually change colour over the years due to use. Many people love that type of pottery due to the wabi sabi-ness of it, especially the appreciation for the natural changes that things can undergo due to age and use. If a turquoise stone has gone green, presumably that means it’s been worn and loved.
But I also don’t mind making some mistakes when they enable me to understand better what to look for. In that sense, it’s like paying for a really tough tutorial – except one that you can maybe resell when you’re done with it.
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I can’t heart your post (or any others) @chamekke
because I’m at my max for the day. So !!
It’s so nice to meet you!
My collection is soooo modest thus far and likely poor quality, but I love it.
I’m having a ball, just learning. Some of my humbly found treasures.
P.S. I know the Feeney bracelet isn’t native. I bought it, lovingly from a dear friend. It’s precious to me.
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You have a wonderful collection @Cheryl . Not all of us can keep up with a lot of the folks here.
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I agree with @StevesTrail that I won’t ever “win” (is it really a competition? I’m good at being an enabler with other peoples money ), but I have a few good pieces from our grandmother (she had 6 granddaughters to disperse to) as the foundation of my love of all things jewelry (NA and others), and am happy with that.
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My impression is that those who post their collection items here, no matter the price tier, do it on the same footing–namely, for the love of the art form and to share with fellow enthusiasts.
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