Medicine Man generally does have pretty great prices and I’m jealous of that Jennifer Curtis ring— her stamping is so clean.
American Antique Mall is a great spot for Native American jewelry in Tucson as well.
I haven’t been to the Fry Bread Lounge yet but I stop in their parent business Native Art Market pretty regularly. It’s the only NA owned store in Old Town. They also run an outdoor market on the weekends a little further north but have lost that location so there may be a hiatus for the rest of the season— bummer. There’s been so many NA markets around Phoenix lately and I hope they keep coming.
It certainly looks like you had a successful trip and left with quite a bounty! That belt from Medicine Man is a great one and your impromptu photo looks similar to a Ralph Lauren advertisement or the like. With your lovely concho belt set atop your Jenny Blackgoat belt, topped by that wonderful squash, all set against your dark wardrobe, it’s a great picture!
Those collar tabs are beautiful! Awesome stampwork and what looks to be a favorable patina. One can never go wrong with hand stamped silver, and these are winners in my book!
Your husband’s ring looks hefty and is bearing some more beautiful, deep stampwork. I’m a sucker for this type of work, he has great taste! As do you, your Kenneth Redhorse concho earrings and Tanisha Chatto jaclas are fabulous!
That Zuni thunderbird pin/pendant is pretty, as is the manner in which it was gifted, what a great way to cheer you up!
Thank you for sharing all of this, it was a pleasure to read as well as a joy to view all of you and your husband’s new-to-you pieces!
Thank you so much for the kind words! I’m happy to hear that my gas station candid is giving high fashion vibes—I’ll have to do that more often!
I’m so glad you like the collar tabs! They were sold by MM as 1930s work; it’s wild to think they’re approaching their centennial! I love particularly how the wee diamond stamps (or rather, two triangles that form a diamond) converse with the lozenge-like repoussé. The only annoying thing is that their size/shape makes them a target for TSA, so I’m always having to check them when I fly, which is a bit nerve-wracking when it’s a treasured item.
I love the styling in your double-belt selfie, a very elegant effect that highlights the beauty of all-silver Navajo jewelry. Thank you for sharing your fun road trip and purchases! The concho belt in particular is amazing, with its bold scale and clarity of design. Also love the collar tips, which are so cool and not often seen in use.
The Garland’s finds are terrific. I love Jennifer Curtis’s work and have some jacla earrings that are cousins to yours. Those concho earrings are also incredible statement looks!
I also need to get down to Tucson when in AZ. You’ve inspired an effort to make it happen. Cheers!
I bought this Heishi necklace a little while ago. I loved the black inlay beads but I cannot find anything similar online. There is no hallmark. Does anyone have an inkling who made this? Also…the turquoise discs are very thin and break easily. Is there anything that can be put on them to strengthen them or do I just have to be very careful when wearing this? I do like this a lot.
So what exactly do you mean about the discs breaking easily? Have some of yours already broken (like in half)? I for one would never put anything on them, and would just be careful when wearing. Some of my older heishi necklaces have a few little chips out in places, but I don’t think it takes away from the attractiveness. Somewhere, I don’t remember where - but believe it was from a Native artist, I read that with jet heishi (so I would assume the same with turquoise) that you can be more comfortable knowing it’s real when there are some little chips here and there, since block would be less likely to chip.
I have no actual guess on the turquoise, except that Kingman is so commonly used.
Thank you Zia for your response. Yes…I had one disc break in half already. It was very thin and didn’t effect the balance. I will just be careful when wearing it.
On Saturday we got back from our amtrak trip to Albq for xmas! it was also our belated 30th anniversary celebration (10/15/94). Spent a day up in Jemez (of course) at the monument where we got married, and then spent the afternoon at the hot springs. glorious! Took a drive up to Taos the next day and bought some pottery and a painting from Stephen Kilborn in Pilar (we’ve been collecting him for years) , and two more paintings at the Taos Artist Collective. Were completely freaked out by a sighting of Starlink in the sky on the drive down from Taos! i was all - “IT’S aLiEnS!!” Spent another day in Crown Coin & Jewelry (Robert Yellowhorse Earrings), Palms Trading (fetishes and pottery), and Gertrude Zachary (Ann Curley earrings, vintage cluster ring, and Willie Yazzie watch tips), and a few places in Old Town where we bought some pinon coffee to bring home and ridiculously thick fleece blankets for the return train ride. We managed to eat at most of our favorite places (Garcia’s, Monroe’s, Sadie’s, Village Pizza (Corrales), The Range), and had a wonderful mellow xmas day relaxing and playing cards in our hotel, and a little money burning at Sandia Casino. The only disappointment was xmas eve, looking forward to luminarias on the plaza and the country club area, and it was not as enjoyable as i remembered.
@Jemez2 Sounds like y’all had a wonderful trip celebrating your anniversary!! What a treasure trove of beautiful items that you found. I didn’t know that I needed those Robert Yellowhorse turquoise earrings, but I do😍. Thank you for sharing your lovely photos.
What an awesome trip! I was just thinking the other day that you had said you were going to NM for your anniversary. I’m heading out for the evening, so I will definitely look at your beautiful purchases later. I bought my Robert Yellowhorse Zia ring at Palms a few years ago, so of course I love your earrings, and I now want some Blue Moon turquoise of course Funny - my best friend’s (who lives in AZ) mom is named Ann Curley so I will have to show her your earrings!
Thank you for all the pics, and congratulations on your celebration trip!
What a fantastic and meaningful trip! Thanks for sharing. Jemez looks amazing, as do your special finds. Happy milestone anniversary! You both look lit up.
I’m so glad you had a great time here in NM!
The weather was great this past week, which made your travels so much easier.
All your new treasures are gorgeous!
Sounds like a great trip. I took a screenshot of your descriptions because I plan to go to NM at some time and you have a lot of good info. I love your Anne Curly earrings how the black matrix on the edges complements the dots. The other earrings have lovely turquoise…I never heard of blue moon before. . I also like your fetishes especially the red wing blackbird. Oh…and congrats on the weight loss…keep going. You are doing great
Congrats on your 30th and what sounds like a wonderful trip! Looks like you had a great time shopping and picked up some fun pieces (Other than the jewelry, I especially like the whimsical little Margaret and Luther jar and figure (they always make me smile).
I’ve always wanted to be in Santa Fe for Christmas, glorious I’ve heard.
For your amusement I’m including a photo of my funny little pottery koshare kids by Stephanie Naranjo (Luther’s granddaughter) and a miniature jar by Margaret and Luther. They are on my desk in my office, and never fail to amuse me!
Funny - my best friend’s (who lives in AZ) mom is named Ann Curley so I will have to show her your earrings!
