ARTIE YELLOWHORSE JEWELRY SHOW ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

We welcome Artie Yellowhorse back to the Shop this month! Artie Yellowhorse's family is renowned for their quality of craftsmanship, their distinctive signature designs, and the development of a successful American Indian handmade jewelry business. Using a wide variety of stones and materials in their work, their long dedication to the art of jewelry making is evidenced in the fabrication of each piece. The silversmith tradition began with Artie's grandfather, Cuthair Yellowhorse, who worked primarily in turquoise and silver; while known today for the "Rising Sun" designs, timeless Yellowhorse pieces can be thought of as heritage artwork and can be worn at any age and for nearly any event. The Yellowhorse family specializes in sterling silver and American turquoise, but they do not limit themselves and have used materials as diverse as lapis, spiny oyster shell, petrified wood and pearls. Learn more about Artie Yellowhorse designs.

As always, style and quality go hand-in-hand with Yellowhorse family jewelry designs. The family takes joyful pride in continuing a legacy of bringing beauty to people and helping them to understand the Navajo concept of Walk with Beauty.

Please join us in welcoming Artie Yellowhorse on Friday, October 10 from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. See current works on our online store.

The Shop is having an invasion of sorts at the moment. Hopi katsina dolls have arrived -- they are currently on display in the Shop and are being added to the website. Long considered collector's items, katsina dolls can sometimes be out of reach for the casual collector. Our recently-arrived assortment, however, includes many smaller, reasonably-priced pieces that can easily fit into anyone's home and budget. Each doll is exquisitely carved from cottonwood root and then detailed with fine carving and a variety of paints. We have also received a few "old style" dolls that are more static in their stances and are accessorized with feathers and muted paints. If there are any katsina doll requests for certain animals or figures, please send an email to [email protected] and we will be happy to add you to our call list!

While katsinas play a role in many of the Pueblo societies, the Hopi are the most noted and prolific today in katsina doll carving as an art form. Central to the traditional religion of the Hopi people of Northern Arizona are Kachinas/Katsinas -- supernatural beings relied upon to provide rain, fertility, health and well-being. Each year in elaborate ceremonies, men of the Hopi villages dress and mask themselves for ritualized dances to represent and call upon the different Katsinas. Katsina dolls are carved from cottonwood root and have long been used to instruct Hopi children in the ways of the traditional religious cycles, and to help them learn to identify the hundreds of different beings. The carvings convey the movement of the dancer, and characteristics of the mask, dress and accessories. In addition to katsina dolls, Hopi artists also carve figures from Hopi mythology and folklore, as well as figures from other Pueblos. Learn more about the arts of the Hopi.

 We hope you can visit to see our full selection in the Shop. You may also email [email protected] and check out our selection of Hopi katsina dolls online.

We've also been adding to our fetish carving selection and have a wonderful new selection of glass fetish carvings by Leland Boone from the Zuni Pueblo that are sure to brighten anyone's day! Yes, carvers are utilizing many materials (as are many artists today!), bringing a whole new life to artwork and an array of colors not usually seen. Come visit to see our latest arrivals and check out a sampling of fetish carvings on our online store.

A new selection of mosaic inlay work has arrived from Charlene and Frank Reano (San Felipe and Santo Domingo/Kewa) and inlay jewelry from Ola Eriacho (Zuni), and we will be expecting more metal wall art from Harold and Colline Brummett (Seminole and Choctaw).  AND, we are very excited and waiting with anticipation for a very full selection of carvings from Alaska!  These carvings are expected by early November - if you would like a call or notification when new works arrive, give us a call at 202-208-4056 or email [email protected] and we will be sure to accommodate!

  AMERICAN CRAFT WEEK - ACROSS THE COUNTRY 

OCTOBER 3 - 12, 2014

Get ready to celebrate! From October 3-12, it's American Craft Week. All across the country, the people who make, sell, and exhibit handmade items invite you into their studios, galleries, and festivals so you can see their creations firsthand.

Click on the picture above for more information!

Supporting America's craftspeople and products is so important. When we buy these beautifully made items, we are investing in our country's traditions and enriching our own lives. The economic advantages are staggering, from creating local jobs to building creative, lively communities.

Enjoy American Craft Week and the exquisite handmade work  of American craftsmen!