Bingo Smith is a 63-year-old Navajo sand painting artist who lives with his wife in the Farmington, NM area.Unlike most sand painters, he does not work on fiberboard. He uses glass Christmas ornaments as the base for his work.

There is something about the look of old Navajo Jewelry. It just has a classic feel, made at a time when the style of the jewelry was not influenced by current fashion and artists didn’t have access to modern tools and materials.

I really enjoy telling stories that are uplifting and make you feel good. And most tales of artistic success are filled with good examples of people who worked hard and really wanted to succeed.

“It’s the process of creating that is most important.”  This was an idea that I learned from Dr. Ann Hedlund, one of the most recognized experts on Navajo weaving.

Blue Corn knew and learned much from Maria Martinez and her family. In fact, Maria’s sister gave Blue Corn her name during her San Ildefonso “naming ceremony”.

One of my favorite silversmiths and people was Harry Morgan. I was fortunate to be able to work with him for many years and when he passed away from complications of diabetes several years ago, I lost a good friend. Harry had a daughter-in-law who became interested in jewelry and for the past twenty years has worked with silver.

People have lived in the Pueblo of Acoma for over 2000 years. Set on a mesa of sandstone, it is referred to as “Sky City” and is the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America. It is situated 60 miles west of Albuquerque just south of I-40.

liked coral, in combination with turquoise and by itself, in Native American Jewelry. And American Indians have felt the same way since they began trading for coral with Europeans 600 years ago.In the 1800s Hopi dancers were documented to have worn jewelry containing coral.

Before Raymond Sequaptewa became a contemporary Hopi Silversmith, using stones and unusual castings, different metals and unique designs, he made traditional overlay Hopi jewelry. Sort of…

We have been privileged to know and work with Ella for over 50 years. She was a dear friend and an artist whose work inspired many. Her quick smile and wonderful laugh immediately brought sunshine to wherever she was.

I don’t know if you have ever had something that just won’t leave your thoughts, but for me this week it has been all about Storm Patterns.

Red Mesa Trading Post is located about 20 miles west of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona on US 160. Today it is primarily a gas station and convenience store, but there was a day when some very nice and unusual Navajo rugs were woven and sold through this post.