Marie Jackson learned to make jewelry from her in-laws, Martha and Gene. When she met her husband, Tommy, he had been silversmith for years.
"I watched Martha and Gene making jewelry, and they helped me to get started. Tommy encouraged me, too!" she says.
She and Tommy were school teachers at Wide Ruins but decided they wanted to be independent and seriously started working on jewelry. Giving up a secure job is not an easy choice when raising a family, but it was in Tommy's blood, and they were determined to make it work.
I used to do wholesale shows with Martha and Gene Jackson in Phoenix, Denver, and Albuquerque. They were two of the nicest and most talented people you would ever meet. Martha died before the pandemic from an automobile accident while driving home from Indian Market. Gene passed away about a year ago.
Marie and Tommy, along with Tommy's younger brother, Danny, have become well-known for their jewelry. Tommy's older brother, Vernon, is a former FBI agent and now the Navajo Nation's Chief Prosecutor. It is a great family.
Tommy's main love, besides Marie, is roping, and he and his son compete in rodeos all year. I got to know him well because he always comes to Southwest Colorado to buy hay for his roping horses! Sometimes, he travels with Marie to sell jewelry, but she often comes separately.
Marie came to town with her daughter last week and brought in one of the prettiest jewelry sets I've seen in a long time. It is made with Sonoran Gold Turquoise from Mexico. Most Mexican Turquoise I have purchased is similar to stones you find from the Morenci mine or has a green shade like the old Cerrillos mine. This turquoise has a beautiful matrix and a dark blue-green coloring.
My son, Ed, has cut some of these stones, which are always attractive. This set of Marie's is amazing because of the multiple stones she had to cut to inlay the jewelry and how well they matched. The work is incredible, and putting it together in a ring, bracelet, earring, and pendant set is perfect!
Marie's Indian Market Show was excellent, but she didn't have much to show. Their pastor passed away suddenly, and she and Tommy were doing a lot for the family. That is the only reason I have this jewelry set to share with you. She didn't finish it before Market.
See More of Marie's Jewelry in the Gallery
It is a beautiful example of contemporary Navajo jewelry by one of our favorite silversmiths. We hope you like it!
