Artie Yellowhorse, a legacy of love and craft
Families have been known to bond in many ways. For Yellowhorse family members, fine jewelry design is their common thread. And with influences of the Navajo culture, blended with the bold fashion of the southwest, this is beatufully refined American
Bio for New Artist, Dina Huntinghorse
Wichita jewelry designer Dina Huntinghorse incorporates a blend of traditional and contemporary jewelry techniques to create masterful works of wearable art. Although gold and silver work is rarely seen among the tribes of the Great Plains, Dina's life experiences introduced
Traditional Wampum
Today, there are few native craftspeople recreating Wampum work. Wampum beads originally from the Quahog round clam shell of the eastern Canada and New England coast were used for communications and treaties amongst North American native tribes, and later in
Navajo Artist BrughTsosie Bio in His Own Words
The following is bio is from one of the talented artists we at LittleFeathers rely on to produce some of the most beautiful Native American jewelry available today. We hope reading this bio will give you a new appreciation for one
Can sunlight and heat damage turquoise?
The answer is yes, if it stabilized. I gave my daughter a turquoise pendant a couple years ago. She is not really a turquoise enthusiast, so she rarely wore it. In fact most of the last two years, the pendant
Sleeping Beauty Mine Closure
We heard rumors that the Sleeping Beauty mine in Globe Arizona has closed, so we contacted the mine headquarters directly to get the real story. Unfortunately, the rumors are true. The mine has been closed to turquoise mining since august
How to Identify Imitation Turquoise
Imitation turquoise comes in many forms that include glass, ceramics, clays, and minerals such as Howlite and Magnasite. Identifying these imitations is difficult due to today's technology, allowing individuals to create pieces that fool even experienced dealers and buyers. The first defense
How to identify Natural Turquoise
The first thing to understand about today's turquoise market is that 85% of available turquoise gemstones is treated in one form or another. The other 15% of turquoise is called "natural turquoise". Natural turquoise is hard enough to shape, polish and set into
What is Wild Horse
Wild Horse is not Turquoise. There are some merchants passing it off as a special kind of Turquoise. Do Not be fooled! Wild Horse is the name of a type Magnesite with Hematite. As far as we can tell, there is only one source
What is Mojave Purple Turquoise
Purple Turquoise, or Mojave Purple Turquoise, has popped up on the scene recently. You see it sold at Street fairs, on HSN, and other home shopping networks. There are many different explanations about what it actually is. Based on my research,
Compressed Turquoise
When purchasing Turquoise Jewelry, keep in mind that "Compressed Turquoise" is not a single Turquoise nugget or Cabochon that has been processed to enhance its beauty. It is a collection of separate smaller nuggets, added to a resin and compressed into blocks. Some
What is Native American Old Pawn Jewelry
Native American Old Pawn Jewelry can be said to have a history. At one time it belonged to Native American families and were worn for tribal ceremonies, used as collateral for cash, and carried spiritual healing powers. These pieces were not originally created to
How to clean Turquoise and Sterling Silver Jewelry
To clean the Turquoise gemstones in your Jewelry, you will need a small bowl of warm water, a soft toothbrush, and a soft drying towel. Do not submerge your Turquoise in the water. Simply wet the toothbrush in the warm water