Native American Shop

Reviews

Love, love, love these. Got free shipping when I ordered over $25.00 which was an unexpected surprise as well~!

Reviews

I have both a Pandora and a Chamilia bracelet..I refuse to pay $30 for a glass bead but I like them to bring color to a bracelet. I have bought several of these beads and they look beautiful on both my bracelets. Really can't go wrong for what you're paying. Only have had them a few days but they seem sturdy and they are very pretty.

Reviews

For the price these are very nice beads. They do fit Pandora bracelets but they do not twist on like a real Pandora bead so if you don't have a clip on the end of your bracelet they will come off whenever you take your bracelet off.

This was not made in Murano. It was made in China. there is no comparison in the quality of the two products. for one thing, beads made in China are not kiln annealed, so they do not last and can shatter or break any time. That makes them pretty risky for putting on your wrist. These are beads which are generally sold in bulk by the pound. Even at what seems to be a low price, they are very expensive for production line beads. My real issue is the use or, rather abuse of the phrase "Murano style". This is completely misleading and abuse of the name of a town associated with artists for thousands of years. Murano is still a glass making island; in that most of the people who live there either make glass, make glass sculptures, chandalliers, jewelry or beads. It is one thing to sell cheaply made reproductions, but quite another to mislabel them so as to make people believe they are something they are not!

This is beautiful and at a price that is right. Let me say that I don't own any of the really expensive pandora beads, so I don't know how they stack up to them. But, with how nice these are, I don't know why I would want to shell out the big bucks for the pricey ones. :)

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For re training ears... I had let two of the holes in my ears close up a bit and it was getting hard to get earrings in... so with a little pain and blood :) I now have two holes in each ear.. going for the third set re priecing will have to be done here.... pretty earrings nice color.

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loves loves loves it! easy to use and so fun! don't have to wear on nipples, fun to use as body jewelry. carneval anyone?

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Buy this toy if you want your child to draw quietly for hours! I cannot pry my daughter away from this toy and the included stencils, paper, and colored pencils. She even brings it to school in the wooden case that comes with it. The case also makes it perfect to take with us in the car or an a plane. This maybe the PERFECT toy!

Reviews

I bought this about 2 weeks ago. I used it as a purse to hold everything I had stored in my wallet. I liked the idea that it had a cell phone pocket in the front. Only a week after I had begun to use it the leather began tearing from the seams and nearly the whole panel just burst from the frame just recently!!! I am very dissapointed that It did not last as long as it did. I will try to buy another one of different kind and not like this one!!!!!!

I loved the colors available and purchased the silver. For the first three weeks, it was great.... very pretty and functional with lots of pockets and organization. However, after three weeks or so, the "leather" started to lose it's sheen and started to separate from the metal frame.

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A must have book for the beginner who wants to collect and buy and sell turquoise. The color plates are wonderful and the information is essential to the understanding of the value of different types/colors and shapes of the stone

If you are a lover of turquoise jewelry, this book is a must. Before you waste money buying reconstituted, stablized or totally 'fake turquoise'...learn about the stone and how it is processed. Also the book is cheaper on Amazon than from the author's museum website.

THIS BOOK OFFERS ALL THE INFORMATION YOU WILL EVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TURQUOISE. I LOVE BROWSING THROUGH IT AND KEEP IT ON MY COFFEE TABLE. ANYONE WHO HAS A LOVE OR DESIRES A KNOWLEDGE OF TURQUOISE WILL ENJOY THIS BOOK. A MUST FOR THE COLLECTOR!! YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY A PIECE OF TURQUOISE WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE IT ORIGINATED FROM.

"Turquoise Unearthed" in a brief but thorough introduction to turquoise that would be suitable for anyone interested in turquoise and turquoise jewellery. Although only 74 pages in length, this book is packed full of information, including a history of turquoise, advice on purchasing turquoise, and a guide to the different turquoise mines in the American South-West. There are colour pictures throughout the book, including colour photographs of the turquoise you would find in each of the mines (yes, turquoise does differ between mines); a recommended reading list at the end; and most importantly, it actually has an index. The only thing that could have made this book better would be some sort of pricing guide. Nevertheless, this is still an excellent book and well worth the money I paid.

This book has helped me to identify several pieces I have that I have been wondering about. It has helped me to be able to differentiate between the real thing and the fake.

Reviews

L order this book because I love turquoise and make southwest designs. This book is a must for anyone who is crazy about turquoise,from where its mined,its origin(north america,mexico,orfar east)a useful book for tons of heplfull imformation right at your finger tips.Great photos and very well written one of the best books have.

Beautiful pictures and interesting, informative articles make this book a must for anyone who is allured by the beauty of turquoise. I read the book in one setting, and while it is a good place to start, I found myself wanting more information. If you collect turquoise or just wear it because you love it, do yourself a favor and get educated about vintage, pawn, and newer creations; natural stones vs. stablized stones, and even fake stones. You'll find this book helpful.

"The Allure of Turquoise" is made up of a collection of articles on turquoise, its history and the Native American mythology surrounding this stone. I was particularly fascinated by one article about ants and their relationship with turquoise. Nevertheless, although this is an informative and interesting book, if you are looking for a guide to collecting turquoise or turquoise jewellery, I'd begin withTurquoise Unearthed: An Illustrated Guide (Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones), which focusses more on purchasing turquoise and the different types of turquoise. "The Allure of Turquoise" is a relatively short book (only 107 pages in length), but contains color pictures throughout. Be aware, however, that this book does not contain an index, a major drawback, as far as I am concerned.

I found this book very thorough as far as the knowledge of the types of turquoise. But, I also found a lot of good info about traditional jewelry selling, info about fakes and treatments and historical knowledge. Gorgeous pictures.

This is the same review I gave to "Turquoise Unearthed"...and for all intents and purposes, they could be classified as companion volumes...both doing an exceptional job in words and images! "I have been a gem and mineral dealer for over ten years...and a rockhound for a lot longer than that...but this book taught me more in a single sitting than all my years in the buisiness and in the hobby. I have dug, traded, bought and sold a whole bunch of "Turq"...natural, treated and "color-shot"...and this book instantly became one of my favorite references for the rest of my life. If you are planning on investing in real American or Persian turquoise jewelry or stones...and it is an investment...then this book is a "Must Have!" No sooner did I put this book down than I called up one of my suppliers and bought all of the Blue Gem and Turquoise Mountain stones they had left in stock...I am sure they are wondering what precipitated that call!" My many thanks to Mr. Vigil for his labor of love, a compilation of articles from New Mexico Magazine...on everything from the Lowry "Turq" Museum...to the history and significance of the Cerrillos Mines...to the myth of "Old Pawn" jewelry...and much, much more!

Reviews

This is an excellent reference book chalked full of beautiful pictures. This book features pictures and information on the very beginning contemporary artist and the emerging generation of very talented artist. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves Native American jewelry and designs. Whether you are the seasoned collector or the beginning collector of this wonderful jewelry and art.

This book contains sections on the different ways Native American Jewelry is made (ex. casting, texturing metal, inlay, etc.). Examples of jewelry from many well known artists are included in this book (both past and present). It is an excellent reference guide for collectors. Highly recommended.

The only reason I don't give this volume five stars is that, in my opinion, several of the most important artists (e.g., Nathan Lefthand), were left out. While it is not possible to include works from all the great Native American artists we are privileged to have around us today, it would have been worthwhile to mention more of them in passing. It is, nonetheless, an excellent book, with fine illustrations.

Contemporary Southwestern Jewelry is a sparkling gem of a book. The author, Diana Pardue, curator of collections at the Heard Museum, has written brilliantly about modern day Native American artists who hammer, forge, cast, and fabricate stunning jewelry and silverwork. The artists included in this book were born, trained, or live in this area of the country. The introduction and first chapter set the stage for the remainder of the book. The author clearly elucidates how traditional Native American jewelry has evolved from a distinct cultural and geographic identity to an art form embraced by national and international collectors, high fashion, upscale department stores, and the media. The chronicle starts in the 1950's with pioneering artists such as Charles Loloma and Kenneth Begay, continuing through the cultural and population changes that occurred in the Southwest, and the establishment of supportive galleries, and craft centers. Ms. Perdue's impeccable fusion of artists' biographies, discussion of metalworking techniques, and use of beautifully photographed silverwork guides the reader through the last fifty plus years of Southwest Native American jewelry creation. The transition from the customary, conventional, and long-established techniques to contemporary art forms have been accomplished with the introduction of new and imaginative use of diverse stones and patterns, silverwork techniques, the addition of gold, copper, and alloys, as well as the use of shell and wood. Electric tools and improved adhesives have been invaluable assistance for contemporary jewelers. The work is exclusively about Native American artists; however, the title purely states Contemporary Southwestern Jewelry. My interpretation is that the author would like the reader to understand that current Native American metalwork has evolved beyond narrowly defined limits. Although Native American spirituality, multigenerational influences, and traditional techniques still influence present day artists, their work can no longer be solely defined by their ethnicity. Almost all of the emerging artists highlighted in the last chapter of the book have had important educational experiences outside the Southwest by non- Native American mentors. Contemporary Southwest Jewelry is an important book. Those interested in Native American art, jewelry making, and collecting will find it a welcome addition to their library.