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December 6, 2012 |
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THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS UPON
US!
The lights are
twinkling, the bells are ringing, the trees are decorated and it's
gift buying time. To help you find those special gifts, The Indian
Craft Shop is filled with unique items ranging from utterly fabulous
to pure fun. You can find the perfect gift for young and old,
guys, gals and the entire family.
From pendants
and necklaces to cufflinks and belt buckles, if you're looking for
jewelry, check out our jewelry cases and online store pages. And, as
a bonus, add a book about jewelry and/or jewelers as well. For all of
your interests or desires in jewelry, check out these pages.
Fetish
carvings from the Zuni Pueblo make wonderful gifts for young and
old alike. Perhaps a horse for the young rider or a bear or turtle to
slip into a pouch for a youngster who loves animals, there's sure to
be a fetish carving to
delight everyone on your list.
Need a gift
for the family? No problem! We have wall and tabletop sculptures,
pottery, katsina dolls, and
whimsical folk art. Not
quite sure what that special person might want? We have the
answer: you can surprise them with a gift certificate so they can
pick up just what they were looking for! Check us out in person
or shop our online store. Now,
after you've found the perfect gift for everyone on your list, relax
and enjoy your holidays!
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SLEEPING BEAUTY TURQUOISE
The Sleeping
Beauty Turquoise mine is named for its location in the Gila County,
Arizona mountain range that resembles a sleeping woman. This
copper mine produces turquoise that ranges in color from chalky white
to sky blue, with little to no matrix. This clear blue turquoise has
been used by Zuni Pueblo jewelers in their petit point, needlepoint
and inlay jewelry; by Navajo jewelers in stone settings and
contemporary inlay; and by Hopi jewelers for their beads. Sleeping
Beauty turquoise has become highly collectible and also is used by
many American Indian jewelers across the country.
A wonderful
example of natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise currently at The Indian
Craft Shop is in a beautiful triple strand necklace by Hopi jeweler,
Cheryl Yestewa. The variations in the colors of the bright blue
natural turquoise give an added sense of depth to this spectacular
necklace of perfectly shaped, graduated beads finished with a
handmade, sterling silver clasp.
Cheryl Yestewa
is one of the very few artists who works with natural turquoise in
making her beads. It is not used often because up to 75% of the stone
can be lost in the process. Cheryl cuts, drills, shapes and then
polishes each bead, one by one. This process of working with natural,
high quality stones is very difficult, requiring great skill and
patience to create the beautiful shapes and stunning symmetry.
Cheryl's triple strand is an ideal gift for that very special someone
on your list.
If you are the owner of a piece with Sleeping Beauty
turquoise - congratulations! If you aren't yet, now is the time to
find the perfect necklace, pendant, earrings, bracelet, ring or belt
buckle.
See examples
of this fabulous turquoise in person at the shop and on our online store.
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WHAT'S NEW IN THE SHOP AND ONLINE
We are
thrilled to have one of Kathy "Elk Woman" Whitman's
(Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikira) award-winning recycled pieces, "Return
of the Spiritual Ways," in the shop. Made with Diet Pepsi
cans, this buffalo stands 19 inches tall and features a wonderfully
detailed texture and a commanding stance.
Speaking about the White Buffalo, Kathy Whitman
states, "Our Native American culture holds the white buffalo in
high regard. They are sacred to us. They are rare. When they appear,
they bring us courage. In my tribe, the Mandan, the white buffalo was
used in many sacred ceremonies, including marriage. The sacred white
buffalo is considered wise...
In days of old, when it was killed for sustenance, our
people used every part of the buffalo. Before it was taken, a prayer
was said, out of respect and reverence and to show our appreciation.
There was no waste. Everything had a purpose. Because the buffalo
sustained us as a people in the past, they were and still are held in
high regard. They still sustain us spiritually. This is why I created
the buffalo from recycled aluminum cans, to remind us all how sacred
life is and to be conscious of how we live, to take care of this
sacred Mother Earth. That we, instead of being a wasteful, throw-away
society, should embrace the old ways of balance and harmony."
New pottery from Barbara Gonzales
(San Idelfonso Pueblo), the oldest great-granddaughter of Maria
Martinez. Barbara is recognized for her etched designs and swish
pots, which often have spiders inlaid in turquoise or coral. Her
swish pots are enclosed and have small stone beads inside, which make
a swishing noise when gently moved. She signs her pots with the name
that was given to her by Maria, Tahn-Moo-Whe, which translates to
Sunbeam. Barbara has been a practicing potter for over forty years
and continues to pass along her family's time honored tradition. Her
four sons and grandchildren are also recognized for their craft in
pottery.
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We have a
wonderful selection of ornaments for your tree ranging from whimsical
folk art animals to sandpainted glass balls. Think outside of the
traditional shapes and add a miniature beaded doll or a small
bow and arrow this year. Or maybe you'd be interested in hanging a
hand painted fabric fish, horse or person on your tree this year.
Come in and check out the selection. If you can't make it into the
shop, give us a call or drop us an email; we can give you
descriptions or send photos.
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PERSONAL SHOPPING SERVICES AND SHOPPING ONLINE
While we work
diligently to add items to our online store, we
always have a larger selection in the Shop. If you aren't able to
visit the Shop and cannot find what you are looking for on our online
store, send us an email or give us a
call; we will be happy to help you with ideas, work with special
requests, or email images and descriptions of items to you. We know
schedules are busy and if you just can't make it in, be sure to ask
what we can do to help bring art into your life!
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DON'T FORGET ABOUT OUR LAYAWAY PLANS!
We are happy
to work out layaway plans for you and know this is a great way to
enable purchases that just might be too much to handle at one time -
give us a call and we will help with a layaway plan that works for
you.
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OPEN SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15
The Indian
Craft Shop is open the third Saturday of each month from 10:00am -
4:00pm - our next third Saturday opening will be December 15. We look
forward to seeing you!
Thank
you for your continued support of the arts and we hope to see you
soon!
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Indian Craft Shop
Retail Hours
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Open
on Saturday
December
15, 2012
10:00AM to 4:00PM
The
Indian Craft Shop is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30am to 4:30pm,
and the third Saturday of the month from 10:00am until 4:00pm. The Shop
is closed on federal holidays.
A
photo ID is needed for entrance to the building.
During
weekdays, visitors may use either the C Street or E Street
entrances (E Street is closer for
Handicap
access is available at E Street.
(For
weekend handicap access on E Street, contact the Shop at (202) 208-4056
ahead of time, if possible.)
Public
Transportation
Farragut
West (Blue and Orange Line) and Farragut North (Red Line) are the
closest Metro stops. It is a six-block walk, or you can ride an 80 or
S1 bus to 18th and C Streets. There is metered parking on the street
and several parking lots within a few blocks.
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