Etsy Gift Guide: Hat Bands for the Men in Your Life!

For any guy - from your musician buddy, to your rodeo cousin, to your saddle-up-to-the-bar boss, to your tribal councilman uncle - these are cool.

These hat bands are made by CloudBurst, whose father is Chiricahua Apache and mother is Mescalero Apache.

This hat band is made with leather, seed beads and crow beads (hat not included!). It features arrow and zigzag designs created with turquoise, red and black beads. The beaded area is about 21" in length, and almost 1" wide. The ends are tied off with leather ties and crow beads. Looks sharp on a black, brown, or cream cowboy hat! $119.

This colorful hat band is made with leather, seed beads and crow beads. The beaded area is about 20" in length, and is about 1" wide. Featuring a bold geometric pattern in turquoise, white, yellow, red and black, this band is a nice addition to a black, brown or cream colored cowboy hat. Giddy up! $119.

And remember to wrap it up in some fancy, manly, paper.

Etsy Gift Guide: Up North

Continuing with my latest Etsy kick - today I'm highlighting a First Nations artist on Etsy.

First up is Justin Rivard, a First Nations artist who has been engraving for nearly 20 years. Originally from Nanaimo, he now works in Vancouver. Rivard is represented by several art galleries in British Columbia and the United States, but he also enjoys selling his work directly through Etsy. His jewelry is clean and detailed, and he creates items such as earrings, moneyclips, bracelets, business card holders and cufflinks.

Starting at the 'lower end' (financially-speaking), these sleek, wearable dangle earrings are hand-carved by Rivard. They represent Eagle Feathers, and measure 1 1/2" x 3/8". $70.

These baby bracelets measure 3/8" x 4 1/2" and make for cute gifts for the lil ones in your life. There is also space on the back to have the bracelet engraved and personalized. These bracelets are hand-engraved by Rivard, and can be completed in symbols ranging from Hummingbirds to Orcas. Click here for more info. $125.

These distinctive and unique cufflinks are hand-carved by Rivard with symbols that represent family crest designs found in Northwest Coast Native cultures. Rivards states that these cufflinks make great gifts, especially for the men in your life who are difficult to buy for. They can be engraved with the Orca or Eagle design. $280.

Click here to see more from Rivard, and his shop, Art From Above.

Etsy Gift Guide: iPhone Case

I fell off the wagon.

This is NOT Native-made. But it is sooo badass I couldn't pass it up.

It's an iPhone 4 Case made/sold by S.O.B. Apparel based out of Los Angeles.

"Native American Bag iPhone 4 Custom Case"
Hard plastic case with decal, releases with coin
4 5/8"in x 2 1/2"in (approx)
$22.50

I wish I had an iPhone.

Etsy Holiday Gift Guide: ndnchick

Continuing the Etsy-a-thon, here are some more ideas!

Ok, before I get in to it, I have a confession. I always wanted to be the Indian version of Martha Stewart. You know, write about cool "tricks of the trade" for beadworking, bring in special guests to talk about making fry bread for weddings, and do a feature on cool decorating ideas with birch bark.

(I'm looking off into the distance right now)

Ok, but back to this post (it relates, trust me, just see below, I totally pull a Martha Stewart)....

So I came across ndnchick (Colville Confederated Tribes) from Spokane, WA - she makes a lot of cool accessories, such as beaded hair barrettes, earrings, and necklaces.

I like her because she is up on it! She keeps her Etsy shop updated, and usually runs some cool Deal of the Day offers (follow her, for real).

Since you can get some pretty amazing deals on her site, I suggest you pick out a combination of 3-5 items, and put them together as stacked presents (my inner-Martha is coming out). Cool concept yea? Check it out:

Pick a color scheme - usually you can determine if your friend, cousin, or niece likes blues, or reds, or cool colors, or warm colors. But if not, hey, just go for both!

These pretty beaded teal and aqua earrings go for $30. If you don't like these, that's ok, you can select other options here.

This cool poinsettia hair accessory is perfect for the holidays, and goes for only $10. I love hair flowers, and ndnchick has many to select from - pick your favorite Hair Flower Accessory here.

These laser cut Baltic Birch Wood Feather Earrings are about 2" in length, and sell for only $5. Only five dollars! If I was in a band, I would buy a pair for every member.

This aqua and teal beaded hair barrette sells for $30.

This raindrop-shaped medallion, made with brown and cream glass seed beads, features a carnelian (gemstone) drop pendant. It goes for $50.

One of her many many options for hair sticks, this set is handmade using green, yellow and white seed beads, on wood sticks with green and white checker patterns. This set goes for $30, but you can purchase sets or singles by clicking here.

She also sells cards with matching envelopes (to make this a super personalized gift!). Beautiful and only $5 (do you know how much I spent for a card at Target the other day?!).

So again, select 3-5 items, wrap them up into something cute, and you are set! And there you go. Supporting local. Supporting awesome.

Holiday Shopping Guide: Support Native Artists and Small Businesses on Etsy

Ok ok ok - everybody is sayin that we should support local artists and small businesses this holiday season; and sometimes it's like, yea, that's a great idea, but just HOW do we do that? Well, I'm going to make it easy for you! Over the next couple of weeks I'll be highlighting some of my favorite items and shops on Etsy.

If you don't know about Etsy, they are, in sum, "the world's handmade marketplace." Their mission is to empower people to change the way the global economy works. They offer a unique sales platform for artists and small businesses (perfect right?), and even better, there are lots of Native artists on Etsy! Rock out.

So recently, I opened up an account so that I can highlight Native artists and jewelry designers. Click here to access my public profile, where you can see my favs.

Here are a couple highlights (again, since this is a fashion blog, I'm focusing on jewelry and accessories gift ideas, but there are many other products for sale on Etsy):

This large beaded barrette was found on the Etsy page of Julia (Shawanaga First Nation Ojibway band), who operates Sparkle and Bead. This cute yellow, white, and purple barrette also has itty bitty little lady bugs on it too, and would make a great gift for a special niece. $80.

I also found this wide pink cuff bracelet with a white leather backing, made by Julia. It would make a cool gift for a teeny bopper (do they still call them teeny boppers?). $30. Other color combinations available. Click here for more info.

Coming from the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, Ear Reigns (cool name, right?!) sells these colorful hand-beaded earrings. An awesome gift for a girl friend, cousin, or best buddy who is packin' a lot of sass. $20. Click here to find out more.

This cool Bullet Case Necklace comes from Rainey "Nasuġraq" Higbee, an Inupiaq Eskimo artist from the North Slope of Alaska. Higbee and her husband own several different types of firearms, and they pick up the casings after they are fired and turn the 'waste' into some neat accessories. Strung on a black faux leather cord, this brass bullet casing is from a .500 bullet, the world's largest manufactured revolver round. For only $15, you can give this little gem to a guy friend (boy friend?), cousin, or nephew. Heck, this is so badass you know girly girls would like it too. Lock and load.

Also from Salmonberry Dreams, this pendant is made of fossilized walrus ivory. Delicate and permanent scrimshawed Inupiaq Eskimo motifs have been added to the surface. It measures about 1" long and comes on a 19" chain. This is another cool guy gift. Time has turned the outer layer from deep cream to mottled hues of brown and dark blue. How cool is that? Tell your main squeeze it represents your love (through time, we get more beautifuller, ha!). $50.

Higbee says, "I specialize in artwork created from the leftovers of the animals we harvest and rely on for food. Be aware that no other people besides Alaskan Natives are allowed to create pieces of art from walrus ivory, fossil walrus ivory, and polar bear."

Click here to check out their Etsy store Salmonberry Dreams, where you will find many more awesome gift ideas.

Now this is a neat idea that allows you to get a little creative too. This solid copper bracelet can be stamped with your name, someone else's name, or any word or phrase in English, Choctaw or other language. This would be a great for an uncle, or mentor, or, you know what would be cool? Stamp nokomis on this and give it to your grandma. Hey, we all know copper is good for arthritis! $34.

Enrolled in the Choctaw Nation, the artist is also into tradish-style trading! Yes! Lots of other cool jewelry on this shop site, so check it out.

And finally, for your friend, daughter, or cousin who had a baby this year, check out these super cute mocs. This set was made by Nita, an enrolled Alaska Native artist, who her sells her stuff along with her family on the Tots-May-Wee shop site. $60.

Hopefully I can spotlight a variety of artists from different regions who do cool things. I purposefully selected examples that are under $100 because I'm on the poorer side of things. But if you check out the sites, you'll notice that there are higher-end options that these artists offer as well. And finally, let me know if you have a favorite Etsy shop that should be highlighted on here.

Support.

Tammy Beauvais Honors Kateri

Mohawk fashion designer Tammy Beauvais made this stole in honor of Kateri Tekakwitha to be presented and given to Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican by Sister Kateri Mitchell (Mohawk Nation), who is the director of the Tekakwitha Conference based in Great Falls, Montana.

The Tekakwitha Conference is the only Catholic Native American/Aboriginal Religious Organization in North America. It was founded in 1939 and was incorporated in 1979 as a National Non-profit Organization. The National Office is located in Great Falls, MT in the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings.

Sr. Kateri will be leaving to Rome to meet with the Pope and will present the Kateri stole to him. Beauvais said it was an honor to create this piece.

Angela DeMontigny's Parfleche Series

Check out First Nations fashion designer Angela DeMontigny's latest purse collection, the Parfleche Series. Based on Plains Indian parfleche rawhide bags, DeMontigny's versions are hand cut and sewn by master leather craftsmen using the finest Italian leather and hardware.

This collection is based on the parfleche, which is a Native American rawhide bag used in the past for holding dried meats and pemmican. The first known use of the word parfleche was in the early 1800s and comes from the Canadian French parflèche - from French parer meaning to ward off, and flèche, which means arrow. The term referred to the hide, which was tough enough to be used as a shield.

Among many tribes, women made and decorated parfleche, often with designs that were passed down for generations through families. In addition to familial designs, painted parfleche bags can also be identified by tribal characteristics. Crow, Lakota, Blackfeet, Ute, Nez Perce and other tribes all used mineral paints and designs that reflected community artistic styles.

The large flat surface of the parfleche bag was painted with colorful, geometric, abstract designs. Some of the original parfleche bags had graphics that were maps or general geographic depictions of the surrounding landscape. A sharpened porous buffalo bone served as an effective paint brush. Sometimes the rawhide was incised to highlight a design. (Click here to view historical parfleche bags in the Smithsonian's online collection.)

The development of DeMontigny's collection was a result of the Cody Institute for Western American Studies (CIWAS) Resident Fellowship program at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, where DeMontigny was a fellow last summer.

(Images are all © Angela DeMontigny 2011)

Orlando Dugi 2011 Collections

I ran into Orlando Dugi when I was in Santa Fe last week, and I wanted to post some of his recent work, because it is absolutely stunning. Dugi is a Navajo beadworker who creates elegant, lavish and sexy dresses, purses, and other accessories. All of his garments and purses pictured below are modeled by the lovely and talented Miss Wakeah Jhane Myers (Comanche/Blackfeet/Kiowa), who is also a champion powwow dancer.

Heavenly Seduction handbag by Orlando Dugi

Celestial Phoenix box purse by Orlando Dugi and Rebecca T. Begay.

Clutches and handbag by Orlando Dugi.
TOP: Stingray flowers on white pebbled leather, silk lining, size 13' Czech cut beads. Middle: Caiman crocodile leather on white pebbled leather, silk lining, size 13' Czech cut beads. Bottom: Single bead stitch on entire image of the stargazer lily with contoured background. Outer shell in white patent leather, sterling silver hardware, 4 ft ss chain, Mabe pearl clasp.

Dugi also has a fashion show coming up at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. Dubbed 'Opulance,' the show will also feature work by the Gaussoins (if you can't make it, don't worry, I'll try my best to post a review).

Orlando Dugi / Indian Market 2011 Radio Ad by SWAIA

Click here to learn more about Orlando Dugi.

Virgil Ortiz Scarves

Click here for the latest from Virgil Ortiz.

Northwest Coast Eyewear

Many of you have probably seen these by now – either through your fashionista friend, or in the ad pages of Native People’s Magazine, or on the desk of your professor or boss.

These are Aya eye glasses, specially designed by world renowned First Nations artist Corrine Hunt.

Hailing from Alert Bay in British Columbia, Hunt has been creating contemporary art that reflects the themes and traditions of her First Nations Kwakiutl and Tlingit heritage for over 2 decades. She even co-designed the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Medals.

A couple of years ago, her designs were added to sunglasses and readers, and now optical glasses, which themselves were designed by Carla D’Angelo, founder of AYA Eyewear.

D’Angelo said, “We are the first company to infuse traditional First Nations art with contemporary eyewear accessories, and that is very exciting for us.” She added: “Working with Corrine was very inspiring, I am a huge fan of her work and I think consumers will love these readers and sunglasses.”

Hunt’s artwork etched on the side arms of the eyewear frames incorporate contemporary, nature-inspired designs including the sun, hummingbird, raven, orca, eagle and wolf.

Aside from the beautiful art along the sides of the glasses, partial proceeds from the sale of AYA Eyewear support ONEXONE First Nations nutritious breakfast programs.


Top sellers for the Aya Readers include the Salma ($39) and the Esme ($60) styles.

The Salma design is lasered so that elements of the design are either a rich color or clear crystal, which allows for dramatic contrast for this eagle design. Salma is available in burgundy, black, red (shown), and brown/blue. The eagle is a symbol of power and intelligence.

Each pair of Esme readers is individually made, and the laminate zyl material and colors are customized so that the First Nations artwork stands out. The eagle design on the temples is paired with solid colored fronts so the end look, while making a strong statement, is wearable day-to-day.

Top sellers for the Aya Sunglasses include the Althea ($35) and the Yasmine ($35) styles.

The Althea design is lasered so that elements of the design are either a rich color or clear crystal. Althea features a unique eagle design and comes in a lustrous black, dramatic purple (shown), rich red or soft brown.

The Yasmine shades are mid-sized ladies’ sunglasses and feature a bold eagle design. They are double polished for a lustrous finish and are available in crystal red (shown), crystal grey, black and a unique brown over blue.

And finally, top sellers for the Aya Opticals include the Ashley ($169) and the Sisley ($169) styles.

Made from Acetate and Stainless Steel, the Ashley optical glasses feature a cut-out Raven design in Black/Crystal, Red, Green, and Brown (shown). The raven is a symbol of the power of the unknown. The raven is a bringer of light to the world, and is cunning and boisterous.

The Sisley glasses feature an etched Orca design. The Orca is a symbol of good and represents the traveler and guardian. These opticals can be purchased in Brown/Blue (shown), Black/White, or Red/Cream. Every pair of optical frames comes with an embossed hard case and microfibre cleaning cloth, and 1 year warranty.

Click here and here to check out the Aya Optical website.

Click here to buy.

Turquoise Soul's Feather Frenzie

Here's your sneak peek of Turquoise Soul's new collection of earrings and accessories. Dubbed Feather Frenzie, the new collection will pair feathers with hardware for some sassy Native-made jewelry. Turquoise Soul is headed up by Wabanoonkwe Cameron-Hernandez (Ojibwe), who did the photography and make-up for this shoot, which features model India Lowery Jones (Lumbee).

Martini Couture Beaded Earrings

Dii Martin of Martini Couture has created a bunch of new accessories that include these beaded earrings. They are nice and long, and lengths run between 5 to 6 inches. Find Martini Couture on Facebook if you'd like to order a set (prices range from $10-$25). Bye-bye Urban Outfitters (support Native-made Native fashion!)