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.

Random Inspiration from Powwows.com

Somehow I got on the listserv for powwows.com - and normally I don't much care for mass emails, but this one was full of gems.

First, they tell me about Attaching Metal Cones. It's a cool little article that has nothing to do with what I do on a daily basis, but it was interesting. It made me want to go out and attached some cones to something.

Then, they have the latest pics from the 2011 Manito Ahbee Powwow posted. And one of them was this awesome snapshot:

And then, evidently, they sell really cool stuff on this website! (haha, I know, many of you probably already know this, but I'm behind the times!)

(Handcrafted and naturally dyed Porcupine Quill Earrings (I *need* these).)

(Floral-patterned headband made from cut beads and rhinestones (I do not need this, but the maker says the headband "would make an awesome addition to anyones dance outfit!" and I agree).)

I kinda can't wait til the next mass email from them. But, until then, I can always just keep updated on their Facebook page.

That Is One Mega-Cute Baby Bonnet

‎Pictured above is American fashion designer Tom Ford with the 2011 Santa Fe Indian Market Native American Clothing Contest Best of Show Winner and the First Place Contemporary Adult Female Winner (in Santa Fe at the annual August Indian Market event).

Ford said that he particularly was pleased with the recipient of the first-place award for Contemporary Female Adult, Naomi Bebo Maybee (Menominee/Hochunk), who wore a Japanese-Native American fusion kimono with ledger art applique, designed by her mother-in-law, Toni Williams. He was also pleased with 1-year-old Persephone Maybee, daughter of Naomi and artist Dallin Maybee (Arapaho/Seneca), who took Female Best in Show with a head-to-toe outfit created by her father. The little pink ensemble included a split horn baby bonnet and elk tooth dress with matching beadwork.

Sandra Okuma Beaded Shoes

(Beaded Shoes by Sandra Okuma, Shoshone/Luiseno, at the 2011 SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market. Photo by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe)

My friend Amber-Dawn Bear Robe spotted these awesome shoes at the Santa Fe Indian Market last weekend. They are made by Sandra Okuma, who is of Shosone-Banock and Luiseno heritage. With an education in commercial art from Los Angeles Tech, she worked as a graphic designer for a number of years. She is inspired by antique Indian beadwork as well as contemporary powwow regalia to create masterly paintings and beaded items. Her vibrantly-colored paintings depict people of all ages and tribal affiliations in elegant powwow-style clothing with beaded accessories.

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!)

Profile | Ken Williams

Ken Williams (Arapaho/Seneca) was born into the beadwork tradition. His early years were spent on his father's Seneca reservation in NY where he started observing and experimenting with beadwork. As a teenager, he spent time with his mother's family, master beadworkers themselves, at the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Here he began to take on bigger, more complex projects. While at IAIA, he was mentored by Teri Greeves and began to develop his own style which mixed a contemporary aesthetic with traditional beadwork. Ken now focuses mostly on fancy bags of all sizes and shapes, each a beautiful creation with its own story to tell.

(from the Native Treasures website)

GON 2011 Beadwork on Crack

As we walked around the GON vendors in the tents, we noticed table after table of crazy cool beadwork, and one of my friends (can't remember who!) stated, "Woah... it's like beadwork on crack..."

See what we mean:

Sadly, I didn't get the names of the sellers - I guess you'll just have to go to GON 2012 to check it out for yourself!

Jewelry Designer Profile | Turquoise Soul

Turquoise Soul is a Native American owned and operated company that creates hand-beaded earrings, watches and other accessories.

Turquoise Soul was founded in 2007 by Wabanoonkwe Hernandez, who is an Ojibwe tribal member from Wabaseemoong Independent First Nation located in northern Ontario Canada.

In 2010, Jacqueline Baduya joined Hernandez, and the two not only create beautiful one-of-a-kind beaded accessories, but they also seek to empower Native women by offering workshops and providing other unique opportunities. In this way, they hope to give back to their Native communitites and help those in need by providing the tools and skills to succeed.

The dynamic worlds of fashion and art have inspired the designers behind Turquoise Soul to provide their customers with high-quality, distinctive, and original pieces.

Because the color red resembles strength in many Native communities, the team donates some of the proceeds from red earrings to help local women's shelters.

Click here to access their Facebook page, where you can peruse their collection.

(photos with models are done by the awesome Native photographer Anthony Thosh Collins featuring the beautiful Native models Amberae Wood and Shalon Adams)

Heard Indian Market 2011 - Craig Kelly

Artist Craig Kelly (Navajo) is a jeweler who creates 3-D work out of mixed media. He's won awards for his work and participates in the Santa Fe and Heard Indian Markets. Kelly incorporates unusual materials, such as carbon fibers or computer wiring, and beads a variety of subject matter (from skulls in film strips, to nudes, to tropical sunsets!), to create his jewelry designs. He grew up in Church Rock, NM and now lives in Albuquerque.

My favorite piece of his work was a large beaded gorget. It's a self-portrait and it's beautifully done. The colors are gorgeous. But another awesome piece was a beaded medallion of DJ Dead Mouse. Super cool! Kelly will also be at Native Treasures this year, held annually in Santa Fe. So I will definitely have to check out the Native Treasures show to see what new stuff he brings.

Scroll down to see images of Kelly's work. Doug Miles and I chatted with Kelly at his booth at the Heard:

Designer Profile | Cody Harjo

Check out the awesome beadwork by my fellow Dartmouth pal Cody Harjo (Seminole/Otoe/Creek/Cherokee/Iowa).

Here's her bio from her Etsy page:

I am an enrolled member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma with Otoe, Creek, Cherokee, and Iowa descent and a self-taught beadwork artist with almost 20 years of beadwork experience.

Growing up in Oklahoma, I was exposed to many beadwork traditions and always listened with an open heart and mind when other beadwork artists offered advice and guidance. My initial focus was on Otoe style beadwork, but now starting to explore traditional Southeastern designs. I am also a constant student for anyone who chooses to teach me about their tribe's traditional patterns and colors.

I consider myself a contemporary beadwork artist because I love to work with colors and designs that cross the boundaries of "traditional." I believe beadwork is an art form that should always evolve. After all our ancestors did not have access to glass beads until European arrival. Beadwork represents a tradition of adaptation in its highest form for our American Indian people.

Currently I'm busy working and going to grad school for media studies, so I am unable to attend art markets at this time. But this does not stop the beads... because beadwork is a part of who I am. It's like a daily exercise and meditation.







Harjo was also featured on Martha Stewart's show, and you can watch the clip by clicking here.