THIS IS A REPOST FROM ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO...
SILVER SUNDAY
When our children were small, MR. SWEET had a large construction job in Tuba City, Arizona, the Navajo Indian Reservation. He moved all of us out there for about 6 months and I had the time of my life.
When our children were small, MR. SWEET had a large construction job in Tuba City, Arizona, the Navajo Indian Reservation. He moved all of us out there for about 6 months and I had the time of my life.
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I had always liked Navajo rugs, pottery and especially the silver and turquoise jewelry. AND...to be able to buy it directly from the Indian makers themselves was such an experience....and VERY cost saving, as well. No middle man, ya know......:)
This is but a fraction of the jewelry we have. Although turquoise is VERY popular now, the Indian turquoise and silver pieces aren't.
It will come back around someday and when it does....I'm ready for it! :o)
Silver and turquoise and shells called wampum......*
The SOLID SILVER necklace to your left...MR. SWEET made that for me.
The SOLID SILVER necklace to your left...MR. SWEET made that for me.
While we were there, he learned to make the silver and turquoise jewelry..
SEE, I TOLD you he could make ANYthing !!
SEE, I TOLD you he could make ANYthing !!
These are called Squash Blossom necklaces and are made out of all silver and turquoise stones and they are HEAVY. Uncomfortable to wear.
I wore them, tho... yes ma'am....back several years ago when all the stars in Hollywood were wearing them!!! Haha
YES, I DID !!
YES, I DID !!
We sat and watched for about 3 hours while an old Navajo silversmith finished this necklace...I was so scared I wasn't going to get it, I could hardly sit there!! :)
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See the little tips coming off each turquoise stone around the sides?
...they are shaped like squash blossoms, hence the name.
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This is FRY BREAD that the Indians make a LOT...and it is so so good. It's a lot like the Mexican sopapillas..
This is FRY BREAD that the Indians make a LOT...and it is so so good. It's a lot like the Mexican sopapillas..
This is a NAVAJO TACO made with the fry bread....and may I just say......O HONEY
love, bj
45 comments:
Lots of beautiful turquoise jewelry. Can you believe, that living here all these years...I don't own one piece! Your pieces are beautiful...and keepers!! Happy SS!
Beautiful pieces, BJ!! How cool that Mr. SN made you a necklace!! My husband LOVES turquoise jewelry and some of the other stones and he has had some jewelry made by artists. I like my cheap stuff! lol!!
xoxo
Jane
I love all things Native American...just went to the Taos Pueblo and bought husband a bracelet for xmas!
These are fabulous BJ!
love, kelee
I love turquoise jewelry. Those pieces are amazing.
beautiful......
Oh! Oh! Oh! You've set my eyes to dancing! If I wore jewelry, I would wear that!
G'eve BJ ~ What exquisite pieces you have ... How wonderful to own so much, & have a piece that your DH made for you. So precious to you ...
I don't care for this type of jewelry myself, but as a wee child my g'pa brought me back a bracelet that I still have.
Have a beautiful weekend.
TTFN ~ Marydon
Love all of your gorgeous jewelry. I too have several pieces of turquoise and I love it. I also have a squash blossom necklace and you are so right, they are so heavy, but I still love mine. Indian fry bread is just to die for. Do you have a recipe. I would love to make it. Thanks for sharing all of your lovely things. Hugs, Marty
The necklace that Mr. Sweet made you is certainly an heirloom treasure! These pieces are beautiful. When Earl and I were dating I visited my Aunt & Uncle in Arizona one January. While I was there I bought a beautiful turquise inlaid belt buckle for my sweetheart:>)
I have a necklace similar to those that my uncle gave my grandma before he left to go to the Marines in the 50's. I wore it to a party years ago, and I had a guy offer me $1000 for it. I never wore it again unless I was close to home. I had no idea! Yours are beautiful, what a nice collection! Have a great weekend.
Wow that jewelry is beautiful. One of my daughters has a lot. They go to Arizona and she gets it somewhere around there. Hang on to it, it will come back around. Maybe priceless someday.
QMM
By the way, Happy belated 72nd Birthday!!!! You certainly look GOOD for 72. I am headed to 64 and I feel it..lol
Another subject...do you have any idea what the value of that silver is now days? I know that I went to a jewelry show here in Atl. and took junk pieces of gold necklaces, silver chains etc. and he paid me $972.00 for a tiny bit in the bottom of a sandwich bag. It was just junk to me so I was thrilled to find that gold and silver had gone up so much..It was a great Christmas surprise for me.
Just thought I'd pass that on to ya'
Anyway, your jewelry is gorgeous and I am sure you wouldn't want to get rid of it but I love it all.
Sharon
Nice Jewellery! Thanks for sharing.
Nancy
What a stunning collection of turquoise jewelry...as many years as I lived in Arizona, I never bought one piece of turquoise! Thank you for sharing.
It's funny, I was looking at this pewter cat I have, an ornament, and wondering what I have that's 'silver' (I know pewter - but you know what I mean) cuz I was thinkin' I don't have enough pink to do pink saturdays so does anyone do silver (-looking). I have no idea why cuz I don't have much pewter or silver. Go figure. Wellll, I got to looking today and I have pink stuff, I really do. I didn't realize I have that much,not that it's a lot, just more than I realized. And so first time here today I came for pink to get info and got distracted going to Brambleberry Cottage instead. SO I came back and now, I'm just exceptionally hungry - that fry bread looks delicious. Do you make it? Have a recipe? FOrget pink forget silver. Jason's Deli is on the way. I'm distracted again and still need to find the info for pink saturdays. Breathe. Ah but I have had fun writing a comment! :) Jenn
Terrific post. I did so enjoy the beautiful jewelry.
My first visit.
yvonne
Wow...you do have a wonderful collection of turquise jewelry. Very beautiful pieces.
Jane
BJ,
Thanks for visiting, and wow!!!! those pieces of silver/turquoise are amazing. My youngest son is just all into Native Americans for....sheesh I don't know for how long. He has just really gotten into the study of them and knows so much. I'll have to let him see your post. How do you make the Indian Fry Bread??? or do you purchase it? Loved visiting.
Love your blog and the jewelry. Is the fry bread anything like puffy tacos? Looks similar. I, too, would love a recipe for the fry bread. Being from the South, I love me some fried foods.
Oh, what memories! Growing up in northern New Mexico, my mother used to frequent the nearby pueblos and made many treasured friendships with the "potters." She, too, loved the turquiose and was gifted or "traded" for several pieces, including a squash blossom. Until just now, I never knew how it got that name!
Wear them in good health ... and happiness!
Ooh girl, I went through a stage where Navajo jewelry was all I thought about. I used to buy it from QVC on Southwestern Jewelry night. Is it not gorgeous??? And so much of what they create has meaning behind it.
But ooooohhhh... you're in trouble! Those are Native Americans, not Indians! Indians are from India these days. Heeheeheeeeeeeeeeeee
Holy crap, gimme some of that fry bread!
Justine :o )
Evening, BJness! Beautiful turquoise jewelry! You have so many pieces too! When we lived in New Mexico, there was so much of this kind of jewelry. I always wanted a squash blossom necklace, but I'm so short I couldn't find one that looked right around my tiny little neck!! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Beautiful BJ! Just stunning. My FIL use to make this kind of jewelry.
Hugs,
Maryjane
Wow! You have some gorgeous things!
Sue
Thank you so much for your visit today, BJ! (I am also a good friend of Kathleen's (Cuisine Kathleen) :)
I also have some Navajo pieces from the 70's from Arizona. We used to vacay in Scottsdale every spring when our girls were young. My hubby first took me there in the 70's when turquoise jewelry was so popular. I'll be ready when it comes back too - LOL!
You are right it always comes back and ya gotta be ready, love the silver and turquoise it is so beautiful paired with all black, wow so pretty.....Gotta chime in yea for Scott Brown, Mr. P. is sure it was the 50.00 we sent for his campagne.....hugs Phyllis
Wow I will have to try the mexican dish, it looks so good, I think I forgot to tell you I have my new button up and I would love for you to come and pick it up....hugs...
Wow! BJ, you do have the Indian jewelry. You should spend time in Santa Fe every so often so you can enjoy wearing these. Turquoise is one of those stones that looks good on everybody. You are fortunate to own so many lovely pieces. Start wearing it and get the trend going!!! ~ Sarah
What beautiful turquoise jewelry. I love the necklace your sweet husband made for you. The food looked pretty great too bj, my mouth is watering now :-) Have a wonderful Sunday!
Blessings,
Marcia
Your silver and turquoise jewelry is absolutely gorgeous.
Happy SS!
xojanis
Ooh, did this remind me of my love for fry bread! I haven't had it forEVER and I'm thinking right now there are few things I wouldn't trade for some. This fat girl does like her food, ahem.
Love the turquoise! It's beautiful!
I love, love, love silver! This is some lovely jewelry. I used to have a collection but it was all stolen some years ago. I have only bought one piece since. It has the pink stone. Sooo...that being said..can I have some of yours? :):) lol! Just askin'..
p.s. I'm trying not to look at the food!!!
Beautiful turquoise jewelry! I think it is still quite popular with jeans and boots! My great grandfather was a trains man in the 20' and 30' and collected lots of the old turquoise jewelry, basket, rugs, etc. I am honored that I have a number of these piece from him...I must admit that I don't wear the jewelry as often as I would like to...Have a great Sunday
Gale
Mmmmm mmmm good! Handcrafted and by your Mr. Sweet...how lucky you are to have such a personal treasure. Thanks for coming...see you next Sunday!
{{gypsy hugs}}
Beth
I love turquoise and silver, great post!
I have some of that beautiful jewelry too! Gorgeous necklace:) And the taco..... YUMMY! Have a sweet Sunday dear BJ! Hugs!
I still have some turqoise jewelry from years ago, and I wear it on occasion. It's my birthstone, so why not? You have quite a lovely collection.
xoxo
Donna
Back in high school, everything I wore was turquoise and silver. I am not sure when I switched to gold and pearls or why even. I think it is time to go back to my jewelry box. Thanks for sharing.
Hi there
What a huge collection of Silver and Turquoise.. it was fairly popular over here also.. still worn a bit now.. I do so love turquoise and it complements the silver so well.. Lovely pieces.. Julie
BJ, BJ ... this is amazing jewelry! Everyone out here in the High Desert wears turquoise so come on out and bring the good stuff with you!!!
Oh my...these pieces are gorgeous! How special you were able to get them directly and even some from your hubby! That is just so amazing. And out of style? I must be out too because I think that these are very stylish...something that not too many other people have. Shoot, I'd wear it anyway with black or white...I think they are B e a u t i f u l!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
YOU have the market cornered!!!! (BTW your kitchen is beyond darling!!!)
m ^..^
Wow lots of beautiful pieces,love turquoise jewelry...thanks for sharing...Pat H
your picture wonderful...
Beautiful turqoise, BJ! I have a few pieces since it's my birthstone and the Native American culture is dear to my heart because I have a Cherokee background. Sorry my Sunday Silver visit is so late but I do love your silver post!
xoxo...Kathy
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