Gifts and Jewelry with the Spirit of the West
Many Native Americans make their living as artists and skilled silversmiths. Using sterling silver, turquoise and other colorful stones, they create rings, bracelets, pendants and earrings. They can be found displaying their wares in parts of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah where much of the land is Reservation land. It is truly a joy for us to know these artists and to be able to further their businesses by purchasing jewelry directly from them. This wearable artwork is an enduring symbol of the beauty of the region and showcases the colors of the blue sky, red rock mesas and mysterious canyons that the southwest states are known for.
All of our jewelry is handcrafted with sterling silver, turquoise and a variety of other gemstones. These artistic pieces are never mass produced which makes them colorful, meaningful and collectible. We visit the reservations and handpick our selections. If you are drawn to the beauty of the southwest, have a fond memory of traveling there or simply love natural stones and unique items, please visit our Etsy shop!
Now Available!
Distant Skies: An American Journey on Horseback
Melissa Chapman was 23 years old and part of a happy, healthy, loving family. She had a decent job, a boyfriend she cared about, and friends she enjoyed. Yet on the first of May in 1982, she said good-bye to all of it. Carrying a puppy named Gypsy, she climbed aboard a horse and rode away from everything, heading west. With no cell phone, no GPS, no support team or truck following with supplies, Chapman quickly learned that the reality of a cross-country horseback journey was quite different from the fantasy. Her solo adventure would immediately test her mental, physical, and emotional resources as she and her four-legged companions were forced to adapt to the dangers and loneliness of a trek that would span over 2600 miles, beginning in New York State and reaching its end on the other side of the country, in California. Enchanted by the freedom a nomadic life seemed to promise, the young woman would soon find herself only more deeply connected…to the animals that accompanied her, to the varying and challenging landscapes through which she traveled, and to the people she met on the farms and back roads that crisscross the United States. Her tale is part American road trip, part coming-of-age story, and part ode to the horse―a remarkable memoir that explores the evolution of the human-animal relationship, along with the raw beauty of a life lived outdoors.
About Our Jewelry
As a child, Missy had inherited her grandmother’s sterling silver and turquoise cuff. Her journey through New Mexico, Arizona and parts of the Navajo Reservation furthered her interest and love of the jewelry associated with the southwest. During her horseback adventure, she was able to add a few pieces of beautiful wearable art to her collection
About Our Name . . .
"Three amazing animals made my horseback journey possible and they meant everything to me — my horse Raindance, my dog Gypsy and my little mule Amanda. Our journey still affects my life in many ways. When I started my business several years ago, it seemed like an obvious choice to name it after my dear friend Amanda, my little mule who was still with me decades after our adventure." – Missy Chapman
