National Native American Month Treasury

In honor of National Native American Month, I prepared the Treasury above for Etsy. It was a daunting task to make the decisions on what and who to feature. There were over 4,000 items either tagged or titled Native American. One is allowed only 12 selections and 4 alternates for a Treasury.

I want to thank all of my Bbest team mates and others who viewed, clicked, and commented on the Treasury. The comment section filled and the Treasury advanced to page 1 of the "hot" treasuries before expiring in the middle of last night. If you failed to see the Treasury and would like a closer look at the work of these marvelous artists, I am listing the name of their Etsy shops and you can click on each. I will begin at the top left:

Featured Artists:

• Hear Me Oh Great Spirit by Brighton Blue Glass and Art Gallery. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5793948
• Leather and Lace Gourd by Midnight Collier http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5570900
• Bismarck Dream Catcher by Omaha http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6001606
• Smudge Feathers by Runs With Buffalo http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5316126
• Painted Turtle Totem Bag by Leelinau http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=90011
• Lobellia Gourd Mask by Twisted Thicket http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5160383
• Native American Woman Tee Shirt by Dario The Apache Artist http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13573150
• Buffalo Dream ACEO by Talisman Art http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5946322
• 4 Eagles Medicine Wheel by Art Of Spirit Leather Works http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5515734
• Buffalo Children’s Society Drum by Terra Wood Studio http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=18194
• Native American Leather Wrist Cuff by Sirocco http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=60946
• Native American Medicine Man Fringed Pillow by Timberline Treasures http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5616263
• Alternates were:
• Beaded Flames Barrette by NDN Chick http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=13064
• Maiden Indian Amulet Bag by Forbes Farm Gifts http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5251518
• Hand Beaded Key Chain w/Light by Silver Lizard http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5726068
• Pendelton Style Amulet Bag by Deb’s Visions (Bead Lady 61) http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5066275

When looking for wonderful Native American themed items, don't miss any of these wonderful stores. Mvto and Wa-do to all who promoted this treasury and to all of the featured artists for helping to preserve, protect and perpetuate Native American Arts and Crafts!

Bbest Holiday Sale Treasuries

I belong to the Etsy Bbest Team. We are having a holiday sale. This team has many very talented artists and you will want to see their wares! You can read all about the sale and chances to win terrific prizes by going to http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5904785

To promote the sale, several team mates have done some excellent treasuries and I am pleased to be included. The treasury above was done by kittyd. Kittyd is from Camden, North Carolina and she does wonderful jewelry and polymer clay pieces. Kittyd included my barrette (first item on the third row) in her treasury. You can see Kittyd's work at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=23497


Talking dog (AKA Janine) is another of my Etsy Bbest friends. I thank her for her support and for including my Native American Fan Fare Earrings (Center of last row) in her wonderful treasury. Janine is a professional artist who has studied all over US, earned a B.A. in art. She has been a silk painter for over 20 years. Janine's items are made one at a time, by hand making each unique. You can oww and awe over Janine's work by clicking this link:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5610886

Zuda Gay did this promotional treasury. She was kind enough to include my Midnight Motiff necklace (First item, bottom row). Zuda is an extremely talented and successful polymer clay artist from central Illinois. I know you will want to visit Zuda's store. You will find her polymer floral pendants irrestible. I have three times! You can find Zuda here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5164311

I am always so thrilled, surprised, and honored to be included in treasuries put together by my talented friends. Mvto and Wa-do, Kittyd, Janine, and Zuda! I hope you have great success during the Bbest Holiday Sale!

Future Treasures

OK, I'll admit it! I lost my head this week! It all started very innocently last Friday afternoon when I was invited to look at beads that a local lady had purchased and was now liquidating. Now, inviting me to look at beads is like inviting an alcoholic to a cocktail party! Maybe even worse as some alcoholics can "just say no"! To paraphrase Will Rogers who said "I never met a man I didn't like".....I don't think I ever met a bead I didn't like! Not only did I buy beads there, when I returned home, I discovered a package full of beads that I had ordered from a Pow Wow vendor. I dumped them all on my dining room table and am waiting for the Design Spirit to come my way! I am going to be very busy when you consider that my bead stash was already considerable. Now I'm going to stop my head from spinning, vow to buy no beads for the rest of 2008, call to my muse and get busy on those future treasures!

Mvto and Wa-do III

Etsy, the place to buy hand made items, has a feature called "Treasuries". If you have followed my blog, you have seen selected Treasuries before. This is my lastest treasury, entitled Mvto and Wa-do III. Since November is National Native American Month, I decided to honor some of my Etsy friends and their wonderful creations as a means of thanking them for their personal and professional support during the last year.

Now, one is limited to 12 spaces and 4 alternate spaces. Thus, it is impossible to thank all of my Etsy friends but I will endeavor to find other means at a later date to express my appreciation.

You are all "treasures" to me! Mvto and Wa-do Bbest friends!

My Newest Treasure: A Gifting by Avalina Tamayo

It is customary for the out-going Pow Wow Princess to have a "gifting" ceremony on the last day of her reign. The 2007-2008 Inter-tribal Pow Wow Princess for the Fort Omaha Pow Wow was Miss Avalina Tamayo. Avalina's Grandmother, Beulah Tamayo, has been my friend, colleague, and source of both support and inspiration for many years.

While doing our usual vending at the Pow Wow this year, I thought I heard my name being called to come to the arena but was sure I was mistaken. So, I continued on with selling my wares when a man came to the booth and told me that they were waiting for me in the arena. I couldn't imagine why! But I quickly found someone to help Patrick man our booth so that I could leave.

Much to my suprise, Avalina, her Grandmother, and Mother were standing there with this wonderful quilt awaiting my arrival. I was in a state of shock to be so honored!

Avalina can be seen in the photo above. She is the one with the number 5 on her regalia. Her grandmother is to the right (in dark glasses) and her mother is draping the quilt over my shoulders. Avalina was also featured on the cover of the flyer for the Pow Wow in her Pow Wow crown and full regalia. Avalina designed her regalia and her father, Steve Tamayo, made it for her.

It is pleasure to even know the Tamayo family let alone be honored by them in this way. I was shocked, humbled, and ever so happy!


Miss Avalina Tamayo, Pow Wow Princess 2007-2008 Fort Omaha Inter-tribal. Mvto and Wa-do (Thank you in Creek and Cherokee) Avalina for this wonderful honor! I will treasure both the quilt and the memory forwever!

A Red Letter Day For The U.S of A !

It doesn't matter whether you are a Republican or a Democrat. It doesn't matter if you are red, yellow, black or white. It doesn't matter if you are male or female. It doesn't matter if you are young or old. November 4, 2008 was a history making day for all of us!

Grant Park in Chicago was an awesome sight last night when the President Elect, Barrack Obama, talked to the world. All of those people were jubilant. They were laughing, crying, and most importantly.....waving the American flag.

The photo above is of an Etsy Treasury made by Joonbeam. Joon is a fellow member of the Etsy Bbest team. She included my earrings (first item, third row) in her wonderful Red, White, and Blue Treasury.

Joon has two delightful Etsy stores, Joonbeam:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5399368 and the Flying House Wife:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5820253. Joon has recently moved with her family to Austin, Texas. Joon says, "I love rescuing things, especially if someone else deems them trashworthy. My special affinity is vintage fabrics, notions, trinkets and papers, although I will incorporate any intriguing castaway, regardless of age. I love collage and cobbling things together. I believe that the small stuff does matter. One person can make a difference. And character and environment are everything." Please visit her stores.

I hope you will find Joon, Joon's Treasury and my earrings titled The Eagle Has Landed a fitting tribute to this Red Letter Day for the U.S. of A.!

November: National Native American Month

November is National Native American Month. My son, Patrick and I were invited to exhibit at an art show held by Offut Air Force Base in Bellevue, NE on November 1. Offut sponsers Native events each November. The show was held in the entry of the Base Exchange.

I took this shot of the window as I think it would be interesting to bead a bracelet using this stylized corn design. Always thinking.......

Here I am with trays of beadwork and leaning on one of Patrick's raccoon head walking sticks.

Patrick with a display of selected Native Art. On the far right are turtle rattles, fur bags, one of his gourd shakers, alligator claw necklaces and various other native crafts. On his left is a better shot of the raccoon head stick.

This is our great friend, Judy Crouch. Judy is a talented artist that paints native themed items on feathers. While she is not native by blood, she is native in spirit. Her paintings are award winning and get the full and undivided attention of the public where ever she exhibits. We always enjoy being located next to Judy at shows!

This is a fellow Oklahoma transplant to Omaha. She is Alpha Marie Goombi. She and her husband are ministers and she is currently running for the Nebraska Learning Community Coordinating Council. This was our first encounter. However, it turns out that she is the niece of Robert Redbird. He is the famous Kiowa artist whose work we have collected for years. The work in front of Alpha is that of Robert Redbird, Jr (son). The wonderful ceramic horse piece was done by Alpha Marie. We had a great visit and shared our common interest in the works of Enoch Kelly Haney, Acee Blue Eagle and Woody Crumbo as well as that of the Redbird family.

We caught Dennis Beckman knapping! He demonstrated knapping arrowheads during the show. We had not met Dennis prior to this event. But look forward to seeing him in the future. While this was not a "selling" event, I did manage to make "arrangements" to purchase a wonderful Brazilian agate arrow head from him. Perhaps it will be incorporated into a piece of jewelry some day....or maybe I will just continue to enjoy handling and viewing it as it is. Only the Spirit knows!

A display of very old arrow heads from the Bellevue Historical Society was available.

It was a fun exhibit. It is always great to see old friends and meet new ones at these events. There is a lot of talent in the Heartlands and thank you to Offut Air Force Base for allowing us to come together each November!