High, Low and In Between

by TVZ


Native American porcupine quill pieces are beyond gorgeous and often complex, but I found these simple quill earrings that are equally fab...Striking, no?

Oh! Sweet Nuthin'

by Velvet Underground

omg.omg.omg.

Sea Song

by Robert Wyatt (live)

















Ever since I made this post about a collection of Native American art, I have become interested in Inuit block and stone printing, something they learned from the Japanese in more modern times. This art catalog on ebay's cover really struck me. I've always been a big fan of this kind of printing in general and the primitive look of it, but I particularly like the Inuit focus on aspects of nature and abstraction. The stark quality of the style seems to lend itself especially well to what I imagine is a fairly stark life on the frozen tundra.






























by Joe Talirunili
















by Davidialuk Alasua Amittu

by Annie Kilabuk

Remember the Mountain Bed

by Billy Bragg and Wilco, lyrics by Woody Guthrie















Love the little clouds in the centers of the links on this bracelet! What a beauty. I love copper's warmth.

Let's Dance

cover by M. Ward

















Oops, I did it again...No, I haven't been listening to Britney Spears (god forbid). I bought another Navajo rug. (Here's the first one I got.) I really wasn't supposed to spend any money...but it was pretty cheap and I couldn't resist. I really want a house chock full o' these suckers someday, and seeing as our apt is super tiny, I have pretty much have achieved that goal till we move somewhere bigger eventually!

And, to be honest, I broke my spending rule because the more I continue to decorate the space around me and my family with things that I love and that speak to me (and the bf and his son), the more I (and hopefully they) enjoy each day and time spent in our apt! It brightens my days and cozy-s up my nights! It seems so silly but it's absolutely true. Thinking back, I didn't really experience that in my childhood home, so this is a relatively new revelation for me.

Growing up, neither of my parents was into decorating for the simple sake of beauty or even personality (they still aren't). We just had what had been inherited or was plainly useful (and they kept everything forever). I have a complicated or maybe just odd relationship with "things" perhaps as a result, something that has been changing in positive ways over the past several years. Anyway, beauty and connection make such a real difference, not just when it comes to ethereal things in life like relationships (as I was taught when I was young), but also when it comes to "things." They really do. I realize that most people probably knew that all along! Ever since my bf and I moved in together 5 yrs ago, I feel like I am creating a real HOME for the first time, and home is extremely important to me. (My sign is Cancer.)

Now I will be on a for-reals shopping moratorium for a while, but that won't stop me from looking around...hard not to since I spend so much time online for/during my 2 jobs...and it's almost just as fun to look anyway!

Precious Things

Oh, let's have a jewelry moment, shall we?






















This necklace is awe-inducing.















Key necklace by sadie. Simple beauty.




















Back when I ventured to the mall a few weeks ago, I saw an older lady rocking effing amazing snake earrings! They totally worked, too. Loved it, and haven't forgotten. These cobra earrings are not really similar to what she had, but they're still bad ass.

















I can't have a post without some turquoise somewhere, can I?














Or something that comes from Mexico!

Surf's Up

by Brian Wilson















While on our recent trip to LA, we stayed in lovely Venice Beach, and of course that means we took a bike ride over to Abbot-Kinney, one of the main shopping streets there. Surfing Cowboys was far and away the most amazing spot along that drag. Truly to die for vintage furniture, and -- sparking my interest, of course -- an exceptional collection of vintage Native American jewelry. So exceptional, mind you, that I had to be dragged away and am still thinking about the pieces, most too small for my larger-than-average wrists and fingers. I was informed by the staff that Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall's daughter is the one who selects and brings in their incredible Native American pieces. Like her parents, gal's got taste for days!




























































All these pics are from Surfing Cowboys' website -- I didn't take any pics inside myself...too shy!

Their stuff is the real deal, folks.

Withered and Died

by Richard and Linda Thompson

As promised, here are some selections from the Elkus Family's jewelry...

Sewee Sewee

by Mountain Man

Over the past few days, I've still been slowly going through the Elkus Family archive online and I can't resist sharing more here...the artwork is incredibly inspiring and from many different tribes from all across North America and all pre-1960! I'm obsessed...it's totally timeless and transporting stuff. This is just a sampling of the collection, and I haven't even gotten to the jewelry yet! Jawdropping.

Ain't No Way

by Aretha Franklin

















Such perfect little arrow earrings! As seen on Oh Joy!

Rudy Foolish

by Superwolf



















This weekend I got free passes to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. As a child, this was the most magical place of all to my brother and I and we spent countless hours lost in its labyrinthine exhibits. Truly, a huge, huge influence on my life.






















They tore down the old building about 5 years ago (it wasn't earthquake-safe, so they said) and built a new, thoroughly modern museum. Though I've been several times now, it doesn't hold the same majesty the old one held, and I don't think it's because I am older now. Simply put, it both holds less stuff, and modernity has stripped the soul of the place.






















That said, it's not all bad, of course, and one of the major highlights of this latest visit for me was the unexpected discovery of a small exhibit called Evolving Traditions: Southwest Native Pottery and Silver, which produced much "ooh-ing" and "aaaaah-ing" from me.






















Here I learned of the Elkus family, who collected thousands of artifacts while being legal advocates for Indians. Their collection is now owned by the Academy and is incredible, as you can see from the images included here (though some of the images are of objects not on display at this exhibit)! Glad to see the Academy highlight subject matter such as this.