Friday, September 16, 2011

Tohono O'Odham Baskets

If your looking for a true souvenir of Tucson and the surrounding area, baskets made by our local people the Tohono O'Odham (people of the desert), is just the thing!  These are easy to transport and decorate with. 

The Tohono O'Odham have been in the Sonoran Desert for hundreds of years.  They are most known for their baskets.  Baskets have been used for transporting and storing just about everything, food, grain, belongings, and  used for cooking in.  They even wove their sleeping mats, and  their sandals.  Old baskets were made of willow and devils claw.  The baskets today are made of white yucca, devils claw (black), banana yucca root (red) and bear grass (filler).  There are coiled and open weave baskets.  Designs of animals, dust devils, spirals, frets, stars, insects, pinwheels and many other things.  The most popular basket is the Man in the Maze.  The more design in the basket the more expensive it will be.   Help keep a native tradition alive, buy a basket and support our local people. Cost: $450.00.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Show stopper coral earrings....

These beautiful Zuni made coral earrings are sure to make a statement with anything you wear. While turquoise is what most people familiarize with when they think of Native American jewelry, Coral has been used in Native American jewelry since the 1800's.

According to Basilio Liverino of Italy (who was a world-renown expert), Native Americans of New Mexico and Arizona considered coral an ornament of the highest value and esteem. They believed that this beautiful "gem" had such great power that it could cure anything from blindness to a snake bite, and brought the wearer great luck, long life and virility. Cost: $120.00.

Call us at 520-881-2112 for more info.