Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Southwest Of Forever

When I was a kid I lived on the coast of New England. My Uncle David had left the north east for Arizona when he was 18 years old. This was back in the very early 1930's. He had terrible asthma and needed that dry climate to survive.  Every year he sent us the magazine Arizona Highways.  I poured over those pages. The photos are amazing. It kindled a life long love and desire to explore the Southwest. 
Arizona Highways Magazine Photo from their Facebook Page



The natural beauty and colors of the Southwest have influenced my knitting.
 Sunlight In The Canyon Cowl
Arizona Sunlight Cowl from WeeLambieVintage

Lately I have been searching for silver jewelry from the Southwest. I have some family pieces that were passed down to me from my Mother.  Silver jewelry accented with turquoise and other gem stones were widely made by Native American's and sold at Trading Posts. In the 1930's when my Grandmother traveled there to visit David she brought home quit a lot of lovely pieces. 
I will leave the details to the experts as there are many. I would like to share some pieces I have found around Etsy.

I love this roadrunner! They just make me smile and this would look great on my cowl.

Vintage Navajo Roadrunner from AstrasShadow

The vibrant coral in this bracelet inspires visions of the canyon walls at sunset.

Vintage Navajo Coral and Silver Bracelet from AstrasShadow

Native American Jewelry incorporates scenes and symbols from everyday life. 

Howling wolves in sterling silver and brass make beautiful dangle earrings.

Sterling silver Wolf Howl at the Moon earrings from TheInspiredTrader

What sounds better than liquid silver?
Layers of liquid silver 12 strands strung into a beautiful necklace.
TheInspiredTrader

Turquoise rings are a long time favorite. 

This silver ring has a black matrix turquoise cabochon bezel set stone. WeeLambieVintage 

The silver light of Arizona and the Southwest as seen in Native American jewelry and some good old New England knitting.

Anne/weelambie

4 comments:

VLW said...

I love the multi-colored cowl!

Araignee said...

You brightened up a dreary day! I could use a visit to somewhere dry and warm right now.

The Inspired Trader said...

Arizona is such a beautiful state, I too have been enchanted with it and southwest jewelry since my childhood travels there.

I love your shop!

AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa said...

Your cowl is so pretty! Going to the Balloon Festival in Albuquerque New Mexico is a dream of mine. When I go I plan on buying LOTS of turquoise jewelry!