Pretty Tears (Ne-Zhoni Toh-Yi-Kal) jewelry set consists of a 27″ Necklace, 7 1/2 bracelet and 3″ drop earrings. My materials are torquoise bead nuggets, ovals, chips and a 22mm focal bead, and contrasted with buffalo bone beads. All accent beads are gold plated, and I use a stainless coated wire to prevent corrosion and add long life to my works.
This piece was inspired by my grandfather’s cattle ranch near Heber Arizona and close to the Navajo reservation. The hills surrounding his ranch is rich in Indian lore and hyroglyphic paintings where Geronimo once roamed and fought the calvary.
Like the buffalo, the Navajos have been reduced to the bone. They are remembered in this piece of jewelry and pretty tears (the turquoise chips). The buffalo bone circle focal bead that the torquoise ball sets inside represents the circle of never ending life we all belong to. The 19 petals represent peace, joy, tears, spirit, man, women, north winds, east winds, west winds, south winds, sun, moon, food, water, land, heaven, buffalo, fish, and birds. There maybe magic nutured into this piece, and one might experience the ghost dance when wearing it. Sometimes the spirits listen to us create life and guide our hands in the darkness of the caves where spirits dance in the lights.