**SALE FOR THE NECKLACE-PENDANTS SHOWN IN PHOTOS ARE IN A SEPARATE LISTING**

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Personally speaking, Michelle is one of the kindest vendors I work with, whose is hard working, respectful & a woman who has integrity.. She's one of those people that when you meet her, you immediately relax & connect as if you've known her a lifetime.

Born in Gallup, NM in 1971 into a family of silversmiths, with a few being some well known artisans that include Lee and Raymond Yazzie & Mary Marie Lincoln (Marie Yazzie).. It was not only the latter (Mary) who inspired & taught the young 13 year old Michelle, but she also learned from her Grandmother Elsie Yazzie and her aunts, Shirley Johnson & Lola Daw. These women are the ones who took Michelle under their wing & gave Michelle her start, by teaching her the ropes in knowing how to cut the sterling, dome, file, solder, drill and string, as well as how to create different finishing's and then lastly the buffing. Considered now to be at a ‘master’ level, she's come along way since then & is now recognized in the industry for being one of the best for her perfectly made-authentic Navajo Pearl necklaces.

With each generation, Michelle has passed this art down to her immediate family members, with "SANDRA WHITTINGTON" (FORMALLY “ZAMBRANO"-(SEE LISTINGS) being one, who she herself, has made quite the name in the industry! Michelle's Navajo Pearl necklaces are asked for by name & is one of the more sought out for her traditional Navajo beads.

************************

ABOUT AUTHENTIC NAVAJO PEARLS:

On today's market there are oxidized sterling beaded necklaces that people call “Navajo Pearls” & are nothing but a commercial-machine made oxidized sterling bead & then there are ones that are made entirely by the hands of Navajo silversmiths. Michelle's are the latter & what are considered "AUTHENTIC" Navajo "Pearls"..

"Real" Navajo Pearls take on an extremely labor intensive lengthy process & are much more valuable because of the time that goes into making them & are 'artisan made' rather than by machine.. Once you see the 'real deal' over & over,you will be able to tell with time,what's machine made & what's artisan made. Also the price can be a clue as to what's hand made & what's not!

************************

DESCRIPTION:

Navajo Pearl necklaces are a "must have" to any southwestern jewelry collection & one that pairs well especially with jewelry with this same finishing. These make a great 'go-to' necklace since you can wear them with anything, anytime, anywhere! Made in a 9.5 mm average size bead & is a length that looks great on it's own & is the perfect length when you need to drop a medium to larger size pendant away from the neckline. This will work with pendants that have a Shepherds Hook' connection OR a bale.. With the latter,you just have to be sure that the bale has an large enough opening (At least a 10 mm opening) to put a 9.5 mm bead through.

FYI:

**All Navajo Pearl beads are hollow, with some being light in weight,while others are heavy. The weight of a Navajo Pearl necklace is determined by the gauge of sterling that the artist chose to work with & then of course how big the bead is & the length (More beads)**These particular necklaces happen to have some weight & are not cheap/flimsy' feeling!