Well, trouble has been brewing for some time now and while a few of us were privy to this unfortunate situation our beloved Aji would not let us help her.
We have finally worn her down and that is why I am posting this diary; to inform her community about her situation and hopefully give her a boost.
Now, Aji and her spouse Wings have repeatedly refused our donations and offers of loans, they remain adamant on that. However, Wings has a gallery in Taos and an online store, Silverwork by Wings to sell his silver jewelry and other art. We want to encourage folk to purchase pieces from them to help them out. They will not accept charity but they are comfortable with my promoting their art.
With the holidays coming up surely you can find a gift there.
I think it goes without saying how dedicated Aji has been about writing to help others, a glimpse of her past diary entries reveals that.
Below will be photos and details of several pieces of Wing's artisan jewelry and a link to his online store.
The story from Aji:
When the Bush economy tanked in September, 2008, our business tanked along with it. Wings (that would be Mr. Aji) has a gallery at the Pueblo, selling his Native art, and it's a business that depends greatly on tourism. At the same time, we both had had to deal in recent years with a number of family deaths, a number of family members with catastrophic illnesses, his surgery and rehab, and our own chronic illnesses. Our savings were already wiped out, but we were managing - until the economy crashed. We often went weeks without a single sale.
He bought the house before we met, and for more than a decade, had never missed or been late on a single payment. But what he didn't know was that manufactured homes (absent very limited exceptions, for which we don't qualify) are not considered "homes" - they're personal property, like a car, not real property. There's no such thing as a refi for one; there's no equity (11 years of payments amounted to less than $800 on the principal); and no mortgage or homeowner's assistance is available. The finance company has a terribly track record, especially in communities of color and other underserved communities, but much of their behavior is technically legal, and no one can afford to challenge them. In our case, they would not work with us on payment arrangements; default at 37 days, repo to follow. We hired a local lawyer and fought - hard.
In the meantime, business did not get better, and thousands of dollars were going to the lawyer. We have a four-year-old Hyundai and his truck that he uses for the horses, the land, other things that require that sort of vehicle. We're now losing both of them, too - again, because we got behind, and the banks did not legally have to "work with us," so they didn't. We caught up, sending three months' worth of payments at once; they kept the check for five weeks, and then returned it, demanding the vehicle.
The vehicles will be gone in a matter of weeks. The house is due to be taken on November 30th. Compared to a lot of folks, we're lucky; a friend has lent us an old fifth-wheel travel trailer, and we'll live in that beginning December 1st. I'm currently working on sterilizing it, because it's filthy. And it will be small, and cramped, and chilly, but it'll be a roof over our heads. Unfortunately, we've now learned that we're going to need to shell out for a generator and other expenses for the electrical hook-ups, and trenching, running pipe, and some bizarre contraption for the plumbing hook-ups. Heat is apparently a combination of electric and propane, and in New Mexico, LIHEAP assistance does not apply to propane. Winter's already here; we're in single digits at night. And my 81-year-old mother will at some point be returning from Denver where she's seeing specialists, and I have no idea where we're going to put her.
We know everyone's hurting right now, and we know how lucky we are to have at least this one makeshift option. And we don't want outright donations or even loans - I have no idea how long it would before we could afford to repay anyone, and we don't want to put anyone else's finances at risk. But for folks who are planning on buying holiday (or other) gifts, we hope they'll consider us as a possible source. Wings is a silversmith - he creates both Native jewelry and collectibles - and we also carry dreamcatchers, paintings, leatherwork, pottery, storytellers, fetishes, drums, all the usual kinds of Native art, by other Native artists. Wings is also a photographer; there are a few samples on the Web site. And folks here are familiar with my writing skills; I'm available for hire for nearly any kind of freelance writing project - except student term papers. :-)
We hate doing this, and I apologize for having to bother the community with it. But things really have reached a critical point, and I need to do whatever I can to ensure that we survive what promises to be a long, hard winter.
Below are excerpts from the website, it is a flash site so I cannot link to individual pieces but I will provide a [linkage path] for you to follow.
There are some stunning pieces listed as sold at the website, these can be re-made as a special order, some in as little as a week. Of course more ornate pieces or if materials are not on hand can take longer. Most everything should be finished in time for the holidays.
Stones generally kept in stock are:
Various types of turquoise (blue and green both), White Buffalo turquoise, lapis, malachite, amber, carnelian, coral, moonstone, onyx, Vermont jade, serpentine, and aventurine. Fossilized wood, dinosaur bone and ammonites would need to be special ordered.
TRANSACTION DETAILS AT END OF DIARY
Wings, a self-taught silversmith and professional photographer, is an enrolled member of Taos Pueblo. His heritage is exclusively Tiwa, which is his people's name for their ancestry, their spiritual beliefs, and their native language, which he speaks fluently.
The third of seven children, Wings was raised in the family home at the Pueblo and grew up immersed in the Tiwa cultural, spiritual, artistc, and linguistic heritage. He and his family are "traditionals" and walk in tow worlds: Although they live in contemporary society, they also follow the old ways that have sustained the Pueblo and its people for more than a thousand years.
[snip]
Sterling silver is Wing's primary medium, and he approaches it in the traditional fashion, using Native silversmithing techniques. All of his silverwork is hand-cut and hand-stamped; he uses only natural gemstones such as turquoise, coral, garnet, onyx, and other precious gifts from the earth. In recent years, he has expanded his art to include photography, using the medium to illuminate Pueblo life and traditions... [more at About the Artist]
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NECKLACES, PENDANTS & PINS [Silverwork by Wings > Galleries > Necklaces Pendants Pins]
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"Dawn Spirit" Necklace $425
front and reverse (note the stunning silver work detail)
This exquisite hand-cut pendant, evoking Corn Maiden's ceremonial tablita headdress, features a Bunker Hill turquoise stone embraced by powerful hand-stamped life symbols: the Morning Star and sunrise; thunderheads; and Zia sun symbols at the Four Sacred Directions, backed by two copper life cycle spirals.
Royal Blue Turquoise Turtle Necklace $450
A strand of blue turquiose nugget and heishi beads holds this "slider"-style pendant hand-cut in the shape of Grandmother Turtle. Face, body, legs, and tail are created by delicate hand-stamping, while a stunning oval piece of Royal Blue turquoise forms her shell
"Arrowheads" Choker $195
Three arrowheads point toward the heart: A hand-cut triangular setting, atop which lies a smaller matching bezel holding a triangular robin's-egg blue Royston turquoise skystone. The pendant hangs, via a simple handmade bail, from a tightly woven choker of black leather.
"Tree of Life" Necklace $375
An extraordinary lapis teardrop of deep cobalt blue, symbolizing water, nourishes the delicately hand-cut ajouré Tree of Life that adorns the reverse of the saw-toothed bezel. Trimmed in twisted silver, the pendant hangs from a silver bail bearing a tiny round lapis cabochon.
"Blue Gila" Pin $175
This hand-cut lizard pin evokes Gila Monster, sacred to some Southwest tribes. Incredibly detailed hand-stamping creates rows of scales, a banded tail, and powerful claws, while two small cabochons of Sleeping Beauty turquoise form the eyes.
"Red Moon" Taos Pin $125
The pueblo pin is another one of his regular designs; different stones, different placement, slight
differences in the vigas, ladders, etc., so that no two are identical.
"Joy" Butterfly Pendant $425
Messenger of Spirit, symbol of love and happiness: Butterfly bears good medicine on handcrafted silver wings. Her head is deep green unakite, in some traditions, a symbol of eternal and parental love; her body is apple coral, signifying love, passion, and abundance. Delicate sivler wire form her antennae.
These pins are marked sold but are very popular special order items. No two are identical. Just email Aji with your order.
The warrior woman is his signature piece (and three Kossacks have them). Designed in memory of his mother, lost in '99 to complications from diabetes, and to honor women generally; again, no two alike. They run $125.
Wings does the Christmas tree pins every year for the holidays. Depending on stones used, they run $45 - $75 or so. He's got several more in the works in the studio, and people can ask for specific
stones (if he has them in stock.)
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BRACELETS [Silverwork by Wings > Galleries > Bracelets]
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"Blue Lake" Cuff Bracelet $475
An enormous oval of deep cobalt lapis, like Taos Pueblo's sacred Blue Lake, hints at mysterious spiritual depths. Flanked by two round Sleeping Beauty Skystones, the central stone is embraced by four repoussé cactus blossom conchas placed at the ordinal directions, and rest atop a heavy three-pronged cuff.
"Sky Blessings" Cuff Bracelet $495
This exquisite cuff is hand-scored into sixteen rows (a powerful sacred number.) Meticulous hand-stamping marks the fifth row; the others are untouched, save for the delicate hearts crossing their borders. At center lies an enormous piece of Blue Gem turquoise, set into a bezel wrapped in twisted silver.
"Buffalo Shield" Cuff Bracelet $325
The bezel holding this stunning cabochon of sacred White Buffalo turquoise is backed by a rectangular setting with rounded corners, resembling tradtional warrior and medicine shields. A sturdy silver cuff, hand-stamped in traditional designs, is hand-split near the center to support the stone.
Repoussé Cactus Blossom Cuff Bracelet $225
Adorn your wrist with these lovely symbols of prosperity. The focal point of the cuff is the Sleeping Beauty turquoise stone, embraced by delicately stamped repoussé petals, creating a cactus blossom. Intricately hand-stamped blossoms down each side magnify the power of these traditional symbols of fertility and prosperity.
"Kiva" Hammered Link Bracelet $175
Rectangular links of hammered sterling silver are held together by delicate silver jump rings. In the center of the chain, one link stands out: Of highly polished silver, it bears simple hand-stamped designs in a kiva steps pattern, facing each other to create a representation of the kiva's own sacred space.
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EARRINGS & RINGS [Silverwork by Wings > Galleries > Earrings Rings]
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"Thunderheads" Earrings $145
Like silvery watery droplets, flecks of iron pyrite glisten in these pale blue teardrops of Sleeping Beauty turquoise. At the base of each stone, three cabochons of darker blue Morenci turquoise ae shot through with a bolder pyrite matrix, evoking the storm clouds that bring life-giving rain to the desert.
"Emergence" Earrings $155
Bezel-set gaspeite "eggs" in a lush, fertile green bear delicate charcoal-colored "cracks." Four sterling silver beads, each hand-stamped with a cactus blossom symbol, emerge from the base of each stone. Each drop hangs from a slender wire.
"Sage Eyes" Earrings $155
Round jade cabochons in a deep sage green form the perfect focal point of these sterling silver earrings. The drops are hand-cut in a stylized diamond shape, a traditional symbol of wisdom embodied in the Eye of the Spirit; the motif repeats in the hand-stamped diamond at top and bottom of each earring.
"Dawn Lodge" Earrings $155
Oval cabochons of dazzling denim lapis capture the blue of the dawn sky. Each stone rests atop a hand-cut setting of fine-gauge sterling silver, embraced by hand-stamped lodge and sunrise symbols and suspended from delicate wires.
There are numerous rings on site, most are sold and would need to be special ordered. Please go visit!
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BARRETTES, BELTS, BUCKLES & COLLECTIBLES
[Silverwork by Wings > Galleries > Barrettes Belts Buckles Collectibles]
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"Sacred Peyote Bird" Concha Belt $675
This leather belt's scalloped silver conchas are ahnd-stamped with the sky symbols, including stars and thunderheads, and finished with an overlay of the sacred peyote bird in flight. The Zia sun symbol, set with a single piece of Stone Mountain turquoise, adorns the buckle.
[Note from diarist: I own several concha belts and this is a remarkable price!]
"Sun Medicine" Miniature Tobacco Flask $325
Healers often carried traditional tobacco in silver flasks adorned with symbols of power. Here, the powerful Sun symbol lies at the center of each side, embraced on one side by signs of the Four Sacred Directions, on the other, by cactus blossoms that signify life. A Sleeping Beauty turquoise stone accents the stopper.
"Rainbringer" Miniature Collector's Spoon $125
Thunderbird is the bringer of thunder, lightning, and the rain so highly valued among desert peoples. Here, he sits at the center of the spoon's bowl, encircled by thunderhead symbols. Directional arrows, signs of guidance, lead up the shaft to his fellow Thunder Being at the handle's end.
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Traditional Pueblo-style drums by Taos Pueblo drum maker Lee Luján. Lee makes drums as his ancestors made them, by hollowing out parts of the tree trunk, following its natural form and shape. Tops, bottoms, and beaters are made from stretched and tanned buckskin, and laced with sinew. Sizes vary, from hand drums small enough for a child to full-size powwow drums. Prices range from $125 to $595, depending on size and style.
Smaller drums can be special ordered from $75-85.
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Red Cedar and Dried Lavendar Sachets $6 each
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There is much more at the site, please visit.
They also have a couple of silver bracelets; buffalo, peyote bird, pueblo, and Warrior Woman pins, and a couple of miniature silver bowls that haven't been photographed and posted yet. Aji is available to send pics asap.
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ORDERING INFO:
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The easiest way to order is by e-mail: ajijaakwe@gmail.com
Please put order or question in the subject line
Aji can telephone you to get credit card information, please include your phone number and best time to call.
They take MasterCard and Visa and checks (from anywhere in the world) can be made payable to Wings, his traditional and legal name. You can phone Aji with credit card info. Her number is on the contact page. Mailing address is also there.
Please share this holiday gift giving idea with your friends and family.
Buying from Kossacks is a good thing!
UPDATE: (7:54 PM PACIFIC)
Miss Blue has requested a fund to donate small dollar amounts to accumulate to buy a show piece from Wings to auction at some point. We can use my paypal acct that currently is empty. I'll keep a running log of donations and can provide occasional screen shots of the totals page.
I CANNOT GET THE DONATE BUTTON EMBED CODE TO WORK HERE.
I have a paypal donate button at our Native American Netroots blog. There is currently nothing in it. Just took a screen shot of it the account.
Please click on the donate button over there to help accumulate funds for a commissioned piece by wings to auction in the future.