Maverick Style: Inspired by the West

The Premier Retailer of Native American Jewelry

Samsville Gallery of Santa Fe is the premier retailer of Native American jewelry in the Southwest. Sam Abweh has developed and nutured many artisans throughout his twenty plus years of business, and many of these artisans will deal only with Sam because of his utmost compassion for the heritage of the Native American artist.

I discovered Samsville Gallery when I visited their booth at Cowboy Christmas in Las Vegas a few years ago. I was very impressed with their immense selection of high quality Native American jewelry. Samsville Gallery features jewelry by several of my favorite Native American designers, including Darryl Becenti, Kirk Smith, Federico, Tommy Jackson, Sunshine Reeves and Alice Lister. Typically I will spend at least an hour at Samsville looking at one spectacular piece of jewelry after another!

You have probably seen some of Samsville Gallery's beautiful ads in Cowboys & Indians Magazine. The stunning photography featured in those ads is by Shelle and Michael Neese of Studio Seven Productions of Albuquerque, NM. The three photos below showcase Samsville Gallery jewelry styled and photographed by Studio Seven Productions, and the models look spectacular! Who wouldn't want to wear all of that gorgeous jewelry?

While Samsville Gallery is located in Santa Fe, you don't have to go there to see their wonderful selection of jewelry (although who wouldn't want to go to Santa Fe?). Samsville Gallery also exhibits at shows all over the country each year, including the Denver Stock Show, the Houston Stock Show, the Texas State Fair in Dallas, Cheyenne Frontier Days, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakata, and Cowboy Christmas in Las Vegas.

If you aren't able to make it to any of their shows, you can also see a wide selection of their jewelry on the Samsville Gallery website and on the Samsville Gallery Facebook Page.

The Art of Found Objects

I have been following the work of Brad and Sundie Ruppert from Vintage Sculpture for a few years now, and I am excited to feature their pieces on Maverick Style! Brad and Sundie are Iowa based artists who create sculptures and home decor items out of found and recycled objects. You will notice right away that their pieces are whimsical, rustic, and usually very colorful!

Vintage Scuplture began in 2000 when Brad and Sundie's son Tucker came home with a Thanksgiving assignment to make a turkey as a family. Tucker decided to make his turkey out of the vintage ceiling tin that his parents were making into boxes and selling at the local farmer's market. The family worked together to create the ceiling tile turkey, resulting in a "A" grade for Tucker and five orders from teachers and parents for more!

That second grade class project led to a business creating and selling art fashioned out of cast off and vintage materials, the truest form of recycling! Brad and Sundie find inspiration for their art almost anywhere, from pieces of metal found on the street, vintage treasures found in antique stores and flea markets, and fine art museums.

Brad and Sundie's most recent body of work features icons they have admired throughout their lives. They are reaching back to their roots and childhood memories, and combining drawing, carving, and their love for found objects to create this collection of very large and impressive pieces. The spectacular "Just a Pinch Between Your Cheek and Gum" Mirror (left) is a commission piece for Ryan Vaughan of Rios of Mercedes. It features tabacco cans from Ryan's personal collection that he started back in the 90's. "Tatonka" (right) feaures a large buffalo and is one of my favorite Vintage Sculpture pieces. Unfortunately for me, it found a home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming last week. I must admit, however, that Jackson Hole is a perfect place for this wonderful work of art.

If you want to see more, visit the Vintage Sculpture website for a list of galleries and shops that carry Brad and Sundie Ruppert's work, as well as their complete show schedule for 2013. Some of their upcoming shows include the Marion Arts Festival in Marion, IA on May 18, the Yard Dog Folk Art Gallery Show in Austin, TX on June 16, the Des Moines Arts Festival in Des Moines, IA June 27 - 30, and the Cherry Creek Art Festival in Denver, CO July 5 - 7.

The Vaquetta Collection

I am a huge fan of Leaders in Leather Handbags, and I am excited to let you know about their new Vaquetta Collection. The minute I saw these new Leaders in Leather Handbags I was hooked! It took Leaders in Leather years to perfect the vegetable tanned Vaquetta leather by using dying agents that give it the vintage look of an heirloom passed down from generations. The new tooling features and distinctive whirlwind pattern are unique to this collection.

Featured below are three popular styles of handbags from the new Leaders in Leather Vaquetta Collection. The Vaquetta Tooled Flap Cross Body Handbag #3806 (left, $200) is 12" X 10.75" and is shown in the Turquoise color. The Vaquetta Tooled Tote with iPad Pocket #3813 (center, $250) is one of my personal favorites. It is shown in Yellow and measures 15" X 15" X 11".  I also love the Vaquetta Tooled Cross Body Handbag #3816 (right, $165) which is 8.75" X 1" X 11" and is shown in the Mushroom color.

The Leaders in Leather Vaquetta Handbags are available in a variety of of styles and colors including Yellow, Natural, Mushroom, Turquoise, Canary, Pink, Teal, Forest, Oxblood and Slate. The styles and colors featured below and are currently in stock and can be ordered directly from Maverick Style. In fact, you can order any style or color of handbag produced by Leaders in Leather from Maverick Style.

If you are interested in purchasing a Leaders in Leather handbag, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to place your order. Free shipping is available on all handbag orders. You can see more current styles of Leaders in Leather handbags on the Maverick Style Accessories Page.

New Location Grand Opening

I have visited the Wright's Indian Art website on several occasions. However, I was not aware that Wright's Indian Art is the oldest continuously operating Indian art gallery in Albuquerque. Recently Wright's moved to a new location in Encantada Square, and they will commemorate this new location and their 106th anniversary with a festive celebration during Mother's Day weekend, May 11 - 12, 2013.

The weekend celebration will begin on Saturday, May 11 at 10:00 AM with a ceremonial blessing by a Native medicine man and a ribbon cutting. Entertainment will include flute playing by sculptor/musician Adrian Wall, dancing by World Campion Hoop Dancer Nakotah LaRance, an informal fashion show by Navajo designer Penny Singer, and more. You will not want to miss the trunk show of vintage jewelry and fetishes by Southwest Zuni Connections, a special appearance by Navajo master jewelers Carl and Irene Clark with their legendary micro-mosaic jewelry, and artist demonstrations by potters Maxine and Dominique Toya, and pastel artist Alice Yazzie.

An Indian Artist Market will take place in the parking area, where attendees will have the opportunity to meet and buy directly from more than forty leading artists, including jewelers Jennifer Curtis, Marian Denipah, Don Dewa, Natasha Peshlakai Haley, Tommy Jackson, Al Joe, Steve LaRance, Eric Othole, Myron Panteah, Norbert Peshlakai, Charlene Sanchez Reano and Lyndon Tsosie, Zuni fetish carvers Lena Boone and Herbert Him, kachina carver Wilmer Kaye, potters Caroline Elliot, Glendora Fragua, Bernice Naranjo, Dusty Naranjo, and Kathleen Wall, painters Silvester Hustito and Chris Peshlakai, and sculptors Adrian Wall and Kathy Elk Woman Whitman (artists subject to change).

A highlight of the weekend celebration is a Silent Auction honoring all of the Native artisans who have supported Wright's Indian Art over the years, and benefitting First Nations Community Healthsource, a private nonprofit organization that serves the local urban Native population as well as other underserved populations, such as the homeless.

Wright's Indian Art features a vast array of American Indian jewelry, including the Darrel Dean Begay cuff, Arland Ben bolo tie, and Delbert Vandever satin finish squash blossom necklace below left, pottery, such as the Caroline Carpio Carved Kiva Pot below center, paintings, such as Sheldon Harvey's "Crow Composition" below right, as well as sculpture, fetishes, kachinas, folk art, masks and textiles. The Grand Opening and 106th Anniversary Celebration is an ideal time to visit this historical gallery and see the best the Native American community has to offer.

Follow the Wright's Indian Art Facebook Page for more details regarding this extraordinary weekend event. You can also visit the Wright's Indian Art website to view their extensive collection and make purchases online.

Exquisitely Hand Crafted

I discovered Kathleen Brannon's exquisite beadwork on Pinterest almost exactly a year ago. Since then I had the opportunity to meet Kathleen at Cowboy Christmas in Las Vegas and see her work in person. The photos of her jewelry and accessories do not do them justice. You must see them in person to truly appreciate the intricacy and beauty of Katheleen's work.

In case you are not familiar with Desert Sage Bead Art, all of Kathleen Brannon's pieces are original in design and personally hand crafted and loomed in her studio in the Nevada High Mountain Desert. Each piece is one of a kind work of art. Kathleen uses only the highest quality of Delica beads with a mix of finishes that create dramatic appearances in dimension and texture. All of the designs are from contemporary patterns used in various motifs for centuries as traditional symbols on ancient weavings, rugs and pottery.

Recently Kathleen told me that she was working on beaded belts to add to her collection of beaded jewelry and card cases. Last week I had the opportunity to see these photos of her beaded belts - and I had to share them with you immediately! Her new beaded belts are spectacular! Currently these belts are available by special order only. You can select one of the belt designs featured below, or select a pattern from the Desert Sage Bead Art website.

The Desert Sage Bead Art website also features a large selection of beautiful beaded cuff bracelets in a wide variety of colors and patterns. So head over there and check out Kathleen's new jewelry and belts. The only problem is that you will want to buy them all!