The Kamari - Pin

Lorraine Waatsa

Winners of blue ribbons at the Gallup Ceremonial, Lorraine and Luwayne are a husband-and-wife duo specializing in exquisite petit point and clusterwork jewelry. They primarily use coral, lapis, and Fox Mine turquoise in their creations. Lorraine comes from a rich lineage of Zuni jewelers, being the daughter of Alice and Duane Quam and the granddaughter of Doris and Wayne Ondelacy. Silversmithing runs in her blood, and she learned the craft at a young age from her parents.

Lorraine fondly recalls making her first piece in 1971 while still living at home. Their jewelry-making process begins with shaping the stones to approach the desired form. Lorraine grinds the stones on a 100-grit wheel, working dry without water. Once the stone is nearly shaped, she uses a melted sealing wax stick—size depending on the stone—to perfect it. Luwayne then completes the piece with his expert silverwork.

Their prolific output showcases a blend of traditional techniques and innovative designs. Their work has earned recognition, including features in the book "Zuni Jewelry" by Theda and Michael Bassman, highlighting their contributions to the art form.

Sleeping Beauty - Arizona

Sleeping Beauty turquoise, considered one of the most important turquoise mines in the world, is located in Globe, Arizona. The mine gets its name from the nearby mountain range, which is said to resemble a sleeping woman with her arms crossed when viewed from a distance. It is renowned for its unique color variations, ranging from a chalky robin’s egg blue to sky blue and deep blue. Read More