Anna Begay Turquoise nugget, coral and lapis 5 strand necklace

"There is a happiness that comes when I focus on making jewelry. I concentrate on a good thought, a special feeling...especially for someone." "I learned from my father, who did sandcast jewelry. I used to watch him work with the bellows melting the silver. He made beautiful horse stalls (bridle ornaments). I remember thinking that maybe jewelry making is in our blood."

Such are the words of Anna Begay, the maker of this spectacular 5 strands of possibly/most likely Kingman turquoise, coral, and lapis. Small heishi beads help to funnel the turquoise down to the cone of the necklace, which is stamped with her initials, A.B. -22 inches long

Anna Begay was born on August 27th, 1954, to Elsie Yazzie Begay (weaver) & Russel A.N. Begay (jeweler) in  Kykotsmovi, AZ