Santa Fe Rose Jewelry and Gifts

Ellouise Padilla is no stranger to those of us who frequent such well-known Native art shows as Santa Fe's Indian Market and the Phoenix Heard Museum Indian Fair and Market. Ellouise is usually there with her beautifully displayed jewelry and ever-present smile. Ellouise is from a famous Santo Domingo Pueblo jewelry making tradition. Her hand made heishi beads are exquisite.

Ellouise is known for her three strand, finely made Heishi beads with Sterling silver "stations," usually in two beautifully contrasting colors. Ellouise chooses the best materials for her necklace and earring sets - beautiful colors of turquoise, orange spiny oyster, shiny black jet and more. But there is more to these signature beauties... they reverse! Ellouise has designed these jewelry items to reverse to the opposite stone. So each set is two sets in one.

She carefully pairs each necklace with reversible earrings. On our site, we offer the earrings free so that no set is ever broken up.



Ellouise Padilla Reversible Necklace and Earring Sets

Evergreen Turquoise Heishi, Serpentine and Orange
Spiny Oyster Shell Accents

Side #1 is Green Serpentine

Side #2 is Orange Spiny Oyster

Ellouise Padilla's famous hand-made heishi and sterling jewelry is some of the finest you will see. She created the reversible concept.

In this necklace you will see green serpentine on the first side and Orange Spiny Oyster Shell on the second side.

Both the necklace and earrings are completely reversible.

The necklace has an extender and so measures from 16.5 to 19 inches long. It has a round hook clasp made, also, from sterling.

There are three strands of beautiful Evergreen Turquoise heishi. The main pendant (or station) measures 1 and 1/4 inch long.

The earrings, which are sterling post, measure 1 and 1/4 inch long.

Equisite work by one of the foremost Heishi artists.

Each set is one of a kind. Earring are included free so as to keep the set together.

Stamped signature by the artist "EP."

Please forgive any reflection on the photos. The sets are in perfect condition.

Price: $600
(compare elsewhere at $700)

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Note: I also have a Turquoise Heishi reversible set with Turquoise and Orange Spiney Oyster Stations and reversible Spiny Oyster and Turquoise earrings. Please inquire and I can send photos. 

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Heishi - The Oldest Form of Jewelry in New Mexico

The exact meaning of the word heishi (hee shee) is “shell necklace.” It comes from the Keres language, spoken by the Native Americans living in Kewa, (Santa Domingo Pueblo). They are acknowledged to be the masters of this beautiful, creative form which developed out of their societal heritage. Currently there are a few artisans producing it at San Felipe and perhaps other Pueblos as well. It appears to be the only Indian jewelry that derives directly from Native American history and culture, since the metal smithing and lapidary skills used by the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi have their origins in the European influence of the early Spanish explorers.

When properly used, the name refers only to pieces of shell which have been drilled and ground into beads that are then strung to make either single or multi-strand necklaces. However, in common usage, the word heishi, also denotes necklaces whose very tiny beads are made of other natural materials by a similar process.

Santa Fe Rose uses this word to describe traditional Heishi shell or stones from Santo Domingo Pueblo artists.

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