Wearable Native Art a growing sensation

A family from the Blood First Nation is making creative waves in the jewelry community.

The Iron Shirts, mother Bessie, her daughters Jessie and Doris, and Jessie’s son Tico, are making a name for themselves through their family business.

It all started during one of Jessie’s visits to her mother.
During this time Doris had some resin and Mother of Pearl beads. Jessie and Tico were drawn to the beauty of these items and began handcrafting sterling silver bracelets, turquoise bead pendants and an assortment of gemstone jewelry. Back in Calgary, Jessie introduced these pieces to her friends and colleagues at the University of Calgary. This was the beginning of their business Uniquely Yours Jewelry.

“Our ancestors adorned themselves with lip shell, conch shell, bone and all things natural which is reflective of the lip shell earrings with sterling silver ear wire and turquoise bead pendants that we create.

“Uniquely Yours Jewelry is wearable art. We have something for everyone and all price points,” Jessie said.
As the business grows, so do the designs and styles. Orders are custom-made and vary as much as individual tastes do. The artists see it as a challenge to be unique and different in their designs.

The four Iron Shirt family members have individualized niches when it comes to their art.

Jessie is the business head of the family. She is also the one to look for items to use that are unique and different. Goat skin cords from Mexico or colourful beads located in Cuba or other places abroad during her travels. These all are carefully selected to handcraft jewelry pieces that appeal to a variety of customers.
Besides creating jewelry pieces, Bessie is seen as the focal of the business. She also has a strong sense for design trends. As she is retired, she is also able to set up display tables at the Administration Building and at Saipoyi Elementary School on the Blood First Nation.
Doris makes porcelain dolls, including their clothing. However, she is highly creative when it comes to making earrings.

Tico works mainly with Mother of Pearl beads which he wire-wraps to create stunning earrings. He also makes pendants for men using tiger-eye stones. The tiger-eye symbolizes the best qualities of a tiger—patience, focus and determination.

Uniquely Yours Jewelry has exhibited their work at various locations. From the Gaeria Store in the trendy district of Inglewood in Calgary, to outdoor markets, functions at the University of Calgary, Christmas fairs and the 2011 Indian Village at the Calgary Stampede. The word is spreading.

“The 2011 Calgary Stampede Indian Village was an amazing experience. The tourists from all over the world, my people, corporate people and everyone who bought jewelry from my family, is very much appreciated. The support was overwhelming!” said Jessie.

Invitations to exhibit their work are on the increase. Jessie said they were invited to participate during the Native Awareness Week in September at the Lethbridge Community College. With Christmas approaching, friends are hosting parties to show the work. Other opportunities are developing and the dream to have their own store one day may become a reality sooner than they thought.