Fact or Fiction?

Last week I blogged about my recent trip to Alaska.

My friend and I went to a retreat and stayed for a few days in the small village of Eagle.

Eagle on the banks of the Yukon...

Whenever I travel, I seek out and support local artisans. If we don't support the locals, we won't have any. So rather than buy something made elsewhere, I will look for the tucked-away shops and buy items made by those skilled neighbors I meet.

So many adventures! So much talent!

While I was in Eagle, several women mentioned a side trip up to see the local jewelry artists, Ron and Mary, at Yukon Ron's. The women wanted to see what jewelry was new this year.

A few years ago, my friend sent me a carved bone necklace Ron had made, so I was excited to see the shop.

Carved bone feather from Rena...

Even though Ron and Mary often leave for Mexico before the pass closes in late fall, they are sure to be back in Eagle when the pass opens in spring.

They get much of the inspiration for their jewelry from the rich wonders of nature which surround them, wherever they may be.

The little shop in Eagle...

I was pleased with the quality and choices of items I saw in the little shop. I had a difficult time limiting myself to the two necklaces I bought, both made by the shop owner, Ron.

At local shops, I tend to chat with the artisans if they're available. Often I ask where they get their ideas, or why they chose to make things the way they do.

The pendant is about the size of a quarter...

The silver, gold, and citrine necklace was my first pick. The surrounding mountains, the Yukon River, and the midnight sun on the pendant mirrored the beauty of Eagle and I felt it was the perfect souvenir.

When the fossilized elk tooth necklace caught my eye, I asked Mary about it. Elk are not native to Alaska.

She told me about a local man who had traveled to Montana and found the teeth on his adventure there. He brought them to Ron and commissioned a hat band. When Ron was finished, the man bartered the remaining teeth as partial payment. Then Ron used them to make other jewelry for the shop.

The fossilized elk tooth...

I found the story enchanting and bought the necklace. My cynical self enjoys a good tale and wants to believe they are more than creative fancies to tell tourists.

After our mini excursion, we who had shopped shared our purchases with the others who remained behind at the retreat. A tiny show and tell, as it were.

It was about lunchtime and some of the husbands had joined their wives for the noon meal.

Imagine my absolute delight when one of the women turned to her husband and said, "Look, honey, a tooth of yours."

And then the husband told me the story behind the teeth and said the hatband was just what he had wanted. The narrative matched well with the one Mary had related.

Hearing both accounts from different perspectives made the necklace all the more unique. I was pretty jazzed the story was true.

The only thing that would have made the telling better, was if he had been wearing the hat as he retold the tale.