Collection: Joe and Mary Calabaza Heishe and Shell Jewelry

The question is often asked. "How is heishe made"? Joe and Mary Calabaza answer, "First, the materials are selected. Almost anything can be made into heishe... shell, Turquoise, lapis, amber... Then it is cut into thin strips and drilled with a very fine bit. After the holes are drilled, the strips are cut into squares. One square has one hole. The squares are then strung on wire and worked by hand until each piece is perfectly round and matched". The end result can be as fine as a strand of hair.