Navajo Doll-making

Navajo Doll made by YazzGrl Art
Photo by Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2017

As many may be aware of my blog Indigenous Adornment is dedicated to the southwestern perspective of cultural adornment. This concept is open to all aspects of 'adornment' and therefore I would like to share some of my family's new creative flow via the Navajo Doll.

Having been raised in a family of matriarchs who design and create their own garments, I also have picked up this skill. Sometimes I make cultural clothing, fashionably bags and purses and sometimes I or we all make cultural clothing for dolls.

These 'dolls' are usually purchased from retail stores and then we in a sense "re-create" them as Navajo dolls. We make their culturally-based garments, jewelry and also give them a traditional Indigenous hairstyle.  I many ways we do make-overs for the average doll and 'beauty-fy' them by dressing and adorning them in Navajo regalia.

This doll I one envisioned by me, but a community of the women in my family contributed to her final look.  I purchased this doll because I just fell in love with her face.  She reminded of those historical photographs of Navajo children dressed to the "nines" in their Navajo dress and jewelry. This joint effort of clothing, moccasins, jewelry and tiny Bluebird flour sack bag were all hand-sewn. 

i will have entered this Navajo Doll in my state's fair and also have plans to showcase her in the local Navajo Nation fair exhibit.

Truly it is a blessing to share the act of sewing with my matriarchs, and I am thankful for the new opportunities to make more things with them.

In a good way.

by Venaya Yazzie

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2017