About

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a Navajo artist from Monument Valley, UT. My earliest memories making jewelry begin when I was 8 years old. I was taught by my mom, who was taught by my grandmother. It wasn't until I was 19 that I decided to teach myself how to bead applique style (flat stitch.) Early on, I learned from every source I could find. Whether I was asking too many questions of artists I knew, or diving into books and figuring it out, I was determined to learn.

As a young girl, I remember struggling with my traditional name because it made me stick out from the non-native kids in school. I felt like there was a distance between me and my culture. I remember asking my parents what my name meant, and I was told that "Chenoa" means "Morning Dove" - There was something comforting about that; and as I got older my appreciation and love for my culture has grown. 

Making jewelry is my passion. It has helped me to feel connected with my culture, and given me a way to express myself with more contemporary designs. When I started sharing my work on Instagram in 2016, I was looking for a creative outlet. The response I got from sharing my work was inspiring, and it gave me the confidence to pursue my passion more seriously - I decided to start a business.

It took too many hours (and cups of coffee) to come up with a name for the business. Ask anyone, they'll tell you names are important. I had to get it right, and after a lot of brainstorming I realized I knew it the whole time. Morning Bird. A year after my first posts on Instagram, I had started my business.

Morning Bird Jewelry is where I showcase my own work, the work of my family, and other native artists.