MADE ON ISLAND
Island Naturals - Jannette Vanderhoop
A member of the Wampanoag Tribe Gay Head (Aquinnah), Jannette Vanderhoop brings both her talent and her heritage to her creations. Jannette’s work includes traditional Native American jewelry, dream catchers, spirit bundles, pouches, books and a Vineyard-unique line of hemp and gemstone necklaces. “I try to have something for everyone, age and price wise.”
Unlike many jewelry designers, Jannette remembers the children as she builds her inventory. “I have wampum for children as well as uncut wampum earrings in child sizes, even small wampum bracelets for babies,” she said.
“I made a line of jewelry and unique traditional arts during the long, cold winter,” Jannette said. “It’s been exciting to focus on my art as a full time job – even the projects that I don't intend to sell. In fact, sometimes these are the most inspired.”
Among Jannette’s new creations are a line of shell earrings and leather accessories with wampum and bead decorations. In business as Island Naturals since 2006, Jannette’s wampum necklaces are replete with color. She doesn’t cut or shape the shells, and uses only naturally found and recycled materials. Her new line of shells on hemp is believed to be unique among Vineyard jewelers. Other jewelry pieces include large necklaces and feather earrings. Feathers are contributed by her vet tech roommate or from the feathers of a potential purchaser’s pet.
“The things I create are contemporary but they’re touched by my heritage,” Jannette said. “Some examples that fit this category are leather pouches I’ve made to carry cell phones and digital cameras. It’s a blend of old tradition meeting new technology.”
All of Jannette’s four books center on the children of the tribe. They include Cranberry Day; The Legend of Katama, which she illustrated; Sandie’s Favorite Place (a coloring book); and Wampanoag – People of the First Light, prepared for the Aquinnah Cultural Center.
Beyond her jewelry and books, Janettte melds her heritage and her artistry perfectly. She creates spirit bundles – each unique. They are a process to make, using buckskin scraps, wrapped around a small rock for structure, secured with a wampum bead and then decorated using gemstones, shells, glass, bone or wood; some have a feather in the back. They are not designed to be opened. Some have the leather side out while others have the suede side out. Colors in the leather, and natural wampum bead vary.
“Native people often wore medicine bags with sage, tobacco, stones or other personal items and called them their powwas. This is my version,” Jannette says. “I never proclaim to put medicine in the spirit bundles, but people often are attracted to them at times of transition. I have had people buy them for friends who are going through tough times and have given them myself to family members who graduate through various phases of life”.
Jannette will be selling her Island Naturals wares at Martha's Vineyard Artisans Festival from the summer season through Christmas.
Unlike many jewelry designers, Jannette remembers the children as she builds her inventory. “I have wampum for children as well as uncut wampum earrings in child sizes, even small wampum bracelets for babies,” she said.
“I made a line of jewelry and unique traditional arts during the long, cold winter,” Jannette said. “It’s been exciting to focus on my art as a full time job – even the projects that I don't intend to sell. In fact, sometimes these are the most inspired.”
Among Jannette’s new creations are a line of shell earrings and leather accessories with wampum and bead decorations. In business as Island Naturals since 2006, Jannette’s wampum necklaces are replete with color. She doesn’t cut or shape the shells, and uses only naturally found and recycled materials. Her new line of shells on hemp is believed to be unique among Vineyard jewelers. Other jewelry pieces include large necklaces and feather earrings. Feathers are contributed by her vet tech roommate or from the feathers of a potential purchaser’s pet.
“The things I create are contemporary but they’re touched by my heritage,” Jannette said. “Some examples that fit this category are leather pouches I’ve made to carry cell phones and digital cameras. It’s a blend of old tradition meeting new technology.”
All of Jannette’s four books center on the children of the tribe. They include Cranberry Day; The Legend of Katama, which she illustrated; Sandie’s Favorite Place (a coloring book); and Wampanoag – People of the First Light, prepared for the Aquinnah Cultural Center.
Beyond her jewelry and books, Janettte melds her heritage and her artistry perfectly. She creates spirit bundles – each unique. They are a process to make, using buckskin scraps, wrapped around a small rock for structure, secured with a wampum bead and then decorated using gemstones, shells, glass, bone or wood; some have a feather in the back. They are not designed to be opened. Some have the leather side out while others have the suede side out. Colors in the leather, and natural wampum bead vary.
“Native people often wore medicine bags with sage, tobacco, stones or other personal items and called them their powwas. This is my version,” Jannette says. “I never proclaim to put medicine in the spirit bundles, but people often are attracted to them at times of transition. I have had people buy them for friends who are going through tough times and have given them myself to family members who graduate through various phases of life”.
Jannette will be selling her Island Naturals wares at Martha's Vineyard Artisans Festival from the summer season through Christmas.