Dine' (Navajo) Woman Pin by Russell Lee #364

Russell Lee was born in 1976. His father, Clarence Lee, was a well-established jeweler whose storyteller designs were inspired by his childhood memories of summers spent with his grandmother and his love of rodeo.

When Russell was around 10 years old, he told his father that he wanted a toy that he saw at the mall. Clarence told him that he would have to earn it by selling something first. From there, Russell was encouraged to try his hand as a silversmith. As an adult, Russell worked full time with the family jewelry business. He did most of the design cutting and fashioned most of the tiny figures his father incorporated into his storyteller pieces. The father and son team made bracelets, rings, pendants, pins, boxes, and bolo ties from silver, gold, brass, copper, and stones. They used fine saw blades to create intricate appliqué work.

When Clarence passed away in 2011, Russell took over the business and continues to make many of the famous designs his father started as well as creating new and fabulous designs.