California Indian Traditional Shell Jewlery

This past weekend, I had the good fortune to be in Sacramento during the Annual Indian Art & Crafts Market at the California State Indian Museum. This is a small but wonderful museum which sits at the corner of the property just outside Sutter's Fort State Historic Park in the heart of Sacramento.

California Indian cultural items in the museum include fabulous collections of basketry, beadwork, clothing and exhibits about the ongoing traditions of various California Indian tribes. Descendants of the first Californians, tens of thousands of them, still live in California and still cherish and carry on their unique cultural heritage. Indigenous people have donated many photographs of family, friends and memorable times for use in the museum. A section of the museum features a hands-on area, where visitors can try their hand at using Indian tools, such as the pump drill, used for making holes in shell beads and other materials; the mortar and pestle and soap root brush, made from the soap root plant, all used for grinding acorns.















The event showcased about 15 artists or families who came from all over California.
There I met Chuck Snell and his wife who sell traditional shell jewelry and supplies for making your own jewelry. Their dentalium shell necklaces are a popular item in the museum's gift shop. I was able to purchase from them some of these necklaces as well as a selection of abalone earrings.
This jewelry is simple, elegant, timeless and very affordable. It will make a spectacular addition to our store at the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.
To read more about the dentalium shells and their significance in the Native American cultures, read this interesting article.

The Latest Shipment

It's always exciting opening boxes here at Friends, because I never know just what I'll find - we're constantly receiving shipments of hermit crab figurines, telescopes, raccoon finger puppets, custom-made socks, hand-carved gourds from Peru and fused-glass jellyfish, just to name a few. This morning, as I opened one of our latest shipments, I knew immediately that we had picked a winner.
These Naturalist Library Pocket Journals, made by Michel Design Works, are the newest addition to the parkstores. Brightly colored, intricately designed and oh-so-compact and convenient, these little gems are perfect for the naturalist with a passion for writing (or anyone with a grocery or to-do list!).
Each notebook features a delicate study of birds, flowers, shells or fish. The patterns are overlaid with romantic handwritten words and phrases culled from vintage postcards. The designs evoke old-fashioned botanical prints, sketches and watercolors done by early botanists and naturalists. As a testament to just how gorgeous these notebooks are, we sold three to our staff before the price tags were even on! You can get one too, by visiting any of our five park stores.

-Kat Bailey, Retail Assistant

New Brighton's Pacific Migrations Visitor Center is Open Again

Spring is here and the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach is open for business again. Welcome back to lead interpreter, Jeff Barnes.
If you have not seen the engaging and informative displays, stop by and treat yourself!
The center is now open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 4:00.

As Summer approaches, hours will increase and you can expect some great entertainment around the campfire during the summer months.

The parkstore has a new look this season. Check out the fun and unique new apparel as well as the favorites from last year. Members receive a 15% discount in all Friends stores. All proceeds go to support educational programs in our local California State Parks.
Good Health, Extreme Happiness, Good Fortune!

Our Newest Wholesale Customer

Some of you may not have yet discovered Epicenter Cycling in Aptos which opened in December. The store, conveniently located at the entrance to Nisene Marks State Park, is the Santa Cruz area home for all Trek Brand bicycles and bicycle service. It also features a great assortment of accessories for the mountain biker.
We feel this is a great outlet for our Nisene Marks "That's My Park" t-shirts and the trail maps for Nisene Marks and Wilder Ranch. Thanks to owner, Shawn Wilson for giving us the opportunity.


Stop in when you are in the neighborhood, take a look around and tell them "Friends" sent you.
For store hours and a map, you can visit the Epicenter Cycling website here.

The Fused Glass Art of Woventime Studio

Susan Bradshaw's fused glass sealife designs, alive with light and color, have been extremely popular with visitors at Seacliff and Natural Bridges. The line includes jellyfish, sea stars, sea turtles, fish and ocean waves. Packaged in mat board frames and secure for travelers, they are clearly individual works of art. Once they come out of the package and are placed in a window, that is when the magic of the art of fused glass really comes to life. Susan lives and works in North Monterey County. For more about Susan and Woventime Studio, visit her website here.

That's My Shark

On January 22nd a young swell shark pup was born in the aquarium at Seacliff State Beach. Perhaps you read this article on the front page of the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Or watched this video on the Sentinel's website.

Already many visitors have come to meet the shark. We wanted to commemorate the event with a t-shirt. The new shirts arrived this week and are now available for purchase in the parkstore at Seacliff State Beach. They are available in youth and adult sizes. Just for fun, we are also offering several choices of shark socks to go with them!


So many wonderful suggestions were made by visitors and volunteers as to what the shark should be named. Final selection will be made by local elementary school students. To keep informed, become a fan of Seacliff State Beach on Facebook.

I ♥ Parks

Just in time for Valentines Day, our parkstores at Natural Bridges and Seacliff are featuring "Hearts for the Parks" made by local fiber artist Robin West. Each pin is a tiny work of wearable art hand stitched from lovely fabric remnants and embellished with beads, buttons, lace and yarn.
Show your love for parks by wearing your heart on your sleeve, or lapel, or backpack, or wherever you might need a little color.
Robin has been a park visitor since her childhood years and has fond memories of camping at Big Basin every year with her parents as well as many other state and national parks. Many remember her for her Santa Cruz shop "Round Robin Fabrics" which she closed a few years ago to pursue other fabric intensive interests. She currently works from her home studio in Aptos.
Join Robin and Friends in showing your love for the parks.