Bessie Begay

Bessie Begay is a very traditional Navajo woman who speaks almost no English. She lives in Tuba City, Arizona on the Navajo reservation. She lives with her daughter, famous weaver, Marilyn Scott. Bessie is the matriarch of the well known family known as the Blue Canyon weavers. She learned weaving from her mother and grandmother and has passed the skill on to two more generations. She is the adopted mother of Larry Yazzie who originated the Blue Canyon pattern.

Marilyn Scott

Marilyn Scott is a Navajo woman, about 59 years old, who lives in Tuba City, Arizona on the Navajo reservation. She is the cousin (she considers herself the sister) of the famous Navajo weaver Larry Yazzie who created the “Blue Canyon” pattern. Marilyn, who learned to weave at her mother’s side, is justly famous in her own right. Marilyn, with her mother Bessie Begay, Sister Wanda Begay, Wanda's husband Stanley Begay, Marilyn’s daughters Harriett Tohanne and Lawanda Scott and Wanda's daughter Matilda Rock carry on the Blue Canyon pattern. Her work has appeared in several publications and is currently being documented by the Natural History Museum in Salt Lake City, UT for which she executed a major piece in 2006. Her weaving is avidly sought by knowledgeable collectors.

Nellie Curley

Nellie Curley is a Navajo woman, about forty years old, who lives near the small community of Kaibeto, Arizona in the northwest corner of the Navajo Reservation. Her mother and sisters are weavers, but almost all of the artistic talent in the family settled in Nellie. Her weaving style is inspired by the Begay sisters of the Burnham area and is an example of the increased freedom of expression Navajo women are beginning to feel.

Shirley Nockideneh

Shirley Nockideneh is justly famous for her weaving skill. Though best known for her "Tree of Life" pattern textiles, she weaves beautifully colorful "Storm Pattern" and complex "Sampler" patterns with equal artistry. Born in 1967 in the small community of Cedar Ridge, Arizona on the Navajo Reservation, Shirley learned weaving at age nine from her mother, Alice, who is also a skillful weaver. She learned to weave Storm Patterns first, but had progressed to the Tree of Life pattern by age twelve. Her work has appeared in several books and publications and she was one of the featured artists in "The Image Weavers" show of pictorial weaving at the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Daisy Tisi

Daisy Tisi is the daughter of Mary Tisi. Daisy learned to weave sitting by her mother's side. Her mother is well known storm pattern weaver. Daisy is also known for her crisp storm patterns but has branched out in the last few years trying several patterns. She was born in 1960 near Cedar Ridge AZ, and still lives in that area of the reservation. She is the mother of four children and is married to Ed Yazzie.

Lena Begay

Lena Begay is a wonderful example of the younger generations who have continued the tradition of weaving. Living in Fredonia, Arizona, Lena weaves burntwater patterns. For several years, we have sold Lenas rugs and she has gained a strong reputation for this pattern. Our hope is that her determination will encourage other young Navajo women to continue the tradition of weaving.

Sophia Yazzie

Sophia Yazzie is a young Navajo artist. She learned to weave from her grandmother, Mary Tisi and mother Daisy Tisi. Weaving in their family is an expectation, just like it was in Navajo families a hundred years ago. Sophia lives in Cedar Ridge, AZ. She is one of the few families that we still work with three generations.