Sherida Burnett, owner of The Turquoise Shop, was very kind to help 1CaT, and we are grateful. The Turquoise Shop has been around for more than 40 years, and was founded by Sherida’s grandmother, Jeannie Read Elkins. See more about Jeannie below. The Turquoise Shop has always carried handmade Native American jewelry, and Sherida is continuing that tradition. She has some really exquisite pieces, from simple earrings to elegant Squash Blossoms, from beautiful bracelets and rings, to striking pendants and other necklaces. Sherida has LOTS of turquoise from which to choose your perfect piece(s). If turquoise isn’t particularly your cup of tea, stop in to see the other sorts of items they carry, such as pottery and rugs.

About The Turquoise Shop:

Jeannie Read Elkins, founder of The Turquoise Shop, hailed from our mountain village of Cloudcroft where her grandfather once conducted the train depot and her father owned & operated an auto parts warehouse. While attending New Mexico State University, she met Sam Elkins. Because for the next several years they lived on rural ranches, Jeannie learned to make things and cook well, which became a staple of her long life. “The joy she garnered from entertaining folks translated perfectly into retail and became the exact mentality behind how she conducted business; her smile was her logo, her passion was her business card, and how she left others feeling became her trademark.” As Sherida states on her website, “We are so happy to help our customers celebrate the rich, authentic culture of the Southwest by investing in one-of-a-kind native handmade pieces which we have carefully procured for you!” Founded by Jeannie, then taken over by her daughter Shawna after Jeannie’s death, then Shawna’s daughter Kayla after Shawna’s passing, now Sherida (granddaughter/niece/cousin) is keeping The Turquoise Shop’s legacy alive. She is loving the shop just as all the women did who preceded her. “My cowgirl mural on the outside of the building represents all of these strong women! I’ve grown up in the store and now having the chance to steward it as my own is a real privilege.”