Wagner’s own 4th grader, Jahvana Sanchez recently launched her own jewelry line, Jewelry by Jah. Jahvana is the daughter of Jimmy and Jane Sanchez. Jahvana has been making jewelry for about a year now. When asked who got her into making jewelry, she said her mom and Grandma Brenda DeHaan first started making jewelry together. She likes to make her jewelry with leather, colorful glass beads, shells and other natural materials. Her current line has bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

Jahvana came up with her business name because Jah is a nickname. Jahvana enjoys making jewelry because she enjoys making beautiful items that make people happy and it keeps her busy. One of the hardest parts of making jewelry for her is connecting the findings together and attaching the jump ring.

Jahvana recently partnered with Dakota Indian Foundation & Dakota Plains Gallery in Chamberlin to carry Jahvana’s handcrafted jewelry line. The partnership came about after the foundation and gallery purchased some of Jane’s dad’s (Van St. John) artwork. Jane had taken her kids, Jahvana and Mato to Chamberlain to see all the local sites. They stopped into the Dakota Indian Foundation & Dakota Plains Gallery and the staff there mentioned that they were interested in local handcrafted jewelry. The store ended up taking Jahvana’s entire supply of jewelry. Jahvana can bring them more jewelry whenever she would like to. Before having her jewelry line in a store, Jahvana had done more person to person selling and craft fairs with her Grandma Brenda. She has also been selling her jewelry at Pow Wows.

When asked if there are any plans for a pop-up shop in Wagner or to try to partner with any current business to carry her line of jewelry locally, Jahvana and her mom, Jane, said that yes, they are currently looking into different options.

When Jahvana is not busy creating jewelry, she enjoys playing hide and seek; spending time with her animals Kota, Gabe, Jack and Winyan; and drawing and coloring. She is very artistic and takes after her Grandpa Van St. John with her artistic skills. Between the jewelry and her art skills, she is well on her way to keeping the family tradition of crafting alive.

Congratulations on the launch of your jewelry line and sharing your art with Wagner and other local communities.