Rose and Janie Reano

Jewelry making has been a Reano family tradition for several generations. Janie's mother, Rose Reano, learned from her parents, Joe Isidro Reano and Clara Lovato Reano, of Santo Domingo Pueblo New Mexico.

Santo Domingo is one of the Rio Grande Pueblos. The pueblo is admired for clinging strongly to its traditions. This long standing adherence to tradition can be seen in the jewelry created by Rose and Janie. They create necklaces made of small handmade beads known as heishi. Some necklaces contain thousands of minuscule beads and diameters can range between 5mm and 25 mm. Heishi, from the Santo Domingo word meaning 'shell', traditionally referred to shell beads. Today, the term is applied to tiny handmade beads of any material.

They, also, create mosaic inlay jewelry: earrings, hair ornaments, pendants and pins/brooches. Shell mosaic is a trademark style of Santo Domingo; the style dating back many centuries. Rose tends to style her jewelry on patterns created by the Ancestral Puebloans. 

During the early 1950s, Rose learned how to inlay by making Thunderbird necklaces; now referred to as "Depression Necklaces". These necklaces were made from plastic headbands, car batteries and LP records. In the early, 1970s, Rose and Clara made necklaces that ranged from 30 to 50 strands. These necklaces are commonly known as bulk necklaces. The majority of necklaces are owned by various museums and private collectors.

In the late 1970s to early 1980s, Clara taught Janie how to use lapidary equipment. Beginning with cutting olivella shells using a lapidary saw then progressing to various stones and shells. Clara, also, taught Janie how to grind, sand and polish using a lapidary arbor. Years later, Janie would enhance her skills under her Aunt Angie Owen. Through the years, Janie slowly took over Clara's role in the Mother-Daughter team at making jewelry.

In 2016, Janie branched out at making her own style of jewelry. The influence of living in "Green" Oregon gave her the idea to recycle the left over material used in necklaces and mosaic inlay. Janie recycled the material by drilling each small piece then tumbling them for several weeks. Then, 'stringing' up beads using sterling silver wire. The jewelry was debuted at the SWAIA Winter Market 2016.

Rose has participated in the SWAIA Indian Market for over 50 years. Janie has participated for over 30 years. Other Markets they have done, in the past, are Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Eiteljorg Indian Market and Festival, Cherokee Art Market, Autry Museum Indian Art Market, Pueblo Grande Indian Market and Red Earth Art Festival.