Hubby & I just spent a nice week in Santa Fe, NM. He was attending a conference for work there and I got to tag along. I've decided that this is a really good time of the year to travel - the temperatures are cooler and the crowds are smaller - a win/win situation!
Santa Fe has a very distinctive architecture as you can see by this home in a 'normal' neighborhood. I think home prices must be very high because we saw several homes for sale with a Sotheby's real estate sign in the front yard.
This is a photo of one of the big hotels we walked by every day.
We stayed right downtown near the Plaza - there was a Fiesta going on when we arrived - with streets closed off for a big parade - and street vendors setting up booths everywhere you looked. When that was over, things got a little quieter. There are a gazillion specialty shops geared for the tourists, and I got quickly tired of seeing expensive turquoise jewelry and fancy art galleries. I finally took the rental car and explored the Santa Fe that the locals live in - checked out a few thrift stores and consignment shopss where I found a couple treasures. This plate is about the size of a pie pan and with the sheep in the middle I had to buy it - might use it for my snippets bowl. And I found a quilt shop with some striped Brannock & Patek fabric on clearance - most of their fabrics have a southwest flavor that didn't appeal to me at all.
I found some cool designs carved into wooden chests that I thought would lend themselves well to a hooked rug or punch needle project - they were in museums for the most part.
My favorite shop was located in one of the swanky hotels and it was called Faircloth/Adams. This gal sells antique quilts, coverlets and hooked rugs that are in pristine condition. She has been featured in both Country Living and Country Home over the years - unfortunately she didn't allow me to take any photos to share with you.
I enjoyed seeing an exhibit in the Capitol rotunda sponsored by a local group called BAG - they shared books that they had made from scratch, and some that were old books that had been repurposed in an artistic way. You can see them here - and one of my favorites is pictured below.
I checked into meeting with the local rug hooking group, but it just didn't work out with my schedule. It was a great trip, but it's always good to come home again!
I can so relate to your shopping adventures...we used to vacation each year in Scottsdale, Arizona, when my hubby's father was alive and had a home there. It was beautiful, but everything was Southwest in style. I have a great appreciation for that, but it doesn't work so well transplanted or interpreted back home here. Sleep tight and welcome home! Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin
ReplyDeleteSince the kids are out of the nest so we don't have to work around school schedules, DH and I have usually traveled in Sept. and Oct. It is very pleasant.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you were wise to get to the real Santa Fe. I love shopping thrift stores in different places. Once found a soup tureen for my stoneware--sells online for over $100. Got it for $3 and sat with it between my feet the rest of the trip to maintain its pristine condition. : )
Sounds like a great trip and I love that bowl! It's always fun to explore the different regions of our country, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI love your sheep plate. when we go some where the first thing we do is fine a phone book for the listing of the thrift stores.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Thanks for sharing your trip, Gayle! I love the carved black trunk.
ReplyDeleteI love Sante Fe, isn't it great!! Thanks for sharing the pics. I love that sheep plate, what a great find!!
ReplyDeleteyes, New Mexico is beautiful!! Too bad it did not work out with our little hook-in!
ReplyDelete