May is a great month, especially in Santa Fe. The weather is usually beautiful, the flowers are in full bloom all over town and people are getting ready for the summer season. It’s still a little windy (wind season) but hey, you can’t have everything.
I have lots of happy memories in Santa Fe, (and some not so nice, let’s face it…) but here are just a few things that I love about this historic place.
1. ART. You cannot think of Santa Fe without thinking of all the amazing artists who have lived there or been inspired by it in some way. Georgia O’Keefe, Glenna Goodacre, Tom Joyce, the Naminghas, Bob Haozous- the list could go on forever. I chose an image of a woodblock print by Gustave Baumann for the mood board, because I love the graphic look and the unity of color. I also included a retablo by Arlene Cisneros Sena, whose work adorns my former church home, the beautiful Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi downtown, as well as many other churches and homes. I just love her imagery. Here is a link to some Baumann postcards https://amzn.to/3xSL93X
If you are in Santa Fe on a summer Friday evening, make sure to attend one of the ArtWalks around the Railyard, downtown or on Canyon Road.
Visual arts are just one aspect of the Santa Fe scene, writers like Willa Cather, Cormac McCarthy and George R.R. Martin are among many authors inspired by the city.
Dance, cooking, the list goes on- Santa Fe is definitely a magnet for artistic expression. Definitely make reservations for a flamenco performance and meal at (elfarolsantafe.com) when you visit!
2. Fabric from the Museum of New Mexico Collection- this collection was begun years ago as a partnership between designer textile house Kravet and the Museum of New Mexico. Fabrics, colchas and other woven or embroidered items in the museum’s collection were closely replicated by Kravet. I’ve used a variety of these patterns throughout my design career, and I love their historical significance and beauty. The pattern on the mood board is called Ojito in the colorway Horizon. Pictured below is
3. The historic Loretto Chapel was built in the 1880s by an order of nuns from France. It was without a staircase to the choir loft until a mysterious carpenter showed up and built one. The double helix staircase has no nails, no glue and no visible means of support. It was made of a species of wood that is not indigenous to the area, adding to the miracle theory. I was married in the Chapel in 2018 – such a beautiful place! Tour it while staying in the former Loretto Academy for Girls, now the Inn and Spa at Loretto. It’s a great home base for a trip to Santa Fe- or a fab spot to get ready for your wedding! www.hotelloretto.com
4. On a practical note, Nambe tableware is amazing, and I’ve collected a lot of it over the years. I love the modern edge it has- but with a handmade feel, almost like pottery.
One great thing about is that it is freezer and oven safe, so you can chill the bowl with your guacamole in it and it will stay cold on your table. It makes a great graduation or wedding gift- here is a link to the 6” Butterfly Bowl, this month’s giveaway!! The Butterfly collection was first designed in 1967, so it’s midcentury, like me! https://amzn.to/3UDvbmj
5. Worthy- wow, what a great book! I’m almost finished with it, thank you to @JennaKarwoski for turning me on to it. Jamie Kern Lima has had a pretty amazing life, but her real transformation came after her realization that you become what you believe you are worthy of. As a designer, that is what I try to do for my clients: not only elevate their surroundings, but also help them realize that they are worthy to live in beauty, function and peace. This book is seriously empowering. If you read one book this year, make it this one. https://amzn.to/3Whroxa
6. Jewelry! Of course! The piece pictured on the mood board was gifted to me by my husband, who had given it to his mother- vintage is my favorite. When you go to Santa Fe, make sure to visit the portal (Santa Fe for front porch) of the 1610 Palace of the Governors, right on the Plaza. You will find tribal members selling their jewelry from blankets. You cannot get more authentic than that!
If you travel to Santa Fe this year- enjoy! There is so much more I could have shared about this beautiful city. Tag me in your photo and make sure to eat some garlic toast at the Shed for me….
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