Spanish Market and Open Studios in Las Cruces

We just keep having more and more fun! On Sunday Bob and I drove down to Las Cruces to hang out with our friends Joan and John. The Spanish Market was in town, and we enjoyed seeing all the wares on display.

We saw traditional pottery...

...carved religious figures called bultos...

...straw applique, consisting of wooden shapes (often crosses) with tiny pieces of straw, cut into shapes,dyed, and glued onto the wood.

...and Spanish dancers entertained us!

We drove to the restaurant called Andele in Mesilla, where we enjoyed some great Mexican food... Bob and I had the flautas and some great salsas and chips. Yum!

Then we were off to visit some studios.  In February, Lac Cruces artists open their doors to visitors, so that all may get a glimpse of the beautiful creations within.  We stopped at Lynn Unangst's studio first, to check out her petit pointe sachets and pillows, handwovens, and dolls.

Joan has been telling us about Tres Manos Weaving Studio, a non profit organization that teaches low income people of Southern New Mexico to weave, providing them a way to increase their family income. It is an amazing place filled with looms and handwoven articles of clothing.  I got to meet one of the weavers there, Anne Marie Detavernier, who showed me her handmade box tape loom. Anne Marie is a reenactor who uses her loom to make historical tapes in living history settings. She also gave me some tips on weaving with this type of loom.

We rounded out our tour by stopping in to meet Audrey Worthen and several other very talented silversmiths. Bob and I were amazed at the different lapidary equipment she used. We  enjoyed a glass of wine and had some snacks as we visited with the artists.  It was a very fun day.