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 | Santa Fe Shopping | Tips 1 - 10 of 48 |  |
Popular Shopping | Miscellaneous Shopping Tips | All Tips (48)  | |  |  | Ortega's Weaving Shop: Weaving of all Types | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
We arrived early one morning at the Sanctuario de Chimayo, but found congregants praying in the chapel. Rather than disturb them, we all agreed to backtrack to Ortega's Weaving Shop and return a short while later to see the little chapel. It was a very good decision! The Ortega family has been offering beautifully woven creations since the 1700's, so their products stand out from the crowd! Inside the shop, we discovered brightly colored weavings of blankets, placemats, coasters, pillows, men's and women's vests, jackets and coats, bookmarks, purses...so many things expertly done in gorgeous combinations of hues and designs. The store also had a glass case full of silver and torquoise jewelry, from which I selected a nicely designed bracelet (see picture#3). The pieces were discounted 25%! Somehow, a reflection of gold and red are shown in the picture, which is not on the actual torquoise. To one side of the shop is a small room containing looms (picture #2), the type on which these lovely items are created. Note: This shop was priced better than the shop by the same name located off the Santa Fe town plaza.
Any woven item--beautifully executed in lovely colors
Reasonable Theme: Local CraftAddress: P.O. Box 325 Chimayo, New MexicoPhone: 877-351-4215Directions: Near rts., 76 and 98 in Chimayo, NMWebsite: www.ortegasdechimayo.com
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| | | | Shopping in Old Town | Tip Rating: | | | | |
The stores in downtown Santa Fe have a great selection of jewelry, pottery, clothing and handicrafts in the New Mexican style. I picked up some gorgeous Zuni and Navajo sterling silver and turquoise jewelry, beautiful Acoma pottery, and also some very comfortable moccasins that I wore until they completely fell apart. The biggest change we noticed from 1988 to 2005 is the proliferation of high-end fine arts galleries and fine jewellers. Those stores are extremely pricey - way beyond my budget. However, you don't have to spend that kind of money for beautiful jewelry made locally. Instead, look for folk art designed by local pueblos or native jewelry made of sterling silver, lapis, turquoise and opal.
My daughter and I had a great time shopping for jewelry here. We bought earrings and bracelets. She doesn't know this yet, but my husband and I also bought her a beautiful Zuni link bracelet for her 8th grade graduation and a matching set of tear drop earrings. Each separate link in the bracelet has an intricate inlaid design made of turquoise, black onyx and coral stones. I think she'll love it!
We didn't do our shopping at the fine jewelers - that would have been way too expensive. There's no need to go to these places unless you want diamonds, 14K gold and precious gems. Go to the stores that specialize in native sterling silver jewelery. We bought beautiful earrings and bracelets for a mere $30 to $50, a fraction of what we could have paid at a fine jeweler in Santa Fe. One of our favorite stores was the Virginia Trading Post. We liked their prices and selection of jewelry and their T-shirts, which had embroidered Southwestern designs, rather than simple silkscreen prints. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherAddress: 82 East San Francisco, Santa Fe, NMPhone: 505-983-6165Directions: Just south of the central plaza
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| | | | Shidoni Foundry: Sculptures, Carvings, Jewelry | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Shidoni Foundry is five miles north of Santa Fe and a feast for the eyes! As we pulled into the driveway, large contemporary sculptures could be seen scattered over the landscape. A shop architecturally designed to blend into its surroundings, sat at the end of the parking lot. As you near the shop, an endearing statue of a child with raised arms crafted in bronze stands near the door. (picture #5) Inside, a large, striped cat selectively curled up beside two pricey metal pieces, luxuriates in the sun (picture #2). Bronze nudes, whimsical metal sculptures and Southwest style carvings were displayed throughout the room. A small room in the rear held numerous art pieces, among which was a bronze crucifix created for and used by the former Pope. The artist had won a fellowship to the Vatican and this piece was used in a mass. A second building on the grounds displayed carved, curvacious wood furniture (picture #3), bright paintings, intricate metal pieces, unique jewelry and large mobiles. I selected a pair of pale green earrings made from beach glass, that I thought were so pretty (picture #4)! Theme: Art
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| | | | Jackalope: An International Bazaar | Tip Rating: | | | | |
I'm in a quandry trying to describe Jackalope. Just imagine a big bazaar with merchandise from Mexico, India and China....add a touch of the tacky with some true bargains and that just about describes this store. I'd been pricing mercury candleholders from the Pottery Barn for a couple of months. I found similar ones here for half the price (see Picture #2)! There were windchimes, glassware with matching pitchers, dream catchers, souvenir magnets, basketry, sunglasses, ceramics, clothing, wood jewelry boxes and catchalls, bright floral patterned plates and bowls, huge pottery planters and more,more,more! It's a colorfully decorated store with brightly colored products--it's a FIESTA for the eyes. Stop here for cute, moderately priced souvenirs and everyday inexpensive items. Please see picture #3 for the exterior of Jackalope, which I'm afraid is a very poor picture, but it gives a sense of the place.
Shop for bargains
Things looked pretty inexpensive for the most part Theme: GiftsAddress: 2820 Cerrillos Rd.,Santa Fe, NMPhone: 505-471-8539Website: www.jackalope.com
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| | | | NAMBE': Unique Handcrafts | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Nambe' is difficult to classify because their literature decribes their handcrafts as being NEITHER silver, lead or pewter based. But these pieces certainly look like they would contain all of the above! But first things first, these products were named for the small village where they were first handcrafted in 1951. They are created from a form of metal casting, which can be dated back 3500 years to the Egyptian culture. According to the shopkeeper, Nambe' items can be used directly from the freezer to the oven, then taken to the table. They will not scorch or add any taste to your foods. After use, the pieces will develop a patina and "won't tarnish, rust,chip or peel"; I found these pieces to be beautiful and was hoping to select a salad spoon and fork, but I didn't find anything I thought would coordinate with my everyday stainless. There were also delicately etched glasses and vases that would make great gifts or add a sparkle to your special table settings. This particular shop discounted and was located outside of town (see address & picture#2), but there is a large shop on the main plaza in Santa Fe, which also sells silver and torquoise jewelry as well as Nambe' kitchen/home accessories-- but these items are offered at full price.
Shiny, silver-like utensils and vessels for the home
Less expensive at the shop outside of Santa Fe Theme: Local CraftAddress: 90 Cities of Gold Road, Santa Fe, New MexicoPhone: 505-455-2731;866-626-2366
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| | | | Galleries on Canyon Road: Second largest art market in the U.S. | Tip Rating: | | | | |
THAT was a piece of trivia that surprised me. What used to be a backwater turquoise mining town - Santa Fe - is now the second largest art market in the U.S., second only to Manhattan. The art IS incredible - and very plentiful. A good place to see the sophistication of the art is in the galleries on Canyon Road. They are lined up all along the road, and display a wide range of art from traditional to contemporary, from Southwestern to international. There is even a gallery called Pushkin dedicated to Soviet trained artists.
Paintings, pastels, watercolors, sculptures, jewelry, pottery, tapestries, yard sculptures, fountains. You don't have to be in the market to buy works of art to enjoy Canyon Road. I really enjoyed strolling along the road and going from gallery to gallery. Some of the art fell in the category of stuff I would never buy, but a lot was so impressive, it literally took my breath away. A visit to Canyon Road is like a visit to a museum, but the best part of it, it is free!
OK, here's the catch. The art isn't cheap. Most items sell for thousands of dollars. Leave a Comment Theme: ArtDirections: Canyon Road is just south of the river and just east of the downtown area.
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Santa Fe
on October 22, 2007
on June 3, 2005
