New Mexico-Land of Enchantment, COLOR, peppers, and surprises!

The roses above are a carving on a sign in New Mexico. I had the chance to go and visit this lovely state for the past two weeks (almost). The color, beauty of the stars, sort of magic of the area is like nothing I have ever seen....escept maybe Sedona. There is kind of a silence in the area and a draw to beauty and to art and to color and to imagination. It is quite something and NO wonder so many artists move there. I didn't realize how much time one needs to see all of the lovely things awaiting.

I walked from my hotel over to a restaurant and ordered a quesidilla and some extra guacamole and chips. I didn't need to worry about gaining weight because I took a chip and filled it with a big scoop of Guacamole and it was the hottest thing I have ever eaten!!!! Yow! I didn't eat the dinner, it was simply too hot. But I did have alot of green chili soup and other things that were a bit hot and delish! By the way, I will be posting some delicious recipes on my newsletter this coming week and also during the Christmas season. If you are not signed up check on the right column and sign up for them. They are unique and delicious!

My Father always talked about the light in New Mexico and he said for an artist there was almost nothing better (Provence had some of the same type of light places).

Look at this one photo and the sun going down and all of the colors from the top of the photo down to the bottom. Brilliant!!! Think of something like this for a quilt! Oir painting!

Here I am with my three friends from Albuquerque. We had a lovely lunch after my lecture and then shopping. Note the deer behind us at Anthropologie-one of my favorite places!

Clouds are magic in New Mexico and his painting captured clouds in a lovely way.

Bright colors are everywhere and paint colors capture so much. Aren't these fabulous???

Above are the ladies that took my "Hoity Toity Houses" class. There are truly going to be some first prize winners in this group. Their work was excellent and they had fabulous ideas.

Holly is holding up her Grandpa which I wish you could see! Stay tuned for photos down the road of ribbon winners-I am NOT kidding. These girls "GOT IT!" They were lots of fun too! This was in fabulous Sante Fe.

Many people bought my new book "Out of the Box" and immediately loved Hoochy Mama blocks and all of the things one could do with them. I had 20 fun and fast sewing gals in my class in Albuquerque. Loved the color combinations- they aren't afraid of color there!

Below is the class in Los Alamos. I have a handout with loads of images for a Christmas wreath. I added more to my packet and soon we will be offering it (for next year.)

I finally asked my friend Nancy Nelson to refine and get my new patterns ready to sell in the New year. For you girls who want Cowboy Dan, she is doing that also.

Above we are standing with my sample. I have a larger sample and now I want to do a Southwestern sample too! What fun and you can personalize them too!

Here is Brook's quilt all ready to be sewn. With embellishments and dodads, it will be super fun.

I have an idea for a chicken wreath I am drawing up too. It should be a hit for chicken lovers and people who love country French!

I had to take a photo of lovely Mary Ann and her purse. She makes all kinds of things like purses and hair dodads and other fun things. Her story quilt (Hoity Toity Houses) is going to be fabulous-it is all Southwest inspired. Hope she sends us a photo to share here!

One can't help but be inspired by the Indian art everywhere. Lovely and original.

I have always loved still life's with fruit. Probably because my Dad did such wonderful work with these. Aren't these colors lovely????

I took the photo below at a hotel we stayed at. This was outside a building and I like the simpleness and the beauty of the whole thing.

As most of you know, I love and collect folk art. I thought these racoons were wonderful!

Stay tuned, now that I am back, I have loads of cool things to share and some funny stories too!