New Mexico is my new fav state. The colors, the smells, and the sights…overwhelming to the senses and impossible to experience it all in one visit. We left home with eight carrry-on bags for five people, and maxed out with ten upon our return (no checked bags; I enjoy having clothes and toiletries when I arrive, thank you very much). We brought back the best of New Mexico…mostly at affordable prices…

…the face tiles were purchased at a really cool consignment shop that featured vintage clothes and kitschy, fun furniture. The micaceous pottery was purchased here(sadly Taos Pueblo, which is famous for this pottery, was closed). All were local artists and a deal at $30-$40 apiece.

Because adults like to play too, I was attracted to these painted “blocks” by artist Jason Roberts . Each block is the equivalent of five paintings; the bottoms are hollow and they nest together in the largest block, making it an easily transported piece of art. Interactive art that morphs as you play.

Pueblo art is a big deal in New Mexico, but beware. I stuck with mostly smaller items like these wooden ornaments from the village of Cordova, known for its woodcarving (our artist was a descendant of George Lopez which my kids thought was hilarious – not the sitcom guy, I explained), and these pottery ornaments from our visit to Acoma Pueblo. The painted detail is very indicative of Acoma style. Again, a reasonable investment (from $10-$30) for my kids’ ornament collections.

This owl, by artist Diane Wade of Isleta Pueblo, was purchased in a Santa Fe Gallery. A mama with three babies – yup, that’s me. The gallery owner seemed honest and knowledgeable about the artist’s value, but this was an emotional purchase, to be sure. Generally, we’d seen bowls and plates and such, in pueblo style, so the owl was unique and personal for us… and well, call us souvenir suckers.

The art I most wanted was a collection of “retablos.” Spanish Market retablo artists were a small fortune, so I stuck with lesser known artists that had a folksier feel and a friendlier price ($25-$45 apiece). And, of course, you can’t leave New Mexico without turquoise and silver…

…the pendant on left is Cerrillos turquoise in a light green color created by Todd Brown (coincidentally the name of my first boyfriend) who mined the turquoise and did the silver work himself. The darker green ring, also Cerrillos turquoise, was purchased at a shop in Madrid. The earrings were puchased in Albuquerque’s OId Town plaza – five pairs of real sterling and turquoise earrings for twenty bucks (excellent souvenirs for family and friends). The prices, however, got higher as we went north. The orange ring (spiny oyster shell) was a purchase from Santa Fe’s Old Town Plaza. At both plazas you are buying direct from Native Americans and it generally beats the price of local stores. And lastly, pick up some foodstuff – anything chile (green or red), artisanal chocolates with a Mexican flair, “pinon” brittle, and on and on….