NEW MEXICO WINTER GIFT GUIDE GIFT AND HOME
The home is fortress, refuge, recreation center, remote office… and so much more. The urge to keep it fresh and fun is founded in good sense: we spend some much time there that it merits much attention. How better to keep it fresh than to explore local stores and boutiques for the treasures you and your friends need.
Still lives shot on location at Open Kitchen, openkitchenevents.com
Potter Richard Monikowski draws upon the landscape of New Mexico, his Mi’kmaq heritage, and decades of working with clay, in the making of his pieces. He creates in his studio in Albuquerque’s North Valley. spurlinesupplyco.com.
Seraparito Supply Company’s witty and pleasingly fragrant candles make a perfect hostess gift or holiday stocking stuffer. Light them and let the wintery scents of biscochitos and green chiles get you in the mood for a get-together. At spurlinesupplyco.com.
Photo by Dave Bryce
Square, snugly lidded baskets entirely beaded in a bold geometric pattern. You can stash away precious keepsakes, or just enjoy their sculptural beauty. thecollectivesantafe.com
Artist Chris Roberts-Antieau’s Commemorative Plates Based on Conspiracy Theories kicks off a spicy conversation about a half-dozen unsubstantiated theories. Dishwasher-safe melamine, 10-inch diameter. antieaugallery.com
Stan Editions’ Candl Stacks come from Belgium, and can be stacked, dismantled, burned and rebuilt. They are the result of the design group’s search for storytelling objects. Arrange as you will to create your own luminous tablescapes. sitesantafe.org/sitestore
Beautiful and functional, the brass turtle lock comes with keys. Use this bit of artisanal glamour to lock the cookie cabinet or perhaps your underwear drawer or other places you might hide the valuables. thecollectivesantafe.com
Hayward Simoneaux communicates directly with the folk art gods to choose what goes into his Truchas store. These translucent, white milk glass ornaments feature original enameled illustrations. Intriguing, aren’t they? Made in the US. @eightmilliongods
Waiting for you after a beautiful drive to Truchas is Eight Million Gods, a quirky trove of folk art, fine art, home goods, clothing, and more. These pieces from New Mexican artist Cynthia Cook fit right in with their undertones of spirituality and memory. Visit in person or on social media: @eightmilliongods
Photo by Dave Bryce
Strike this hand-hammered steel bowl with its companion stick for a lovely, even, meditative tone when you need a moment of Zen. Approximately six inches wide. lospoblanos.com
Made by skilled felt artists in Kyrgyzstan, these witty ornaments bring prominent personalities of the day onto the branches of our tannenbaums. Here, Ina Garten and Julia Child swap recipes, while Elton John and Vincent Van Gogh debate who has the better ear. pennysmiths.com
Kei and Molly’s colorful, graphic tea towels are an effortless gift for someone who loves to be in the kitchen. Double that enjoyment with spicy Fuego Salt and rich, smoky Chimayó Salt from the kitchens at Los Poblanos. lospoblanos.com
A bath mitt handwoven of goat hair will scrub away the worries of the day. Pair it with a marble soap dish and a bar of luxury soap, and clear and clean winner of the men’s gift contest emerges! arrayhome.com
Photo by Dave Bryce
Ojo Sarco artist Alma de Luna forms sculptural baskets using rope dyed naturally with cutch to a luscious rusty brick color. Each one takes on a life of its own through a mix of her skills, the character of the material, gravity…and the grace of time. momotaos.com
The sensuously modern Zwilling Sorrento Coffee and Beverage Set includes two double-walled latte glasses, two double-walled mugs, four spoon-straws and a cleaning brush. Breakfast will seem even more inviting than usual! lascosascooking.com
This vintage Mexican casuela beckoned to us at The Raven, where the mix of new and old feels at once familiar and exotic. Its well-loved surfaces and charming fish motif sent us into an affectionate contemplation on the virtues of vintage shopping in New Mexico. theravensantafe.com.
Stocked with the wares of 20 local vendors and makers, Albuquerque’s & Stuff has something for everyone––from pet lovers to vintage hounds to collectors of vintage textiles. Here, a bit of vintage West African indigo with patterns tie-dyed by the Dogon people. andstuffretail.com
Betsy Bauer channels a Zen-like energy into her work with rocks and bamboo cane. Their meditative beauty makes for a perfect and thoughtful gift. Available at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Shop in Santa Fe and at wrappedrockz.com.
Handcrafted from reclaimed palo santo, the pronounced grain of these beautiful utensils brings a touch of nature into the home. Only sustainably sourced fallen woods are used. For moody, atmospheric effect, pair them with plates and platters made from the same wood which are also available at livingthreads.org.
Photo by Dave Bryce
The approach to design taken by Maison de Vacances is both timeless and timely. The subtle gleam of viscose-cotton velvet, as well as excellent tailoring and noble sewing details, refer to centuries of French textile savoir-faire. The sumptuous color palette of their pillows and home accessories is designed for all sorts of interiors, from contemporary to classic. Within this liminal, dynamic exchange of influences we find a tactile beauty worthy of contemplation. santafedrygoods.com
Crafted by hand of natural fiber, placemats in rust and green capture the season’s colors with élan. Printed napkins in simple geometrics (or perhaps a spritely mushroom pattern) complete the picture. @santamariaprovisions
With nature as his muse, Bob Brady hand-builds dynamic ceramic sculptures. Evocative of seed pods, trees, plants, and other fragments of the natural world, Brady’s pieces are often finished in a raku firing which leaves pits and marks that suggest the weathering effects of wind, rain and sun. Resilience and the passage of time some to mind when viewing and touching the work. Shown here is Patera #3. susaneddingsperez.com
Cats & Jasmine candle holders are a Sequoia P Madan original design cast and forged in iron. Designed as a sinuous, graceful group of three. mostlybynature.com
Detours at La Fonda features one of the largest collections of Pendleton blankets and specialty items in Santa Fe. For centuries the Native American community has used wool blankets for warmth, trade and as gifts of honor and recognition. Pendleton became part of this tradition in the early-20th century with its study of the color and design preferences of Native American peoples of the Northwest and Southwest. lafondasantafe.com
As sunny and upbeat as its Southern California birthplace, Bauer dinner- and serveware radiates joyful with its bright colors and Mid-century forms. It also performs well in the dishwasher, oven, and microwave. designwarehousesantafe.com
The cobalt blue glass Pour Over carafe is an artful tool for pour-over coffee or a perfect pitcher for tea, lemonade, or water. designwarehousesantafe.com
Bring a tasteful burst of color to kitchen, dining room, and portal with these enameled metal cooking and serving utensils. Functional and decorative, your gourmet bestie might like a set, too. sarabandehome.com
At their store in the heart of Santa Fe, the Galante family gathers antique furniture and ceramics from around the Mediterranean, as well as contemporary tableware from Portugal, hand-painted tabletop textiles from France, and much more. During a recent visit, we admired this glazed and painted earthenware vessel from 19th century Catalonia, perfect for the mantlepiece of someone you admire. mediterraniahome.com
The call of the wild continues to echo in the feathers of these dynamic, naturally colorful placemats. Topped with a silver charger, they’re also wildly glamourous. We couldn’t resist tucking some plumed pens into the napkin ring as party favors. thecollectivesantafe.com
US-made Smithey Ironware is designed to last a lifetime of sautéing, frying, warming, baking, roasting, and making meals with love. Available in several shapes and sizes at Maison Smith, as well as chainmail scrubbers, seasoning oils, and leather skillet sleeves. maisonsmith.us
Astier de Villate revives and refreshes the traditions of 18th and 19th century Parisian ceramics, expressed in a design aesthetic that is at once reverently historical and irreverently modern. Thanks to a team of twenty ceramicists working in a vintage workshop in Paris’s Bastille district, Astier de Villatte is now the only major studio to keep the tradition of artisanal ceramic production in Paris alive. Each piece of serveware and dinnerware is formed of black clay, and then glazed white. The contrasting materials engage the eye with subtle lines and shadows, bringing each piece uniquely alive. santafedrygoods.com
This handwoven rug by Ojo Sarco artist Alma de Luna is painstakingly formed with rope dyed to an ocher-inflected beige with foraged pinecones. At 40 inches in diameter, a textural masterpiece. momotaos.com
Clementina van der Walt’s Color Me Bright collection of dinnerware channels the sunshine of South Africa directly to your table. Her style of glazing guarantees delicious color to delight the eye. casanovagallery.com
Based in San Sebastian, north of Taos, Sheepa offers hand-selected sheepskins from local New Mexico herds, naturally tanned with estate-grown mimosa bark. sheepahides.com
Photo by Michael Benanav