Yesterday, we went to Yarn And Coffee to say goodbye to the great ladies we knit with on Monday's since we have been here in Santa Fe. Wednesday, we will go to the yarn store to say goodbye to the Wednesday group. One of the ladies, Collin, does some amazing work with fabric and found objects.
I am holding one of her pieces in the picture
I am holding one of her pieces in the pictureToday, we went to Espanola so I could go to the Espanola Valley Fiber Arts Center
You can just walk in and weave a 26" x 36" rug, take classes, and shop. Some of the classes offered is Chimayo style weaving on a Rio Grande loom, Colchis embroidery for beginners, pueblo embroidery, spinning with a Navejo spindle and dying with little local natural dyes. It is my plan to come back next year to take some classes. I purchased yarn to weave a rug for my bathroom.
I saw these beautiful doors in Espanola.
We headed on to Taos so that we could finish going through the shops.
I love murals and saw this one.
Finally got my green chili cheeseburger however, it was too hot and I took most of the chili's off. 
We walked around the Taos plaza looking in the shops
This bench was so out of place however I have found them all over this area of New M
Isn't this courtyard beautiful!!!!!
On Thursday, we went to Chimayo. This little town is famous for its Catholic church and the rug weaving families, Ortega and Trujillo.
The church known as, El Santuario de Chimayo, was built by a private individual in 1816. A preservationist brought it and handed it over to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in 1929. The church has a reputation for its healing site (believers claim that dirt from a back room can heal physical and spiritual ills). As you walk back to the dirt room, you pass hundreds of crutches hanging on the wall. The church has become known as the "Lourdes of America." Over 30,000 visitors come every year. It has become the most important Catholic pilgrimage center in the United States and is a National Historic Landmark. 
In side the church (no photos allowed) are these beautifully painted wood Reredos
You can buy a plastic bag or a container to get some of the Holy dirt. I brought a container since it was same price as the plastic bag. The pamphlet that comes with the container says that suggested ways to use the Holy dirt is:
1. Bring silence to your heart and mind.
2. Humbly acknowledge your weaknesses, mistakes, sins and illnesses.
3. Tell God that you need him, his wisdom, his strength, his guidance, his forgiveness, his love and healing.
4. Share with God your wishes but also tell him to show his plan and will for you.
5. Ask for understanding and courage to face whatever God has planned for you.
5. Rub the holy dirt over the part of your body in need of healing while you invoke the named Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
The Holy Dirt is not to be eaten or to be drunk.
Jean and I went into a side chapel
Open air chapel
You can buy candles at gift shop to put here and say a prayer for love ones.
Loved this door 
After leaving the church, I wanted to see the weavers. We went to Ortego weaving shop but they did not have anyone weaving
So we headed to the Trujillo weaving shop and was in luck. The weaving shop specializes in hand woven tapestry wool products using natural dyes, custom dyed yarns, handspun yarns, in the traditional Chimayo and Rio Grande weaving styles.
Irvin Trujillo (owner)
Irvin Trujillo (owner)That is me in the corner trying my hand at weaving a Chimayo rug.
Back in Santa Fe, the Loretto Chapel stairs are a must see.
When the chapel was built in1878, there were no way to access the choir loft 22 feet above. Carpenters looked at the space and said that only a ladder would work because a staircase would interfere with the interior space of the small chapel.
The Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Months later, the elegant circular stair was completed. The carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks.
The staircase has two 360 degree turns and no visible sign of support. The staircase is built without nails, only wooden pegs and there is no visible sign of support. The staircase appears to have been built with a single piece of wood. The Navy set its engineers to determine how the staircase was built. There conclusion was that they did not know. The wood used is not even indigenous to the region. The carpenter worked alone .
The rails were added in 1897
The rails were added in 1897Today, Friday, Jean and I went to Madrid, NM, an artist community with galleries lining New Mexico State Road 14, which is on the Turquoise Trail. The ending of the film, Wild Hogs (2007) starring Tim Allen, John Travolta, and Martin Lawrence was set and filmed in Madrid.
On the way to Madrid, there is art galleries and beautiful scenery .
We had lunch at The Hollar. They have an elevated mix of American comfort foods like, shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes & burgers, amid art.
As we drove through the town, we were not sure if this was artwork in galleries or if it was peoples' homes. 
Jean took a panorama of the street
I love the mailboxes 
Our favorite shop was Studio 18 Art in Gypsy Plaza. The owner, Sue, was working on a jacket. She said she was trying her hand in making clothes. Her speciality is Art Quilts that she has painted and sculpture mobiles. You can find her work at studio18art.com.
Got to get some sleep so I can have more fun tomorrow. See y'all
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