I still have a few treasures left to share from my trip to Santa Fe. While there, I spent a Sunday afternoon walking around the downtown square. I am not someone who enjoys traditional shopping. I avoid places likes malls and superstores and marvel at how others can tolerate weekly trips to these places. On the other hand, give me a beautiful day and streets lined with tents and tables and I am in heaven!

There is just nothing to equal the experience of discovering something you have never seen before. The adventure increases when you get to have an actual conversation with the very individual behind that creation. On this particular day in Santa Fe, I had the true pleasure of meeting the artist I would like to introduce you to today.

The beautiful necklace before you is a one-of-a-kind original by Claudia Chavez-Scharn. This design is called the Floral Bloom Necklace.

On this particular day, I had my husband and two sons with me. They don't exactly share my enthusiasm for street fairs. What it boils down to is that even mom should get a turn every once in a while. Consequently, I have adopted the habit of perusing displays quickly, only stopping if something really catches my eye. Claudia's display of Floral Bloom Necklaces was just such a thing.

I love how wonderfully delicate her necklaces appear. They have a floating quality as though the flowers and pearls are suspended only by air. I wanted to touch the pretty necklaces, but I hesitated. Claudia immediately reassured me and encouraged me to pick one up. I was impressed to realize that they were in fact sturdy feeling. Claudia uses very high quality materials in her work. Stainless steel jeweler's wire makes a durable base for the glass flowers, gemstones and pearls wrapped with sterling silver.

If you would like to learn more about the Floral Bloom Necklace or how to purchase one of your own, contact Claudia at ccbeadzone@yahoo.com
 

When you are in a place like Taos or Santa Fe, it's not hard to find shops which specialize in local artwork. Though I love to look in these places, I always prefer to buy from street vendors or in other words, the actual artist. Just as many artistic people feel that the process or creative journey is more important than the finished work, when buying art, I feel the same way.I want to make some sort of connection.

Maybe what I'll come home with is ordinary in comparison to the extraordinary available in a gallery. It doesn't matter to me in the slightest. I don't want a keepsake so I can show it off as the finest of art to all who cross its path. I want to admire my pieces and remember the experience of finding them.

I love looking over table tops or in this case, in and out of Pueblo shops, until something catches my eye. Then I can talk to the seller who very often is the artist, but if not, tends to be related.It seemed especially so in the Pueblo shops. Family and friends come together to form small business groups taking turns with all of the tasks.

My little quail friend pictured here is an example of horse hair pottery. Horse hair is applied to the clay before firing. The hair burns off in the kilnleaving behind pretty designs. No two ever look exactly alike whichmakes it very hard to pick your favorites. Somehow I managed. (Vacation can be hard work!)

As I made my selections, a young woman sat next to her warm kiva painting a small clay bowl. I asked her if she made these pieces, but her answer was no. They were made by another member of the family. I asked if she had a card or any information she could give me. She had only one card which she told me was her aunt. So the closest I can get you to the origin of this piece is the name Dolly Luhan (the aunt) of Sunflower Pueblo Creations. Perhaps if you are ever visiting the Taos Pueblo, youcan find their little shop in the Northern Pueblo.