Santa Fe Indian Market Remembered....

Discussing the day's events and plans for Market with relatives Eddie and Dawson at my Grandma's pink adobe house in Santa Fe...this was Market Day I remember...also I am wearing the same outfit and have my hair the same as in the sketch at Market at the bottom of this post....these were great times!

Booths and buyers at Market....wish that I was organized and could find more of my Market photos...I have so many taken over the years....have made a vow to get my 1,000's and 1000's of photos in order one of these days...~LOL~

Spotted Jerry Jacka, the late famous photographer for Arizona Highways and numerous southwestern publications at Market, in front of Dressman's on the plaza....

We took along our pottery "Bible"..."Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery" and had some of the artists we made purchases from (and even a few we didn't!) sign our book...As much fun as getting Mickey's signature at Disneyland!

Lucy M. Lewis, the one and only!

We purchased the Lucy Lewis black on white vase on the left at Market from Lucy...the two center pieces came from Lucy over the next few years....and the vase on the right was a 25th Wedding Anniversary gift to Wes and me from my sister Julie!

Lucy Lewis's signature was a great addition to our book...as was her pottery, to our collection!

Rose Gonzales, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Indian Market 1977....

We purchased the smaller carved blackware on the right from Rose at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, the first day of Market...she was #1 on our list....we picked up the larger piece with Avanyu the following day...

Rose Gonzales who was well known as the originator of carved wares from San Ildefonso, was one of the sweetest, most gracious potters I have ever had the opportunity of meeting...so happy she signed our book!

We were excited to meet Marie Chino, and her daughter Rose Chino Garcia...the fine line seed bowl in the center, we purchased from Marie...the two "Deer with Heartline" wares, we purchased from Rose.....

Glad to have Marie Chino's autograph in our book...makes me sad, I had several actual photos of Marie, that I loaned out years ago to an acquaintance, and they were never returned to me....

Candelaria Gachupin of Zia Pueblo was definitely on our list of faves, and we were thrilled to meet her and purchase this wonderful, traditional Zia bowl......

Candelaria was sweet and signed our book for us...even though she was gathering up her wares quickly, as a high desert thunderstorm rolled in, just as we were making our purchase!

Anita Suazo from Santa Clara was a favorite potter of ours, and when we met her and saw this piece with the Snake Dancers on it, we had to have it! We had recently attended the Snake Dance at Second Mesa (another post in itself...non Hopi's are no longer allowed to attend the Snake Dance...our attending this dance rates right up there with one of the most important events in our lives!)

Back in the day, many local artists would set up shop on the side streets surrounding the plaza where Market was held, and sketch you, as you relaxed from a busy day of shopping....fun memories!

This upcoming weekend, August 21 and 22nd is the 89th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market! I love Market and wish that I were there! I have been thinking a lot about Market this past week, as I am getting email reminders from artists and friends about Market events and it has made me rather melancholy! Market is still a fabulous event to attend, but I do remember when it was a bit simpler, and you did not have to "camp out" days in advance in front of a particular artist's booth in order to get one of their pieces! It was a simpler time for sure....you actually had a chance to really talk with the artists and learn something about them, other than just what you read in books. It was not nearly as large as it is today, so it is good to know that there are many artists following in the footsteps of their famous ancestors who represented their family at earlier Markets. Market is by invitation only to the various artists, so you really do get the "cream of the crop"! The "cream of the crop" back at Market in the 70's when I first began attending as an adult (my family is from Santa Fe, NM and I had been many times as a child, but did not have the knowledge nor appreciation for it, as I did in the 70's) were names such as the Chino and Lewis families from Acoma...Rose Gonzales from San Ildefonso....the Nampeyo Family from Polacca...."Frog Woman", Joy Navasie...Ellen Quandelacy from Zuni...in fact Ellen was the only Zuni carver of fetishes represented at Market back in the 70's! The great Fetish Revival at Zuni did not take place until later in the 80's. Wes and I had a mission back then...we were pottery enthusiasts and set out to purchase wares from some of our "favorite" potters, and we did! We had such a great time meeting so many artists, and establishing a buying relationship with many of them, that has lasted for years with those that are still with us...after all, this was almost 35 years ago, and many were older artists at that time! I treasure the art we purchased, the friendships we established, and the memories that we made! If you are lucky enough to be attending Market this year, ENJOY....it is an experience you will always cherish!

We're Raven About Our New Fetish Carvings!

Zuni Fetish Carver Derrick Kaamasee's large jet Raven.....

We have LOTS of new fetish carvings on our website "Indian Summer Native American Art"....including this fabulous detailed raven shown above! We hope you will visit us at www.indiansummer.com In addition to Zuni fetish carvings, we sell pueblo pottery, baskets, Kachinas, jewelry and traditional beadwork! Hope to hear from you!

Thank You to Our Customers and Friends!

Cute handmade card from Dianne in N.H.

Thank you Dianne in New Hampshire! Dianne recently ordered a fetish bear pendant from me on our website Indian Summer Native American Art. Dianne called her order in, rather than using the shopping cart, and mentioned to me that we had been recommended to her by a good friend named Sarah from N.H. who is a customer and friend of our's as well. Thanks for the recommendation Sarah...we appreciate our good customers that help spread the word about our quality merchandise, and our fast and friendly service! Dianne was so pleased with her pendant and the little "extras" we send along with our orders, that she made me this great southwestern style card and surprised me with it! I get nice cards, and emails routinely from our customers thanking us for our products and service, and we sometimes get photos of our customer's collections, and fun photos of themselves or their pets. Although I have not always thought to photograph the nice cards we get....nor post the emails on our site, we very much appreciate them! Anyone who takes the time out of their busy schedules nowadays to handwrite a card, let alone make it...and then send it snail mail, which means a stamp and a trip to the post office, deserves a big THANK YOU! So, in addition to Dianne in NH, I want to thank ALL of you great customers that keep in touch via cards, postcards, and emails! You are appreciated! As an old favorite of mine, Dean Martin used to say, in closing his variety show each week...."Keep those cards and letters comin' in!"....~LOL~

New Fetishes With Special Meanings Behind Them!

Danette Laate's elegant Malachite Butterfly represents "everlasting life"!

Who could resist Eddington Hannaweeke's Serpentine Frog....he can bring you abundant rains...and warn you of danger!

Cheryl Beyuka's triple Pipestone and Lepidolite Wolves on the prowl represent family unity......

Enrike Leekya's Travertine Bobcat is believed to have psychic abilities!

With the crescent moon and stars, Jayne Quam's Celestial Azurite Owl is defintely the "Ruler of the Night Skies".....

Michael Mahooty's Labradorite Bear is loaded with fire! This cool stone is believed to be of extraterrestrial origin and is very powerful!

We have added more new fetish carvings....These are just a sampling....come take a peek! Neat stones and cool meanings behind the carvings! Some are really hard to resist ~LOL~....We look forward to hearing from you!

New Fetish Posting June 25th........

Orange you glad you read the blog.....

Have you heard the news...everybody's talking about the new fetish posting at Indian Summer Native American Art.....

And everyone is raven' over the fetishes.....

That we just bear-ly added!

Why not be really wise....

And gallop on over to our Indian Summer website.....

Where we really do give a hoot about you......

And we're not a lion'........

Looking forward to hearing from you!

A Day at the Beach.....

Philbert Beyuka's gorgeous mother of pearl Seahorse in a "coral" grotto is one of my favorite carvings.....

Kenny Chavez's gliding abalone shell shark with Eddington Hannaweeke's pretty angel skin coral mini shark.....

The late Cellester Laate's pink mussel shell Pelican...his beak can hold more than his belly can!

David Yazzie's mother of pearl Fish....

The late Cellester Laate's mother of pearl Stingray and Seahorse....

David Yazzie's argite Shark......

Stewart Lasiloo's sodalite Walrus heads to shore to join up with Gayla Eriacho's serpentine Walrus...

Gilbert Lonjose's Picasso marble Octopus....

Mama and baby turquoise seals by Michael Laweka, Abby Quam and Clayton Panteah's onyx seal, and Elroy Pablito's pipestone seal.....

I adore my Hudson Sandy marble otter holding onto the mother of pearl shell on his belly....along wiith the turquoise Yancy Halusewa cutie!

Calvert Bowannie and Russell Shack's marble Orcas....

David Yazzie's serpentine dolphin....

Gilbert Lonjose's alabaster crab....

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a genuine love for the ocean...any ocean...any sea...any body of water, even our own Great Salt Lake here in Utah! There is just a certain mystique about the ocean or a large body of water. Nothing thrills me more than when I catch a glimpse of some sea critter out in the waves or see a little sand crab or starfish on the shore..and I love to explore the tidepools! When we stay at a hotel on the beach, I spend hours wading over the rocks and examining the plant life and sealife in the nooks and crannies of the rocks along the shore. A favorite place for me is Cambria, California....there, I get it all....seals lounging on the rocks, playful sea otters floating on their backs as they come in with each wave, and lots of tidepools with gorgeous plantlife gently swaying in the water when it is calm, and minute sea life to watch and ponder over...someday I would love to live on or near a beach...we can all dream, can't we! Last week our daughters were both in California....Phyllis and Ellie were in San Francisco catching a Melissa Etheridge concert, and Liz and Jake took Jake's son Corbin to Carlsbad and to Lego Land, and then spent some relaxing days in Laguna Beach. I LOVE both Laguna and San Francisco....you can tell that just by looking at my sidebars! Phyllis and Ellie saw all the seals down at Fisherman's Wharf at the famous Pier 39, and Liz, Jake, and Corbin went on a whale excursion that left from Dana Point, and were lucky enough to see a hump back whale! Since our next trip is to New Mexico and Arizona, I think I will be seeing more snakes and lizards than seahorses and seals, so I visited our fetish case and pulled out some of my own sea critters and recreated a day at the beach for me! Hope you enjoy it as well!