Holiday Shopping - Santa Fe Style

SANTA FE IS FILLED WITH DELIGHTFUL SHOPPING ADVENTURES.
HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITES.

Photos by C. Whitney-Ward

This tiny shop is filled with confectionery delights, and the
packaging is so gorgeous you won't want to unwrap them.

So buy two - one to eat & one to keep! 

TODOS SANTOS

125 E. Palace - Sena Plaza

505.982.3855

Just next door to Todos Santos is this inviting shop that showcases wonderful

Christmas treats for just about everyone on your list. Lots of gifts for children...

ribbons...papers...glittered decorations galore...

Clever paper trees made by a South African Coop from the financial section of the Times!

Next stop...

This is a very fun clothing etc. shop along Marcy Street. 
 The selection is eclectic chic - lots of delightful/kitsch Folk Art stuff.

MIRA

101A W. Marcy St.

Santa Fe, NM

505.988.3585

And, next door to MIRA is DESIGN WAREHOUSE, a contemporary emporium

filled with sleek and beautifully-designed furniture, home accessories and

amazing stocking stuffers!

DESIGN WAREHOUSE

101 W. Marcy

Santa Fe, NM

505.988.1555

HUNGRY FROM ALL OF THAT SHOPPING?

Head back up Marcy street to ECCO where you can get a great espresso, but

memorable GELATO.  So grab a cup...a spoon...and perhaps

a scoop of Strawberry Habanero...

ECCO

105 E. Marcy

Santa FE, NM

505.986.9778

If you'd like to end your afternoon deliciously, head on over to

THE CHOCOLATE MAVEN for a very proper Afternoon Tea.

Now, gloves and a fancy chapeau aren't required,

but they do make the outing more fun. My friend suggested that

we dress up and it was a hoot.

We chose the Tea Tower for Two and it was ample and delicious.

I was too busy eating and sipping to photograph everything!

But, I think you'll get the idea...By the way, the paper-thin ginger cookies

are amazing. Actually everything was amazing...

 This would make a lovely Christmas tradition...But, do call
for reservations.

THE CHOCOLATE MAVEN
821 San Mateo
Santa Fe, NM
505.982.4400


And, if you love unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry then you might want to
stop by BARA'S studio sale this weekend. Her work is bold and beautiful!

B A R A

Sunday, December 4th

 from 11AM to 7:30PM

2190A W. Alameda 
T. 505.988.1242

Douglas Magnus - The Spirit of a Studio

C O N T E M P O R A R Y  H E I R L O O M S

D O U G L A S  M A G N U S  fell under the spell of Santa Fe back in the late 1960's. He'd just finished his stint in the army - he'd been drafted when he "flunked" out of school - and wended his way to New Mexico in his 58' VW. He was immediately smitten, started taking photographs, and basically never looked back.

"It was such a golden age for Santa Fe back then," recalls Magnus. "The highway from ABQ was 2 lanes; there was still so much of the old culture; and the beautiful people weren't here yet. It was wild and fun and so foreign to me having grown up in L.A.."

Photos by C. Whitney-Ward

His handsome photographs pepper the walls of his studio and home.

Somewhere along the way, he

began to paint.

And he had an epiphany. "I saw someone making buttons from old coins and decided that I could make jewelry, " recalls Magnus, who admits to being self-taught, but determined. He bought a jewelry saw, a sheet of copper and made his first concho belt. 

And he became enthralled with Turquoise, so much so that he bought several old turquoise mines in Cerrillos, New Mexico. The same mines plumbed by the ancient Mixtec, Aztec and Anasazi peoples, and in the late 19th century, by the  Tiffany Company.

"I feel a direct connection to those ancient people," says Magnus. "It's a privilege to be working with these rare, remaining pieces of turquoise. My mission is to create the most beautiful things I can."

His work and his vernacular over time have evolved from traditional Southwest designs to a more fluid, contemporary style of jewelry.

First comes the idea and then the sketch. Then, for Magnus, the seriously fun part - creating the die. "These die tools are unlike any I've ever made. They allow me to expand on my Southwestern design techniques."

He 'carves' the design...

Tests it on leather strips...

And when the die is just so, the jewelry is created.

And when not in his studio, he and partner Dana Waldon are enjoying their amazing eclectic home  - click on this link to go to Chasing post on Dana and their house -  filled with equally amazing vintage finds.

D O U G L A S  M A G N U S  D E S I G N S

Santa FE, NM

505.983.6777

www.douglasmagnus.com