More spirit dolls

I got an unexpected package in the mail last week from a blogger friend, Lynda. It was a box of sticks from her yard in Indiana to use to make my spirit dolls! I had mentioned to her that one of the biggest problems in making the dolls was finding sticks in the desert, so she shared some of hers! I told her I would make any type of spirit doll she wanted as thanks, and she said anything Southwest. So I made the little doll shown above. Check out her blog for some great fabric ideas and lovely views of her garden.

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Now this next story is really amazing. In the early 1980s I worked at The El Paso Times and was good friends with a reporter named Pat. We kept in touch for years after we both moved on to other states, but at some point about 30 years ago we lost touch. I tried to find her online, but she has a very common name.

Then she found my blog recently, we reconnected and got caught up on each other's lives, and she ordered seven spirit dolls made with African fabric! (I just happened to have a large stash from when I used to go to the Houston quilt convention and buy fabric from international vendors.)

Since we lost touch, we have raised six kids between us, changed careers, got a divorce, and moved many times. I'm looking forward to staying connected the rest of our lives!

Pat's African dolls

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I added these next two dolls to my blog shop, which you can get to by clicking on My little art for under $100 at the top of the blog. They're $30, which includes shipping.

"Dawn Spirit" evokes a beautiful new day's dawn and wears a protective hand charm. Hang her or prop her up where she can greet you in the morning and bring a smile to you.

"Night Guardian" brings the soft purple of a beautiful evening turning into a velvety night. Put her where you can see her as you turn out the lights for the night and have sweet dreams.

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Then I made some more dolls for

Absolutely Art Gallery & Gifts. These are a little larger than the ones in my blog shop and sell for $38 at the gallery. Of course, the gallery owner gets a nice percentage for her costs and she does a great job with display and publicity.

"Spring Spirit"

"Night Energy"

"Earth Mother"

"Sand Tracks II"

Detail from "Sand Tracks II"

Detail from "Night Energy"

Speaking of night energy, we had a spectacular sunset the other night. This is the view looking across the street from my front courtyard.

Have a colorful day

Mexican art on display

There's a wonderful store here in Oro Valley called the Western National Parks Assn. store that has an exhibit and sale of colorful Mexican indigenous art through Wednesday, April 13. It features Zapotec weavings, Oaxacan carvings, and Mata Ortiz pottery.

The colors of the Zapotec weavings are luscious. I wish I could have afforded a few, although it would've been hard to choose. The weaving has been part of the Zapotec culture since at least 500 BC.

 

Next up are the Oaxacan carvings of fanciful animals called "alebrijes." They are carved by hand from copal wood then painted with natural pigments. The details are incredible! One legend has it that alebrijes were created by a Pedro Linares after he became ill. Delirious in Mexico City at age 30, he dreamt of a strange place resembling a forest in which strange, composite animals were all shouting, "Alebrijes!" When he awoke, he crafted the first alebrijes from papier-mache and a new genre of art was born.

Finally, the earthier colors of Mata Ortiz pottery contain beautiful, detailed designs. 

If you get a chance and are in the Tucson area, head on over to the store by Wednesday. It also carries native Indian jewelry, books on the Southwest, and the usual array of tourist gift shop items like t-shirts, mugs, maps and puzzles.

Address: 12880 N. Vistosa Village Drive, Tucson (but actually in Oro Valley)

Phone: 520-622-1999

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This doesn't look like a desert!

My Gig Harbor friend Nancy and I went to the Tucson Botanical Gardens today and she could hardly believe this lush retreat is in the middle of the desert town of Tucson. She and her husband have decided to move here from rainy Washington, where she's a Master Gardener. I'm sure she'll master our desert plants in no time.

Here, in no particular order, 

are pictures from the urban garden.

Coral Fountain

Poppies

Kalanchoe

Succulent wreath

Barrel cactus flowers

Yellow aloe blooms (foreground)

Bird of Paradise

Natal Lily

Fan palms

Amaryllis

Salvia

Mexican honeysuckle

Angel Face Floribunda

Three of the many irises:

Detail from a colorful tile bench

Red cluster berry

Mexican yellow bird of paradise tree

You can read about the history of the botanical gardens here: history

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Tucson's big street fair!

Last weekend I went to Tucson's Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair for art, music, food and sunshine! It's in its 52nd year and was packed with people who had to miss it last year because of Covid.

I went with Tere and Barb, taking a free shuttle because parking is nearly impossible near the fair. That made it a lot easier.

We bought jewelry and hippie clothes like what we wore in the 70s.

Lunch was gyros and pizza from the food trucks. A guy promoting the Bawker Bawker cider bar invited us to take our food inside so we could relax at a table in air conditioning -- and purchase drinks. It sure beat balancing our food while standing outside in the sun! (Not that I didn't love the sun.)

Bright colors were everywhere, and I loved looking at the buildings as much as looking at the fair booths. Fourth Avenue is a popular street for eclectic shops and restaurants anytime of year, especially with University of Arizona students, but it's just that much more fun during the fair.

Have a colorful day