Just Another Day

Las Conchas Fire

2011-07-09T19:34:00.001-07:00

Las Conchas wildfire has been burning for two weeks and the smoke has come our way more than a few days.

The sunsets have been beautiful though.

Lunar Total Eclipse December 21, 2010

2010-12-21T19:01:00.001-08:00

I got some shots of the eclipse and the sunrise.

Dia de mi Santo

2010-05-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

Today is the feast day of Saint Rita of Cascia.

Agueda S. Martinez Official Scenic Historic Marker

2010-05-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

This morning a state highway Historic Marker was put in place near my grandmother's home honoring her as the "Matriarch of Hispanic weaving."

Official Scenic Historic Marker
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=#!/profile.php?id=100000057906619

Are You Looking At The Moon Tonight?

2009-11-30T17:17:00.000-08:00

Do you know where you are in your life
Are you walking in between the lines
I can tell by the look in your eyes
You're hurting way down inside

I fell from the sky
I tried to catch your eye
In a velvet sky
Did you wish upon a falling star?

Niece's Wedding

2009-10-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

My niece, Alison got married last weekend in Denver, Colorado. She made such a lovely bride.

Family Reunion

2009-08-02T07:04:00.000-07:00

Abe and his family came from Escondido, California and the Serrano Drity Dozen was complete.

Front row L-R, Benita, Clara, Rita, Patricia, Lollie, Mom, Martha, Dad; Back Row, Mike, Selina, Abe, Eloy, Rick, Lino

At The Lake

2009-07-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

After Louie got the outboard motor running, we decided that it was a perfect day to take the pontoon out on the lake, so that's what we did.

The water was cool and very refreshing. We had a little bit of a snag getting the boat out of the lake but we were cheered on by the people on the rocks.

2009-06-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

Eloy killed a rattlesnake in his yard this afternoon and now I'm feeling jiggy about walking around in sandals.

Parish Wide Fiesta

2009-06-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

The seven missions of Santo Tomás gathered this morning at Ghost Ranch where Father celebrated mass under the large elm tree.

This is the first time I have been to Ghost Ranch and the landscapes there are quite enchanting.

From Ghost Ranch, the view of Cerro Perdenal

The Road To Abiquiu

2009-06-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

This morning, on the road to Abiquiu, the farm landscapes were breathtakingly beautiful as summer has finally arrived in Northern New Mexico.

Up the road a few miles, the Piedra Lumbre juts above the horizon.

Piedra Lumbre

I drove to the lake and enjoyed a moment of relaxation while boaters and fishermen carried on with their tasks. The water level is much higher than last year and the view of the majestic Cerro Perdenal was reflected in the water.

Serape by Agueda S. Martinez

2009-04-02T16:03:00.000-07:00

This serape was woven by my Grandmother,
Agueda Martinez when she was ninety-five years old. When I visited her in the spring of 1993, she has just completed the serape which was highlighted using pretty spring colors of pink, turquios blue, and bright yellow.

Grandmother wove many other serapes and jergas in her lifetime some of which were awarded blue ribbons and others that were purchased by museums including the Smithsonian.

Blossoms and Bees

2009-03-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

The weather has been nice and warm for the past few weeks and the apricot trees blossomed yesterday. Unfortunately, we are told that the temperatures will dip below freezing for the next few days. This will mean that again the trees will not bear fruit.
There are lots of apricot trees in the area but they seldom bear fruit because of freezing tempera-tures after the blossoms appear. It's either feast or famine with fruit trees here. When the trees do bear fruit, there is an abundance and you can't give it away.

Greater Roadrunner

2009-02-23T17:15:00.000-08:00

There has been a roadrunner in the neighborhood the past few days. This Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is the New Mexico state bird and is about 20 to 24 inches long. It runs on the ground and its voice is six to eight low, dove-like coo's, descending in pitch. It's habitat is deserts; dry open country with scattered cover and brush.

Red & Brown Saddle Blanket

2008-10-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

This saddle blanket was started on April 3, and completed on April 8, 2008. After a few more pieces are woven, I'll cut it and the others off the loom and tie them off. I enjoy weaving the border pattern done on this piece and will probably use it on some of the next few peices I weave.

Size 34 x 34; price $250

Cactus Flowers

2008-06-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

White Orchid

2008-02-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

Seeds and Pods

2008-02-11T18:09:00.000-08:00

It warmed up enough to gather seeds and pods for later planting and transforming into a beautiful bouquet.

Serapes & Bobbins

2008-02-09T14:24:00.000-08:00

Off The Loom

2008-01-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

Rio Grande with Starburst

Size 34 x 46 inches; price $350.00

Falling Leaves

Size 34 x 60; price $200.00

SOLD

Rio Grande Style Starburst

2008-01-03T17:05:00.000-08:00

Rio Grande with starburst embellishment

Size 34 x 46 inches; price $350.00

This weaving is done in the design first woven by my Grandmother, Agueda Martinez, years ago. The colors include natural white, indigo, tan, dusty blue, dark brown, and heather brown.

Spider Plant and Orchid Blooms

2007-12-27T08:31:00.001-08:00

Spider Plant

Orchid

Rio Grande Tapestry Weaving - Falling Leaves

2007-12-21T06:59:00.000-08:00

This latest weaving is done in the Rio Grande style of Chimayo weaving in autumn colors. The style has developed over the years from plain stripes to stripes with embellishments.
Falling Leaves; size 34 x 60; price $200.00

The Bluebirds Are Back

2007-12-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

Twice a year we see the Western Bluebirds in this area. They are a little larger than a sparrow with blue heads, tails and wings, and rusty red breasts and back.

Western Bluebirds

Chief's Blanket

2007-12-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

The Chief's Blanket is finished, pressed, and ready for display. This is a difficult piece to weave and I'm happy it's done.

Detail of blanket

Chief's Blanket in Four Colors; size 34 x 59 inches; price $850.00

Please send an email to purchase. Thank you.

Orchids

2007-12-12T07:16:00.000-08:00

Two of my orchids are going to bloom soon. I uses little hair clips to clip the shoot to a supporting stick.

White orchid

Pink orchid

Chief's Blanket in Four Colors

2007-12-09T07:59:00.000-08:00

This Chief's Blanket was started three days ago by choosing the colors and winding the yarn. The weaving has a Dark Red campo (field) with Dark Brown, Tan, and Natural White.

Chief's Blanket in Four Colors

Detail of the first designs

The Chief's Blanket has one large design in the center with two half designs at both ends. The blanket is wrapped around so that the large center design is in the center back and the four half designs wrap around to the front and meet to form two designs as is illustrated in the photograph below. The Native American woman pictured here is wearing a blanket the way a Chief would.

Jake Gold with Native American Woman

History Library, Palace of the Governors

Multi Color Table Top Weavings

2007-12-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

For the past few days I have been weaving small table top weavings in multi color. These charming pieces are done to use up small amounts of wool left over from other weavings.

The warp is split into thirds in order to weave smaller weavings.

Small table top multi color weavings 11 x 12 inches;
price $20.00 each or two for $35.00

The weavings can be used for an assortment of things, the most common being placed on top of a small accent table, to accent a plant or vase, or as a placemat on the dinner table.

All weavings are 100 percent virgin wool and may be hand washed, vacuum cleaned, or dry cleaned.

Please send me an email if you wish to make a purchase.

Saltillo Sarape in Purple

2007-12-01T06:44:00.001-08:00

After dancing on the loom for several hours yesterday, I was able to finish the Saltillo Sarape in Purple.

Saltillo Sarape in Purple; size 34 x 40; price $200.00 SOLD

Saltillo Sarape Weaving in Purple

2007-11-30T09:38:00.000-08:00

This weaving is in the style of Saltillo, Mexico which has morphed into the Chimayo Style. Weavings with a large serrate design in the middle are called sarapes. This sarape was started three days ago and last night I reached the center.

Saltillo sarape weaving in purple

When I first tried this design I was unable to finish the second half because it was confusing. Then I was told that it is a mirror image of the first half and with that I was able to complete the second half. Creating a mirror image means doing everything the opposite of the first half.

The colors are purple (campo or field), black, indigo, light gray, natural white, and light yellow which are used in the sanefa (band) and in the center serrete design in the same order.

Christmas Time

2007-11-29T08:57:00.000-08:00

I always know when Christmas is nigh because my Christmas cactus blooms.

Christmas cactus in full bloom

Los Lonely Boys Concert

2007-11-26T11:04:00.000-08:00

Los Lonley Boys, L-R Ringo (drummer), Henry (guitarist), Jojo (bass guitar)

Just got back from Mesaclero and the final Los Lonely Boys show for the 2007 Tour. The boys perfromed by themselves, no opening band, no dad and they were great. It was a Henry Garza show all the way because they performed eight of Henry's songs and five of Jojo's. The set list went like this:

OyeMamacita
Roses
I Ain't Nobody's Fool
Nobody Else
My Way
Never Met A Woman
Crazy Dream
Hollywood
Cottonfields & Crossroads
Man To Beat
Feliz Navidad
Heaven
More Than Love

Henry's songs are the blues/rock songs like Cottonfields & Crossroads and Man To Beat along with the songs he wrote and have deep meaning for him like Hollywood, Nobody Else, My Way, and Heaven.

The Inn of the Mountain Gods, Mescalero, New Mexico

The view from my room at the resort was breath taking.

Photograph for Sale

2007-11-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

This photo is of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Santa Fe. It was taken from the south coming from Albuquerque and shows some of the distinct images such as the Snoopy Head and the Horses Head. There is some glare off the glass which the flash picked up, however, the photo is flawless.

Sangre de Cristo Mountians at Santa Fe, photo size, 16" x 20"; price $80.00

Saddle Blanket in Indigo: Third in a Series

2007-11-20T18:04:00.000-08:00

The indigo saddle blanket and the third in the series is finished. It is unique to the series yet follows the basic design of the prior two. This weaving and the prior weaving will remain on the loom until several more weavings are completed. Then they all will be removed and the warp tied.

Indigo Saddle Blanket: Third in a series; price $325.00

Red Western Saddle Blanket, Second in a Series

2007-11-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

The red western saddle blanket is finished.

The next saddle blanket will be the third in the series and will be in indigo blue, dark brown and natural white.

The sale price for the Red Saddle Blanket is $325.00

Please send an email for purchase instructions. Thank you.

Red Hot Saddle Blanket

2007-11-13T03:24:00.000-08:00

I love working in red. It's a color I love thus this saddle blanket project is a pleasure to work on. This piece is the second in a series of saddle blankets I will be weaving this season.

The pattern is woven in along the edges of the piece

For this saddle blanket I chose my favorite border, shown below. The right side will show at the back end of the horse and this is where I will weave my signature, a triangle.

The right border of the weaving

The left border

Small Paintings for Sale

2007-11-12T07:33:00.000-08:00

These paintings are for sale and because they need to be matted and framed better, they are selling at bargain prices. The media is acrylic on canvas and the paintings would be suitable for a work space or an office

The top pic is "Rio Chama Bosque #2; 5" x 7"; price $40.00 (SOLD)

The blue is "Cactus Flowers", 5" x 7"; price $35.00 (SOLD)

The bottom is "Cerro Perdenal at Abiquiu Lake; 4" x 5"; price $35.00

To purchase, please click on 'Profile' and send me an email. Thank you.

Matias Rides Estrella with Saddle Blanket

2007-11-11T05:16:00.000-08:00

Estrella models the finished saddle blanket with Matias riding and mom, Erian, close by. Estrella is a small horse and the saddle blanket is a little oversized for her. Estrella was not broken using the traditional cowboy method. Rather, Erian, is using horse whispering to tame Estrella.

Matias rides Estrella with mom, Erian, close by.

Off the loom, the saddle blanket is finished

I decided to keep this one. Not for sale.

Finishing the Saddle Blanket: Weaving Demonstration

2007-11-09T16:45:00.001-08:00

Nearing the end of the project, the secong border is being created in a mirror image of the first border. As you can see there are many cadejos (bobbins) used to create the border and it takes time to pass each through the warp threads.

The video demonstration is a good visual to see how the project comes together.

Weaving demonstration video

The second border is complete and the saddle blanket is done. The warp is cut about 4 inches long and after tying off and trimming the warp, the saddle blanket will be ready to be worn on a horse riding down the road in a parade.

Still on the loom, the finished saddle blanket.

At the Governor's Mansion

2007-11-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

This summer Agueda Martinez, grandmother, was honored for her achievements in weaving and folk-art with a Historic Women Highway Marker to be placed near her home in Medanales.

The Serranos enjoy the buffet and mingle with the women who made the nomination come true for the Agueda Martinez family.

The committee who made the Historic Women Highway Marker possible

The Serranos pose for a picture with First Lady Richardson

Good Morning New Mexico

2007-11-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

This morning I awoke to a beautiful sunrise and it makes me feel great to live in such a beautiful place. The morning star and moon were captivating and enchanting.

What a great way to start the day!

Saddle Blanket in Three Colors

2007-11-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

After a few hours of dancing on the loom, my saddle blanket project is coming along nicely. I am just a few inches away from the center. When the project is completed, the saddle blanket will measure 34 x 36 inches. Today I spoke to my cousin and he agreed to have his horse, Estrella, model the finished saddle blanket.

Day Trip to Albuquerque

2007-11-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

My sister and I took a day trip to Albuquerque and drove through Santa Fe. Without slowing down or stopping, I managed to get some good pictures. This is a picture of the beautiful and majestic Sangre de Cristo mountains at Santa Fe that add to the beauty of the capital city.

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Santa Fe taken facing North from Albuquerque

This is a picture of the descent from Santa Fe to Cochiti Pueblo also called La bajada.

La bajada from Santa Fe to Albuquerque with Rio Grande Bosque

The next photo was taken to show that the concrete barriers holding tons of earth along Hwy285/84 is slipping and soon may crash onto the highway. Better get some engineers out there soon.

A little problem at Exit 599 that needs some attention

Saddle Blanket In Three Colors

2007-10-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

The picture to the left shows the pattern I created in Excel for my saddle blanket project. The border or banda is in dark brown and natural white.
The center where the saddle sits will be dusty blue. Cadejos, small hand wound bobbins, are used for the labor design, and the lanzadera is used for the campo or field.

Rio Chama With Starbust Embellishments

2007-10-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

Rag rug in polyester by Georgia Serrano
The jerga pictured (left) was woven by my mother, Georgia Serrano, and is now among the International Folk Art Foundation Collections at the Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In designing and creating this master piece, Mrs. Serrano used all polyester fabrics

that she first cut into strips then spun and wove. The jerga is unique not only in its pattern, Rio Chama with starburst embellishments en la movida rapido but in it's unique component, polyster, as well.

This pattern evolved through the weavings of Agueda Martinez and Georgia Serrano along with the weavings of Doña Agueda's other daughters most of whom have attained national recognition in their own right. This time honored pattern that evolved through my family will always be a favorite.

Georgia Serrano learned to weave as a young child just as her mother before here. After raising her children, Mrs. Serrano wove for many years for Ortega's Weaving Shop in Chimayo. She still weaves at her home studio in Medanales at the age 82 and I suppose she has 20 good years left in her judging by the age her mother stopped weaving.

Mrs. Serrano is shown in the picture below as she works at her loom in 1986

Agueda Martinez is pictured at the left with one of her large weavings in the traditional Chimayo Style with two small and one large diamond design between two bands.

Doña Agueda loved to weave and spent many hours dancing on her loom.

Charmed Girls

2007-10-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

My nieces, Alys and Emily, and their after school nanny, came over and picked out a charm. Alys picked one that says, "LOVE".

Alys picks out her charm

Emily picks out a charm shown below.

Emily clipped her charm onto her purse and it matches and looks great.

You can pay me through my PayPal account at: https://www.paypal.com/
Click on the send money tab and enter: rserrano@cybermesa.com
Then enter the $ amount GOODS. Follow the prompts to complete the transaction.

Specify the items you want to buy. Thank you for your interest.

Full Moon over Med

2007-10-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

I took this picture of the full moon this morning with my camera zoomed in to its fullest level.

There are many witch stores that originated from this area around the Rio Chama. It has been said that La Llorona wanders around in the bosque crying and looking for her children that were drowned in the river. She cries loudly all night when she is able to see from the light of the full moon.

This pic was taken last night then I edited for Halloween, only five days away.

Hope the kids like it and hope they like the candy I'm giving away this year. I have Nestle's Crunch bars and Baby Ruth miniatures. At least the one's I haven't eaten already.

All witches will certainly be out on Oct 31, looking for little children to roast and eat for supper. Watch out! The witch will get you if you wander too close to the Rio Chama Bosque on Halloween night.

Just Another Day

2007-10-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

Agueda Martinez (1898 - 2000)
My grandmother, my inspiration, working on her loom at home Medanales, New Mexico in 1995.

Below is her now famous weaving that was purchased by the Smithsoinian in 1997. You can see the similaraties between my grandmother's weaving and the two weavings I wove pictured below. As the years went by grandma added more and more labor to her weavings. Labor means to labor and weaving is a labor or love. The Spanish word labor describes the part of the weaving that takes the most time, or the designs within the weaving.

Jerga Rag Rug Weave by Agueda Martinez
Owned by The Smithsonian since 1997

In the Jerga on the left, there are only a few areas where there is no labor. These areas are at the beginning and end and between the bands where only stripes are used. Of course, the more time spent by the weaver will make the weaving more costly to the buyer.

Grandma always said, "Me gusta mucho tejer y siempre estoy bailando en el telar." ("I love to weave, and I am always dancing on the loom.")

Another Day - Paul McCartney
Every day she takes a morning bath, she wets her hair
Wraps a towel around herAs she's heading for the bedroom chair
It's Just Another Day

Slipping into stockings
Stepping into shoes
Dipping in the pocket of her raincoat
Ah, it's just another day.

At the office where the papers grow she takes a break
Drinks another coffeeAnd she finds it hard to stay awake,
It's just another day
It's just another day
It's just another aay.

Ay so sad, so sad
Sometimes she feels so sad

Alone in her apartment she'd dwell
Till the man of her dreams comes to break the spell
Ah, stay
Don't stand around

And he comes; and he stays
But he leaves the next day
So sadSometimes she feels so sad

As she posts another letter to the sound of five
People gather 'round her
And she finds it hard to stay alive
It's Just Another Day
It's Just Another Day
It's Just Another Day

AySo sad, so sadSometimes she feels so sad
Alone in her apartment she'd dwell
Till the man of her dreams comes to break the spell

Paul has always been my favorite Beatle.

Lonely Weavings #1 & 2 and More

2007-10-24T09:01:00.003-07:00

Here are some of my weavings. These are for sale by special order and I would be honored to weave one for you.

A Lonely Weaving #1

Sale price $800.00
This lovely Spanish Saltillo Serape was inspired by and presented as a gift to Henry Garza of Los Lonely Boys at the Denver Fillore concert 2006

A Lonely Weaving #2

Lonely Weaving #2; 33" x 53" ; Price $850.00

Another style of weaving that I learned from my Grandmother, Agueda Martinez, is the Rio Grande shown below. This one is the Starburst Design in Fall Colors, it is done in the Movida Despacio or slow move.

Rio Grande Starburst in Fall Colors, movida despacio; 33" x 53" ; price $550.00

Here's a bit of a twist of the same design with color and weaving changes. This is done in the movida rapido or fast move, which gives it a bit of an eye dazzler look.

Rio Grande Starburst in Fall Colors Movida Rapido; 33" x 53" ; price $550.00

You can pay me through my PayPal account at: https://www.paypal.com/
Click on the send money tab and enter: rserrano@cybermesa.com
Then enter the $ amount and select GOODS. Follow the prompts to complete the transaction.

Feel free to send me an email at rserrano@cybermesa.com to discuss your order.

Thank you for your interest.

Waist Cincher

2007-10-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

You never know when you will need to have a smooth waistline rather than a mushroom top waist especially with all the new fashions being what they are. I've been looking for some nice foundation undergarments at all the department stores but the prices are much too high.

Today, with that in mind and the thought of going out dancing to the Casa Nova in my slinky black dress, I headed out to town, Española, to look around.

While doing my regular grocery and craft shopping at Wal-Mart, I was lucky and found a nice waist cincher that I will be proudly wearing whenever I want my waist to appear smooth and my bustline buxom at the same time. Now, consider that I have put on a few pounds lately that don't seem to want to come off especially since I ate all the Halloween candy already.

This is me BEFORE the new undergarment.

Notice, if you can, that my belly sticks out a bit too much to be considered a fox.

This is me AFTER the waist cincher.

Voila, I'm a fox ! ! !

http://www.waistcincher.org/

Just because you are here, I'll show you some of my paintings.

This one is inspired from the Rio Chama Bosque.

Matted in white and framed in black - SOLD

The Cerro Perdenal has always been a big part of my life. As a small child whenever we traveled to visit our grandparents here in Northern New Mexico, the Cerro Perdenal was in view for miles after entering New Mexico from Utah.

Cerro Perdenal river rock; 2.5" x 3.5" price $10.00 includes stand and shipping

Below is also a painted river rock inspired by the beautiful Southwest landscape

Southwest Landscape river rock; 3.5" x 5" price $15.00 includes stand and shipping.

Please take a minute to look at the payment instructions on yesterday's blog. I'd love to sell one of these paintings and some charms, too.

Charmed, I'm Sure

2007-10-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

I made more Lonley Charms for the concert and I made some for sale too.

Los Lonely Charms will be free at the Los Lonley Boys concert on Nov 24, 2007, at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalaro, New Mexico.

These charms are for sale by me right here and now!

These (above) are $5.00 each.

These (above) are $10.00 each because the charm is a bit larger.

You can pay me through my PayPal account at: https://www.paypal.com/

Click on the send money tab and enter: rserrano@cybermesa.com

Then enter $5.00 or $10.00, and select GOODS. Follow the prompts to complete the transaction.

This morning, on my way to Española, I snapped this pic of the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains at Hernandez.

Sangre de Cristo mountains at Hernandez, New Mexico; Oct 22, 2007

This is where Ansel Adams also snapped a beautiful shot one moonlit night. He called his Moonrise Over Hernandez.

Just Another Day

2007-10-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Oct 21, 2007, turned out to be just another day except for the fact that Denver Broncos play Pittsburg tonight. We're getting together to watch it so I won't fall asleep.

The world series is about to start too. Denver Rockies and either Boston Red Socks or Cleveland Indians will be the final teams. I'd like to see Cleveland win the spot, but of, course I want the Rockies to win. Martha may get some tickets for Mom and Dad to go to a game in Denver. It it comes to pass, I'll give Dad my jersey to wear. Mom already has one. I guess Rick gave it to her, too.

I've been snapping a few pics lately so I'll share a few with you.

I didn't take this one and it was just by accident that I was able to get this pic posted. I'll be going to the LLB show here on November 24. Really looking forward to this.

It was very nice that Martha and Kerry came to visit.

Kerry told me about the "Rainbow" people and at least one person didn't like the story at all. I found it interesting that the Rainbow people are like gypsies who travel around (like travelers too) and do the dine-n-dash thing a lot. Kerry knows this first hand because when the Española Lota Burger cashier pointed our Kerry as a "rainbow" they wouldn't wait on him. He had to get Dad out of the car and come in and place the order. LOL

Martha, Kerry, Clara and I went to the winerys in Dixon.

This is one of our favorites and I bought two nice bottles of red merlot to give away for Christmas plus a small bottle of desert wine.

The red would go excellent with this.

It's amazing to me that most of the people in New Mexico are very devout and raise shrines to saints and their deceased relatives all over the place. It's cool if you like old wooden crosses and sculptures of Jesus, Mary and the saints.

This is a shrine at the turn off to Dixon.

This one is of the Rio Grande as it snakes through Embudo.