Traveler's Market and SantaCafe

While at the International Folk Art Market, I saw a volunteer wearing an awesome green robe in the one of the Uzbekistan booths.

I asked her where she found it and she stated Uzbekistan.  She did recommend that I stop by the Traveler's Market in Santa Fe where I might find something similar.

It is a bazaar of artisans - some of which were at the Folk Art Market and we looked and I found a couple of things to buy.  One was a woven jacket that would be perfect for work.

I saw a ceremonial robe from Uzbekistan that was not for sale.

And hidden behind a bunch of other items was another more ornate version of the green robe that came home with me.

Here is a close up of the fabric and the trim.

The lining consist of a cotton fabric.

There was also furniture from China.

We then went to SantaCafe where we had brunch.  

The girls ordered wasabi bloody marys and I had the berry lemonade that came with one refill.

We started with the calamari appetizer.

And I had the lobster roll with shoe string potatoes.

I had a bit of Kim's angel food cake which was very rich.

We rounded it out the day by visiting a yarn store since the fabric and bead stores were closed and then to Whole Foods Market for more snack food for grazing.

Other Interesting Vendors at the Market

While wandering around the market, I saw some other cool artists in traditional dress and some cool items that did not make it into my shopping cart.

South Korea was represented with natural dye Korean patchwork textiles, silk scarves, padded clothing, and silk, cotton, ramie fabrics.

I tried on this jacket and was very tempted.  When I went out thinking about it, it sold to someone else.

Gasali Adeyemo from Nigeria was rocking his outfit and showed off his indigo dyed fingers.

You could buy the indigo balls as well.

Haiti's recycled oil drum sculptures were a bit hit as well.

Indian weaving was also tempting.  Karen succumbed to this vendor.

I don't recall where this booth originated, but I thought the sheep were super cool.

Silver working from China was pretty wild as well.

And a weaver from Mexico

Bag from Peru

Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez from Peru had beautiful woven textiles.  Most of her work is a combination of wool and alpaca.  Since I have a problem wearing alpaca, I settled for a bag.

"Founder and director of CTTC, Nilda began spinning wool from sheep and alpaca at the age of six, and was weaving her first patterns by age seven.  CTTC weavers are remarkable in the quality of the textiles that they produce as well as their emphasis on traditional designs and techniques."

Robe from Uzbekistan

Kim and I both succumbed to the beautiful garments by Mukhayyo Aliyeva from Uzbekistan.

I bought this robe which is reversible.  The ikat side is silk and the lining is cotton.

"Mykhayyo revives forgotten Uzbek ikat patterns in traditional clothes made with local and natural materials.  Her work is incredibly colorful and bold, while still maintaining classic elegance.  Her silk dresses have unique and specialized embroidery and her scarves feature historical patterns.

Scarves from Lao, Madagascar, Uzbekistan, and Southeast Asia

I came away with an array of scarves all made of silk.

Silk weavings of the Tai kadai style from Lao PDR consisted of two types of silk woven in stripes.

"Veomanee Douangdala's silk and cotton weavings are made with indigo and other natural dyes, giving them rich and warm colors.  The design and motifs represent the Tai Kadai culture and have symbolic meaning in Buddhism and animist practices.  She is know for her traditional Lao skirts with geometric patterns."

Rough silk weaving with natural dyes in earth tones came from Madagascar.

"Berthe Lalao is representing the 80 weavers of the Federation Sahalandy.  The silk weavings of Sahalandy are known for their wide range of colors as a result of natural dyes.  The distinctive open weave design of Sahalandy scarves as well as their numerous styles makes them highly unique."

Uzbekistan offered block prints on woven silk.

The artist had bolts of ikat fabric as well as clothing. and his loom for ikat set up.

"Rasuljon Mirzaahmedov is at the vanguard in a revival of the rare and complicated technique of velvet ikat weaving in which white silk heads are dyed and placed on a narrow loom.  The beautiful colors and complex designs of his ikat fabrics make them unique."

My last scarf came from the Unesco booth for southeast asia where I met the artist for the ikat silk woven scarf.

One side of the scarf.

Close up of the motifs.

The other side.

And close up.

Kyrgyzstan Silks

The 7 Sisters represented by Farzana and Kadyrkul Sharshenbieva had beautiful dyed silk and wool felted items.

I came away with two vest/scarves and a scarf.  The vests consist of two layers of silk with wool felting.  She even showed me a couple of ways to wear them.

"Working alongside her six sisters, Farzana follows in the family tradition of making felt carpets and rugs and traditional jackets as well as making scarves that combine silk and felt.  These beautiful and delicate pieces are made with local raw materials, including natural dyes, sheep's wool and handmade yarn from sheep."