Visit with Artist Amado Peña in Ruidoso, NM

Sunday, December 16, 2012 Doug and I drove to Ruidoso, New Mexico to visit an exhibition of Amado Peña's art at Mountain Annie's Art Gallery. We had been trying to get there for three days, but due to cold weather, snow and ice, we decided to go on Sunday even though the weather was still iffy.

We ran into some falling snow pellets a couple of times in the mountains, but the road was warm enough to melt them as they hit. We actually made good time on the road and arrived in Ruidoso in about an hour. As we entered the venue, we encountered a beautiful lady who immediately introduced herself as J.B. Peña. We originally met Amado in Dallas some years ago at the Annette Strauss Artists Square downtown where an Indian Market was being held. J.B. escorted us into the show area where we reacquainted ourselves with Amado. As we talked, he continued working on a new piece using India Ink. He did stop long enough for pictures to be taken.

J.B. is an artist in fabulous fabric weaving and has a studio in Santa Fe called "Handwoven Originals". She is also a creator of lovely jewelry. If you are ever in Santa Fe, you should make a point of visiting her studio in the Inn and Spa at Loretto, 211 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, phone 505-982-4118 and web site is handwovenoriginals.com  J.B. and Amado live at Nambé Pueblo, New Mexico.

Between the two of them, the exhibition was absolutely a feast for the eyes evoking many emotions. They are each delightful people and as individual from one another as any couple could possibly be. The pride they have in each others talent is very evident and they are a joy to visit with. They also take pride in other artists work and directed us to another room housing many works of Madeleine Sabo, a wood artist.

Madeleine Sabo is legally blind having been struck by a devastating disease some years ago. She creates by touch and demonstrated this on a small lathe she had set up in the room. We bought two of her pieces, one of which was created from an Australian pine cone. Madeleine lives in Nogal, New Mexico.

Here is yours truly entering Mountain Annie's

Carla and J.B. Peña just meeting

Amado Peña, as he said, "Playing at working"

Carla inspecting a scarf titled "White Sands" woven by J.B. Peña

Just one area of Amado's selected works and some clay jewelry by J.B. on the table

Doug got Amado to stop long enough for a great shot

Doug, the photographer and Amado, the artist. What a happy pair!

 Thanks to J.B. for the photo of the three of us

Madeleine Sabo explaining to me how she made this exquisite wooden vase

Doug bought the vase for me. It is adorned with embedded pink coral.

Doug  (the engineer) naturally had to photograph Madeleine's lathe

Needless to say, we left the exhibition with a number of lovely purchases for Christmas gifts and the joy of reconnecting with Amado as well as meeting J.B. and Madeleine. When we went to our car, it was snowing and our plans to dine at Michelena's Pizza and Italian Restaurant were shelved. We wanted to get out of the mountains before snow started to freeze on the highway. On our way home we stopped at another favorite place for dinner, Casa de Sueños in Tularosa and had delicious Mexican food. A lovely way to end our Sunday adventure.

Thanks to Doug for the great photos.

This is all I have to say for now.

NM Roadrunner Chapter Shopping and Luncheon

On Saturday, December 8, 2012, New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of Red Hat Society gathered on New York Avenue for two hours of shopping before going to the other end of the avenue for lunch at Memories Restaurant.

We were in and out of several shops and we all found items we just couldn't do without. People were constantly taking pictures of us because we were wearing our new red bra hats that we made at our last get-together and they are attention getters! In Victoria gift shop, I bought a lovely tea cup and saucer to take to the International Red Hat Convention in Atlanta, Georgia in April, 2013. The theme is "Hospitalitea" and most attendees are exchanging tea cups and saucers as part of the fun. We had a great time shopping in Vintage Etcetera where I purchased an antique hat to wear to the Alamogordo Centennial Ball on December 28, 2012 taking place at the library.

We went on to Memories, a Victorian themed restaurant, where we dined on delicious soup and sandwiches. We made some plans for next year and exchanged Christmas ornaments. A new Red Hatter joined us and we all celebrated her membership by playing "Zippity Doo Dah" on our kazoos, the official musical instrument of the Red Hat Society. Again, several pictures were taken and people were amazed at our red bra hats. One said we looked like Vegas show girls!

The first two photos are of Queen Ladybird aka Carla taken by my dear husband, Doug because I am the photographer at the event.

Queen Ladybird

I'm ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille

Mistress Marian discovers some elegant shoes while Duchess of Karr Canyon aka Margie looks on

VQ Penny aka Duchess of High Rolls found a fabulous mask at Vintage Etcetra

Right: Milady Melissa, our newest member

Just had to give you a close-up of that great smile

L to R: Rosa aka Lady Rosamar, Marian, Margie, Penny and Carla. Melissa is hidden behind Marian and Darla is behind Carla at our lovely Christmas luncheon at Memories Restaurant.

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Create Red Bra Hats

Saturday, November 10, 2012, New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society was hosted by their Queen for a red bra hat making event in her home in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Eight members and two guests began the project after viewing  Queen Ladybird's (aka Carla) finished hat. First, we measured the bra by fitting it to the owners head. Carla then took it to her sewing machine, removed the hooks and eyes and made a sturdy stitch in the back. The straps were cut off and they were ready to build the pipe cleaner base for weaving in the red boa.

Making the pipe cleaner base was challenging because you have to use a hot glue gun to put it together and there were a few oohs and ouches as we progressed. The really fun part of the creation comes when the base is done because the imagination is allowed to run rampant in decorating the cup parts of the bra as you will see by the photos that follow.

We also enjoyed sack lunches and Double Layer Pumpkin Pie and/or Southern Peach Cobbler provided by Queen Ladybrid. We took a short break at one point to celebrate Marian's birthday. We had such a great time and were so pleased by the final result that we decided to make our next event on December 8, 2012 a shopping trip on New York Avenue downtown and then to Stella Vita Restaurant for our Christmas luncheon wearing these fabulous hats with our purple regalia.

Esperanza had at work and Rosa trying her red bra on for size

F Row: Sylvia and Christy  B Row: Esperanza and Rosa

Darla being advised by Carla while Margie looks on and Penny intensely concentrating

Monica looking on while Marian begins the base for the boa

More instructions coming forth

Darla working with the hot glue gun, Carla assisting Dame Dorothy who decided on a different bra

They are really getting into the decorating now

Carla at right showing her finished hat

Margie (Countess of Karr Canyon) on left threading her boa through the pipe cleaner base

Front R to L: Queen Ladybird, Dorothy and Sylvia (guest). Back L to R: Margie, Christy (guest), VQ Penny (Duchess of High Rolls), Rosa, Esperanza, Monica, Darla (our newest member) and Marian.  Are we the cat's meow or what??

Mistress Marian birthday celebration

Showing off her birthday card

Duchess of Cottonwood (Monica) modeling her lovely hat

Esperanza with that certain flair

Darla promises to turn that orange into purple next time

Christy and Rosa aka Lady Rosamar deciding how they look in the mirror

Esperanza and Rosa looking like bra hat bookends

 It was indeed a fun event and we enjoyed the opportunity to become better acquainted as we worked.

 Thanks to Doug for the great pictures.

 This is all I have to say for now.

Two Red Hat Chapters Enjoy Halloween Costume Party

On Friday, October 26, 2012, members of the Tulie Roses Chapter and New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society gathered at the Lazy D & R Restaurant in Tularosa, New Mexico for a roast beef dinner and Halloween Costume Party including husbands.

There was a Centerpiece Contest as well as a Halloween Costume Contest judged by Restaurant Manager, Lily and her helpers. First place in the Centerpiece Contest went to Mabel, 2nd place to Carla and 3rd place to Mary. Winners of the Costume Contest were 1st place Helen, 2nd place Penny and 3rd place Margie.

There were door prizes and a gift basket drawing also adding more interest to the occasion.

Carla aka Queen Ladybird and Queen Mabel

Carla, the Flapper

Dame Dorothy (oldest graduate in Otero County) and Carla

Getting acquainted with the "Chicken Lady" and her husband

Better shot of Chicken Lady, her husband and Carla

Carla, Mary and Queen Mabel

Here's the Graduate again looking spiffy!

Vice Queen Penny aka Duchess of High Rolls as Queen of Hearts with her centerpiece entry

Can't you tell Penny just loves being Queen of Hearts?

Two Tulie Roses with Queen Mabel

Lady in red is another Mary with Queen Mabel

Penny "Queen of Hearts", Margie "Zorro" and Queen Mabel introducing NM Roadrunner Chapter

Group shot

More Tulie Roses and their husbands

Pumpkin, Scary Creature won first place, and another Tulie Rose

New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter being welcomed by Tulie Roses

Lovely Red Hat dessert being cut and served by Lily, restaurant manager

First place went to Scary monster in middle, second place to Queen of Hearts and third to Zorro.

First place winner's skull actually spurted blood!!

Second place centerpiece winner by Queen Ladybird

Third place centerpiece winner Mary on left

It was unclear at time of posting this exactly who created the first place centerpiece, but it was large, quite Halloweenie and  artistically arranged. Although many could not make it for various reasons, those of us in attendance had a grand time and we hope to make this even bigger and better next year with New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter reciprocating.

Thanks, Doug, for the great photos.

This is all I have to say for now.