Cut & Dry is an urban lumber reclamation endeavor. Our city, like every city, cuts down plenty of trees. Since we also buy plenty of wood for projects, it seems like an obvious move to collect our cut trees, turn them into usable wood products, and make them available in the community. Turns out there's a whole movement in this country about urban lumber, and the Urban Wood Network (of which Cut & Dry is a member) has been a huge help in getting this ball (or tree trunk...) rolling. It has also been my extreme pleasure to work jointly with Baca's Trees, the best tree service in New Mexico, to make this a reality. Without Baca's, the sawmill operation would still be a hypothetical undertaking.

Dovetail Community Workshop is a makerspace -- basically a gym for woodworking. We have all the equipment you need to get your project from the back of the napkin to the state fair. (Please adjust that workflow to reflect your actual design process and final project destination...) Dovetail is mostly volunteer-run, and offers both formal and information training for woodworkers of all skill levels. I teach there, and do woodworking there, and have learned a great deal myself. It's a great scene, and if you're curious, I highly recommend checking it out.

If you or someone you know is interested in one of these projects, please take the first step of reaching out. There is contact information for the mill and the workshop on their respective web sites, and we would be more than happy to help you move your project forward, whatever that project may be.

Big gratitude to all who visited my booth last weekend at the inaugural New Mexico Artisans Marketplace holiday shopping event!

I am of course very grateful to everyone who purchased one of my pens or candle glows, and I hope you enjoy those (or the gift recipient does) for a very long time. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me for refills, repairs, and other related issues.

Each time one of my handmade items goes to a new home, I have to remind myself that I have the means to make more... but seeing some of them go really tugs sometimes. I guess that is the nature of unique pieces -- there really ARE no two alike, and I could never truly recreate any of them. 

There were also many great conversations that took place in my booth over the course of the three day event, and I cherish those as well. Many thanks also to the noble souls who took time out of their days to bring me food, coffee, and a little break time. You know who you are!

Hotel Albuquerque
November 23 - 24 - 25, 2018

This is a curated event, with only the best local artisans on hand to supply gift and decor items. Each vendor has been personally invited by the organizers, who are committed to sharing the best of New Mexico's makers with the most discriminating shoppers.

The Ornatelier will be there, with the full breadth of handmade items. Pens, knives, paper goods and prints, laser cut candle glows, and more. ​All ready to gift or keep. (Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we give ourselves!)

Click here to visit the New Mexico Artisan Marketplace website for more details about this event, as well as profiles of the artisans who will be featured. There are VIP and early bird events, as well as a cocktail party where you can meet the artisans and assess our taste in cocktails and party outfits.  :)

Happy August, my fine feathered friends!

This is that marathon stretch of summer, when it seems like whatever weather we have will either kill us or make us sweatier. In my case, maybe both. The growers' markets are bursting at the seams with fresh produce, aguas frescas and paletas are the refreshment of choice, and we're juuuuuust starting to smell roasting chiles around town. Yeah, it's a very food-oriented town!

The artisans, on the other hand, are already starting to plan for the holidays. We're signing up for events, ordering supplies, and taking our first custom orders and commissions for the winter gifting season. If you're thinking of a special gift for someone in your life (including yourself...!) please contact me as soon as possible so we can hammer out the details and I can get started on your project.

I've shared a few images here and there, but this seems like a good time to spread the word about Candle Glows, my collaboration with Albuquerque Laser Engraving Services. These are nifty little screens which, with a candle or other light source behind them, create a captivating tableau. Perfect for decorating a mantel, sunny window, or holiday table. They also pack flat, so they travel well, whether as hostess gifts or a portable memento of New Mexico's special vibe.

So, there you have it. New Mexico, fun-sized. If you are interested in purchasing any of what you see here, or would like to talk about wholesale or custom possibilities, please use the contact form and we'll start the conversation. One of a kind creations and bulk orders are both possibilities.

The Ornatelier has a new member of staff!

Agnes is a 4 year old purebred American Chowhound. Weighing in at about 90 pounds, she's a serious contender for the Employee Most Likely To Knock Something Over At A Show. Holly maintains the title for now, though.

She came from the city shelter at the beginning of April, and made herself right at home in the workshop. Despite having bounced in and out of the shelter several times before she came here, she's well trained, calm, and easy to get along with. 

She loves butter more than anything, but also: walkies, pettins, kissy face, and t-r-e-a-t-s. Road trips are her particular specialty. Not crazy about bath time, dog shoes, or brushies, and is absolutely intolerant of sneaking. NO ONE sneaks around this dog. At least she mostly stopped barking at my roommate during midnight visits to the bathroom.

30th Annual Rio Grande Valley Celtic Fest is upon us! 
(Click title above for more information.)
 
Festive Fun for the Family! 
5000 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy NE          May 19 & 20
Albuquerque NM 87113                  Saturday 9am - 6pm 
(505) 275-6633                             Sunday 9am - 4pm

Admissions Adults $15, Seniors $10, Children $7, Two Day Pass: $20

Parking FREE

NO OUTSIDE DOGS ALLOWED - this means YOU can't bring YOUR dog, even though there are going to some dogs there as part of the Dogs of the British Isles and the Paws & Stripes service dogs. Your dog doesn't really want to meet an Irish Wolfhound anyway. You do, though.

Parking is free and plentiful in the General Parking Area. Simply follow the Parking Attendant's directions to your space. Handicapped parking is available along the fence next to the Main Entrance and ticket booths. 

Take Alameda west to San Mateo. Turn right (north) and drive to Balloon Fiesta Parkway. Turn left (west) and follow the Parking Attendants.
 
The South Entrance will NOT be accessible during the Festival.

Here are a few things happening around town that are making me happy. I'm not being paid for any of these recommendations / endorsements, but just for total clarity: I'd be FINE with that. If I were to get paid. If you are associated with any of the following, and would like to give me a pile of cash for mentioning you in my blog post, let's talk! I know a great cafe...

Also, I'm very in love with the idea of being a professional product reviewer, where people send me random items and I try them and out and tell the world in unnecessarily candid terms how that went. If you're looking for someone to publicly unpack and possibly dismember YOUR product, let me know ASAP and I will get you my mailing address. 

The Ornatelier is proud to announce participation in two more events this summer. ​

​More announcements to follow, as confirmations come in. Keep an eye out!

(Yes, this was on the front page until very recently. I have new news for the front page, but I didn't want this to disappear.)