Well, I have a confession to make.

I managed to get out and explore not one, but TWO local events recently. I visited the Rio Rancho Fall Festival and the Church of the Incarnation Craft Fair, met some wonderful makers, admired all kinds of handmade treasures, and had some really great conversations.

And do you know how many pictures I took?

Zero. Not a single one. 😂

Apparently, I was so busy enjoying myself that I completely forgot I was supposed to be gathering material for this newsletter.

Some newsletter write I am!

But here’s the thing. This is exactly why I love getting out to our local markets.

You get to meet the people behind the products. You hear their stories, learn a little about how they got started, and discover just how much creativity is happing right here in our own communities.

I met several makers I hadn’t crossed paths with before, and of course, I couldn’t help telling them about the New Mexico Artisan Collective and inviting them to our directory.

I might need a t-shirt that says, “I’m not shopping. I’m recruiting artisans.” 😂

Although, let’s be honest, sometimes a little shopping happens along the way. I tell myself, “One for you, two for me.”

Every market I visit reminds me that there are so many talented people out there who deserve to be discovered. Some have been creating for years, while others are just getting started.

Either way, I want to help more people find them.

Meet some of New Mexico's talented makers

Speaking of creativity, Terry shared something on our Instagram page recently that made me smile.

An umbrella covered in earrings!

Yes, you read that correctly. An umbrella.

Instead of the usual jewelry racks and display stands, someone came up with the idea of using an umbrella to showcase lightweight earrings.

And I have to say, it's pretty clever.

Sometimes the way you display your work can be just as creative as the work itself.

Of course, this is New Mexico, where the wind occasionally likes to remind us who's in charge. So I'd definitely recommend securing that umbrella before Mother Nature decides to turn your jewelry display into a flying art installation. 😂

But I love seeing ideas like this because they remind us that creativity doesn't stop when the product is finished.

It carries right through to how makers share their work with the world.

If you're a maker, I'd love to know: What's the most creative booth display you've ever used or seen?

Hit reply and tell me. We might feature some of your ideas in an upcoming newsletter!

I also wanted to share a little milestone with you.

Our New Mexico Artisan Collective community is growing!

We are now 203 followers on Facebook and 256 on Instagram!

Now, I realize we’re not exactly breaking the internet just yet. But I think that’s pretty exciting.

Because behind those numbers are real people who are interested in discovering local artists, supporting handmade businesses, and learning more about what’s happening around New Mexico.

And that’s what matters to me.

We’re building something one makers, one market, and one connection at a time.

So if you’re following us already, thank you for being part of this adventure.

And if you haven’t joined us on social media yet, come hang out!

📸 Follow us on Instagram

💙 Find us on Facebook

We share artisan discoveries, upcoming events, creative ideas, and all kinds of things that make New Mexico special.

Here’s something I think about every time I visit a craft fair or market.

You spend hours creating your products, packing everything up, setting up your booth, talking with shoppers, and then packing it all up again.

That’s a lot of work!

And what happens when someone gets home and realizes they really should have bought those earrings, that painting, or that beautiful handmade piece they kept thinking about?

Can they find you again?

That’s one of the reasons we created the New Mexico Artisan Collective Directory.

We want people to be able to discover our local makers even when the markets are over.

And here’s the good news.

Joining our directory is FREE!

Our free Starter membership gives you a place to introduce yourself and your work, share photos, provide contact information, and connect visitors with your preferred social media account.

And for makers who want a little more visibility, we also have optional paid memberships with additional ways to showcase your work, share your website or shop, and potentially be featured through our community promotions.

No matter where you are in your creative journey, we’d love to help more people discover what you make.

Explore the Artisan Directory

And while we’re talking about markets, I have a little something for the people who organize them.

If you’re putting together an art show, craft fair, makers market, or another event featuring New Mexico’s creative community, did you know you can submit your event to our event calendar?

We’re working to make it easier for both shoppers and makers to discover what’s happening around the state.

Because let’s be honest.

Trying to find upcoming markets can sometimes feel like a scavenger hunt through Facebook posts, community groups, shared flyers, and websites that haven’t been updated since who-knows-when. 😂

We want to make that easier.

Our New Mexico Artisan Collective Event Calendar gives organizers a place to share upcoming events and helps the community discover opportunities to get out and support local creativity.

So if you’re organizing something, we’d love to hear about it!

View the Event Calendar or Submit an Event

You leave the house in a sweater because it's freezing outside.

By lunchtime, you've rolled down the car windows because it's suddenly 75 degrees.

And by dinner, you're looking for that sweater again.

Welcome to fall in New Mexico, where getting dressed in the morning requires checking the weather forecast AND having a backup plan. 😂

And don't even get me started on the wind.

The more I get out and explore, the more I realize how much there is to discover right here in New Mexico.

Little markets tucked away in neighborhoods. Artists creating incredible things in their home studios. Makers who have turned hobbies into businesses. And people who put so much time and heart into what they create.

That's the good stuff.

And I want to keep finding it.

So here's my invitation to you.

If you know a maker I should meet, a market I should visit, or a little hidden gem somewhere in New Mexico that deserves some attention, hit reply and tell me about it!

I'm always looking for my next adventure.

And this time, I promise I'll try to remember the camera. 📸😂

Until next time,

Tammy

Made & Found in New Mexico

Come along. We found some good stuff.

New Mexico Artisan Collective

Local Hands. Creative Hearts. Stronger Together.

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P.S. Know someone who’d enjoy this? Forward it along. It’s the best compliment a letter can get.