Cabin Fever rages through my house the moment the holidays die down. And even though we say every January that we are going to go to New Mexico to see the Crane Migrations, what we are really doing is getting out of the house and into weather where a human can be outside.

In an inspired moment, before our last trip, I thought to contact my Facebook art friend Maggie, who lives in New Mexico. From Maggie and other sources I gleaned several points of interest for art supply shopping!  Of course this activity was cloaked in the need to leave PR pieces for Art Camp for Women at appropriate art places in New Mexico, ensuring the cooperation of my man and chauffeur. I crack myself up!

Artisans was a wonderful store, with a diverse selection of supplies that made this mixed-media artist’s heart sing! They were out of gold gesso, but they normally carry it and were willing to order it for me and mail it…The staff were so friendly and checked in on me and looked up things and knew what I was talking about when I asked about different companies etc. And BONUS they were delighted to put some Art Camp postcards on their counter, having already heard about us through Oprah! That was a first.

We were traveling in the small car so I managed to only buy pens. But these were Permapague markers that I have been looking for (in a casual way) for a couple of years. I know I could get them online, but I still like to shop and hold things in my hands from time-to-time. And I was looking for big markers for my Strathmore class.  Can you see that they are double ended with 2 sizes of tips, one chisel and one round?

Then we hit Old Town Santa Fe. My man loves to video the street vendors and I was hunting for Guadalupe’s Fun Rubber Stamps.

TIP: Call ahead as many small stores move. I hunted and he video-ed. It was not that warm as Santa Fe is a higher elevation than Denver.  I gave up and we headed out and spotted Guadalupe’s around the corner from where I had been looking. Sheesh.

It was almost lunch time and my driver was getting anxious to head south. Since I now knew where it was I was willing to come back on the way home. We made the same call for the Uncanny Artist.  I phoned Laura the owner of Uncanny Artist and talked with her, but as her shoppe was North, I again bargained with my driver for hitting her place on the way home.

I could go on and on about our wonderful, warm trip, but I did that on my other blog, An Adventure a Month, so suffice it to say that as we headed south we negotiated the return trip so that everyone was prepared to go shopping.

Papers is another extraordinary store – that has moved around the corner from the address we found on the internet. It’s newly smaller space was chock full of gorgeous papers. They carry other stationary and cards, but the paper had me transfixed. I browsed and fingered and sighed, but again in deference to our small car, managed to hold myself back to a few purchases.  Besides, my cabin fever was abated by several days outside in the sun.

We hit Santa Fe much later than we had planned and went straight to Guadalupe’s Fun Rubber Stamps and met Lee, the owner.

This store was indeed fun and Lee stopped everything and did demos on anything I asked about.

Luckily everything she sells is small, because Anna was sitting on my shoulder, you know Anna right? The one in the red satin devil suit? Sorry – digression…

I also got some Distress Ink that was on sale and a dabbing tool and some felt pads and, and, and I spent all my spending money.

So I had to pass on the Uncanny Artist, not to worry, we’ll just have to go back!

Somehow before I left town, the shopping bug had already bitten, so I went to my favorite online store ArtistCellar and treated myself, well I would have to say lavished myself with self-love, in the form of Inktense Blocks and Inka Gold. To die for.

So if you are pining for spring – distract yourself with my remedy – LOL. I promise you will enjoy it!