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For those interested in Native American blankets, pottery, baskets, etc. where have you found the best values in New Mexico?
If a good deal (value) is important, Gallup, especially for jewelry, though you'll find lots of rugs. Most of the folks I buy from there are wholesale only and wouldn't let you in the door, but walk the pawn shops and shop, ask questions and make a deal. I can tell you more about pawn in Gallup if you like, but my battery is about shot.
If you're looking for a nice genuine Nav. rug, try the Crownpoint rug auction...colorful as all get-out and the larger rugs tend to go for a relatively good price. Small ones, not so much. Worth a visit if your nearby when they're holding one.
For wonderful selection, probably the best anywhere, Santa Fe. but very high prices at shops an galleries. There is a term in the trade: The Santa Fe Price, usually meaning the high retail.
I hate to say it, but a number of purveyors at Palace of the Governors sell total crap. It's a constant problem there, so be very cautious. People love the idea of buying it "right from the artist" but some vendors take big time advantage of that fact. During my last stroll there I saw all kinds of production stuff you can buy anywhere for less. There are some good folks there who sell their own work, so I hate to tarnish the entire deal (plus the fun of it), but you must know what your doing if you spend much money there. Shop around a LOT.
Most of the rest of SF is great for shopping but not too great in the good deal dept. The best of the best in almost any category can be found in SF.
If you're near Albuquerque I'd suggest Rio Grande Wholesale 1920 Central at the corner of Rio Grande. I am a wholesale customer of long standing there but they sell retail at very reasonable prices. Strong on Navajo, Zuni and Santo Domingo jewelry, Acoma and other pueblo pottery, all kinds of stuff. AND the goods are genuine and of high quality. This is why I buy from them.
Palms Trading at Lomas at 15th is pretty good too.
I buy a lot of Indian jewelry, but all wholesale or from estates or at auction, so I'm not exactly a fountain of info on retail places. Read about stuff before you buy, ask questions, etc.
Look up the IACA website, they have buyers advice on the site.
We had a custom rug made some years ago at Ortega's Weaving Shop in Chimayo. It was a bit expensive but was a real splurge, and it will last us a lifetime. Their rugs / blankets / placemats / coasters / jackets / purses etc. are really good quality and was worth the splurge for us. We didn't put it on the floor, we hung it on a wall in our house. In our new house I think we will drape it over a pony wall between the hallway and the living room.
The Ortega Shop is really fun to browse around in.
We had a custom rug made some years ago at Ortega's Weaving Shop in Chimayo. It was a bit expensive but was a real splurge, and it will last us a lifetime. Their rugs / blankets / placemats / coasters / jackets / purses etc. are really good quality and was worth the splurge for us. We didn't put it on the floor, we hung it on a wall in our house. In our new house I think we will drape it over a pony wall between the hallway and the living room.
The Ortega Shop is really fun to browse around in.
There are no Native-Americans in sight; instead the Ortegas and pretty much all of Chimayo are Hispanics. Still, it is fun to visit even if we are off-thread, and you can stop at the Sanctuario and cure whatever ails you. El Rancho de Chimayo offers excellent food drawing patrons from both Santa Fe and Taos.
If that doesn't fill your day -- then stop off at Nambe Lake andor Falls.
I forgot we were talking about Native American crafts.
Sorry.
We do have some Native Americans nearby in Nambe. I guess everybody knows that Nambe Ware -- sometimes called Nambe Silver -- has little to do with Nambe, with Native Americans, or silver.
I LOVE Nambe Ware! I have several pieces of it that I have collected through the years. I have always bought seconds at the factory stores in Santa Fe.
Nambe makes a perfect gift. We gave some nice pieces to both of my children when they got married.
Prices won't be much or any better at Zuni Pueblo, but it's definitely worth a visit to the Pueblo to shop. Very nice, friendly people and wonderful art and crafts.
I've done biz with Turquoise Village for a long time and some at Pueblo Traders..both stock quality goods as do most of the other places listed. If the Tribal co-op is still in business I'd go there, too. That's another situation where artists don't neccessarily make good businesspeople, so there has been financial trouble keeping it going.
See if you can visit the church under restoration at Zuni....access is an on-again/off-again thing, but ask around.
Ortega's is one of a few Hispanic weaving places in Chimayo, and while not NA, their work is as authentically New Mexican as any Indian crafts. Hispanic weavers were working the looms in New Mexico long before the Navajo began making silver jewelry. Navajo weaving, of course, is very different in design, technique, etc. than the Chimayo and Rio Grande weaving tradition. Both good, but different.
Bonus: lunch at the Rancho Chimayo!
There are no Native-Americans in sight; instead the Ortegas and pretty much all of Chimayo are Hispanics. Still, it is fun to visit even if we are off-thread, and you can stop at the Sanctuario and cure whatever ails you. El Rancho de Chimayo offers excellent food drawing patrons from both Santa Fe and Taos.
If that doesn't fill your day -- then stop off at Nambe Lake andor Falls.
That's beside the point. I was glad to have the link...their blankets, rugs and accessories look GORGEOUS.
I may just tear off and buy a blanket for a bedspread one day, expensive or not, LOL!!
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We're off thread, but make a day of it
. Still, it is fun to visit even if we are off-thread, and you can stop at the Sanctuario and cure whatever ails you. El Rancho de Chimayo offers excellent food drawing patrons from both Santa Fe and Taos. 
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