I woke up today, thinking about my childhood; growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico.   This round of Collabor88 is full of the beautiful Southwest colors that I grew up with, and the feel of the Southwest oasis I will always miss. From sky blues and earth tones to turquoise and silver jewelry and a combination of Spanish and Native American art, decor and culture-the Collabor88 designers did not only capture it perfectly but they went above and beyond as usual.

When I saw WIPs (works in progress) from Isla Gealach for her items this round, I started on my nostalgic journey, likely why my childhood and high school years have been at the forefront of my mind, for she has painted a scene that could be a postcard for New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment.

My ancestors on mon Mama’s side came to New Mexico in the late 1800s from Galicia, Spain.  My grandfather was born in 1914 and between the arrival of my family and his birth New Mexico was owned by Mexico.  When New Mexico became a state in the U.S.A., my family owned a great deal of land in New Mexico in Guadalupe and Santa Fe.  A rich Spanish culture combined with Native American, mostly Navajo, created the rich tapestry that is New Mexico.

Mon Mama tells tales of how her great grandmother would say that they called New Mexico the Land of Enchantment for it was enchanted by duendes (faerie) and still held the magic of the land, rich in soil and flourishing with energy.  The women in my family are all Curandera’s, or healers much like shamans.  Women of the land, in tuned with Nature and the healing of spirit and mind.  They were/are powerful women, and as enchanting as the land they claimed for their own.

There is a very powerful feel to New Mexico, you  notice it the moment you cross the state line, the equivalent of taking Valium   A misconception about the state is that it is a barren dessert.  It is not so, for my childhood was spent in vast lush forest mountains, running through pine trees, watching deer and wild animals drink water from rich flowing creeks and rivers.    It is not the desert that most picture, dry, hot, with dirt for miles and miles-that would more aptly describe Nevada.

I will always hold a special place in my heart for New Mexico, and now, thanks to Isla Gealach, I can always have a little piece of that heaven to re-visit through her beautiful creation, the Sweetwater Room.

The Land of Enchantment

What I Am Wearing:

Skin-NIVARO Crow Skin summertone

Hair-Redgrave Cruz Black

Facial Hair-Zovo Beard Shaggy Dark Black 2

Eyes-.ID. Spark [Mens Dept.] / Mesh Eyes / Aqua (Available @ The Mens Dept-November 5th)

Hands-[CheerNo] Mesh Hands

Jacket-FATEwear Jacket – James – Lagoon & Tundra Tee

Ring-(Yummy) Boho Ring – Turquoise (Available @ Collabor88 October 8, 2012)

Necklace-MG – Necklace – Tarifa – Short 2 (Available @ Collabor88 October 8, 2012)

Pants-Lapointe & Bastchild S’Wear Mesh Jeans – Mens – Flats Mid Blue BootCut

Shoes-Schadenfreude Amargosa Boots (Available @ Collabor88 October 8, 2012)

Structure & Decor-:CP: Sweetwater Room (Available @ Collabor88 October 8, 2012)

Pose-marukin willow pensive  (Available @ Collabor88 October 8, 2012)