While passing through Abiquiu, NM this morning, I saw a woman wearing an amazing cuff. This was in a small grocery store.
Of course I stopped her to ask about it.
When she raised her wrist I said “OMG, Is this a Frank Patania??”
She said she didn’t know, but her dad gave it to her when she was a teenager.
She pulled it off, and sure enough, there was FP in the cartouche.
She was kind enough to let me take a quick picture.
(She was also wearing a skull and star ring by Cody Sanderson, and it’s barely showing in the photo)
I love talking to people about their jewelry!
On Thursday, I saw a lady wearing a gorgeous cuff. It looked like Sunshine Reeves’ work.
So of course I asked her about it, and she says it was made by “Donovan somebody, I can’t remember the last name”
Donovan Cadman, Sunshine Reeves brother.
I did not get a pic of that one!
When I was at Twin Rocks I looked at a Sunshine Reeves cuff that I loved, but right away Mr. Simpson said “yeah that’s not going to fit you”… It was too big
Man I would’ve gravitated right to that cuff too. What a neat opportunity to chat with a fellow enthusiast. Abiquiu has its own magic, and viewing Pedernal in person is truly striking after seeing it so often in GO’s art.
I also make a point of telling folks wearing turquoise that I like their turquoise. I’m hoping to encourage folks to wear more turquoise! I certainly would have commented on that fabulous Frank Patania cuff…Wowza, what a wonderful gift, from a father with superb taste.
I agree with all of you Abiquiu lovers; it’s a beautiful and special area. That drive through the area is just spectacular! Have any of you visited Georgia O’keeffe’s home? I highly recommend it. And I’m wondering if Ghost Ranch is still open for visits. It’s been such a long time; I’d love to get back there again.
@Stracci Now, that’s a close encounter of the best kind. Gorgeous cuff! It’s pretty cool that you recognized the cuff was a Frank Patania. I wouldn’t have known that. Methinks maybe we should start a new thread here titled, “Turquoise Seen in the Wild” ~ could be fun. Seeing this FP cuff was a treat.
I visited her home last fall. What an amazing tour, too; our guide Frank was perfection, being an artist and art teacher himself. I think he said they were working on reopening Ghost Ranch proper. The grounds, though, are open for touring.
While in Tuba City I complimented a Navajo on her large cluster cuffs. She said someone made them for her as hers had been stolen. Her cuffs were beautiful.
I’m at a competition in Carmel this weekend (in between events so I’m a bit bored), and a coach friend down here has a daughter who worked as a Dr on the Navajo rez. My friend said today her daughter had a big cuff made for her in NM. She’s gonna wear it tomorrow so I may have to take a pic, and share it with y’all!
@Bmpdvm I’ve been though that area, but never visited her home. I asked a local how to pronounce Abiquiu, and they said, "say it like someone from Boston saying ‘barbeque.’ "
That’s funny…but sometime it’s the best way to remember the correct pronunciation. I was fortunate to travel early on with friends who knew the correct pronunciation, but without them I’d likely have butchered it!
Is the competition in California? That the only Carmel I know, but there are likely more. When we lived in CA, Carmel and Monterey were favorite close by get-away locations. Such a beautiful coastal area, but pricey!
Hope your friend had a nice turquoise cuff to share with us!
Nope, Carmel, IN, a suburb of Indianapolis. I’m hoping to see her new cuff tomorrow She always wants to find me to see what I’m wearing. I wish I had time to get down to the Eiteljorg Museum, but I don’t, and I need to save my money for the market at the end of June.
@Ziacat@Bmpdvm
It is pronounced a-bee-cue (“a” as in apple).
What a beautiful place it is.
We were actually headed for Chama, an equally gorgeous place.
That’s interesting, because we asked someone in town and they pronounced it slightly differently (they just didn’t do the long eee). But then people in my husband’s extended family don’t even agree on how his/our last name is exactly pronounced
