We were in Santa Fe 30 years ago at Christmastime and walked into a store that had hundreds of these chile ornaments dangling from the ceiling and I fell in love with them.
Through the years I have made at least that many... probably more, and through the years I had given all of them away except for this little ristra that hangs in my kitchen each Christmas.
It was once much fuller, but I kept pilfering chiles from it to give away. I thought I could always make more, but the beads were no longer available. I even scoured the Internet to no avail. I would find one or 2 sizes, but not the rest. I had kept my little container of leftover beads for 20+ years hoping to make more
Then I found them late last year, ordered a bunch, and set to making them back in February:
I set up a little production line for a few weeks and watched John Wayne, Tom Selleck, and a Hallmark movie or two:
Now I have enough to fill a bathtub. Not really, but I have quite a few!
Yesterday, one of the dayworkers was standing at the sink, rinsing out his glass and he said, "My mother used to make these!" I asked him if he had any of them and he said no, so I added a few to his coat pocket to take home.
12 comments:
Oh those are so cute - and what a great memory!! That was sweet of you to send some home!!
Those are so cute! I l♥ve them! I hope you loaded your girl and boy with plenty, they will appreciate them years down the road. I'd love to make
some too, if I were not so loaded with other things. Great work!
How sweet of you! Those are really cute..so glad you found the other beads to make more.
Love the last photo! I know your unexpected gift meant a lot to him.
So totally southwestern!! My girls and I love making ornaments rather than buying them and I want them to look nice. Your peppers fit the bill!!
Love the ornaments. Do you have a pattern source for these? Would love to make some for my New Mexico family.
Those are really cute. I have never seen any of these before. It was so sweet of you to make them to give away to others. Your guest was probably delighted with your gift.
This made me smile. Very sweet gesture.
And you have been a chile making machine!!
That was a very kind thing to do!!
I hope you watched The Cowboys, my favorite John Wayne movie!! love the chilies too:)
Love these, and you know everyone will want to know how to make them!!
Yikes! Don't faint! I am posting a comment! I have the two you gave me years ago on my tree! I smile when I put them on and think of you!
Love ya!
~M~
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