Straw Applique Workshop

Presented by Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA), and held at Los Luceros Historic Site, learn about straw appliqué, known locally as “paja,” in this unique workshop. One of Northern New Mexico’s most distinctive and enduring traditional arts, developed during the Spanish colonial period, this art form used wheat straw as a substitute for gold leaf, allowing artisans in remote villages to decorate devotional objects without costly imported materials. The workshop begins with participants carefully selecting and preparing wheat straw, which is split, flattened, and burnished to enhance its natural golden sheen. These straw pieces are then cut and arranged into intricate designs—flowers, vines, stars, sacred symbols, and geometric patterns—before being applied to carved wooden surfaces using natural adhesives. Finally, the finished pieces will be sealed with varnish for protection and luminosity. The class is $50 per person and all materials are provided.

Register online at https://app.aplos.com/aws/give/NorthernRioGrandeNationalHeritageArea/straw_applique2026.

Contact Gabriela Silva from NRGNHA at 505-692-3086 for more information.