Daily Schedule
Native Basketry and Pottery Workshop
With Daria Mariscal and Virginia Melendrez
March 28 – April 4, 2023*
Tuesday, March 28
9:00 am Meet van, ride to Tecate border
10:00 Cross border, meet our host, market stop
11:30 Arrive at the Ranch
12:00 pm Lunch
1:30 meet Daria, view examples, intro to Native Clay Workshop
5:00 social hour
6:00 Dinner
Wednesday, March 29 – at the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 Ranch style breakfast
9:00 – 12:00 Demonstration, handbuilding and clay construction
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 – 3:30 Handbuilding and clay construction
4:00 Canyon walk, view morteros
6:00 Social/share art
7:00 Dinner
Thursday, March 30 – at the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 Ranch style breakfast
9:00 – 12:00 Study examples, continue handbuilding
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 Creative time on your own, relaxation, or trail ride
6:00 Social/share art
7:00 Dinner
Friday, March 31 – on and off the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 Ranch style breakfast
Burnish pots (need to dry)
11:30 Depart for wine country, Lunch at a winery
4:30 pm Return to ranch, burnish pots
7:00 Dinner
Saturday, April 1 – on and off the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 Ranch style breakfast
9:00 Check clay for drying, burnish, Meet Virginia Melendrez, Master Basketmaker, begin basketry workshop
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 Continue basketry workshop
6:00 Prep, load, and light pit fire
7:00 Dinner
Sunday, April 2 – at the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
Dig out pit firing – view, discuss, photos
8:00 Breakfast
9:30 Continue basketry workshop
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 Depart for Ensenada
2:00 Shopping and Margaritas, Ensenada
4:30 Depart Ensenada
6:00 Social/share
7:00 Dinner
Monday, April 3 – at the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 Ranch style breakfast
9:00 – 12:00 Study examples, continue basketry
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 Continue basketry
3:00 Horseback ride
6:00 Social/share art
7:00 Dinner
Tuesday, April 4 – at the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 Ranch style breakfast
9:00 – 12:00 Finish baskets
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 Critique, photographs, pack for departure
2:00 Depart ranch for border
3:30 Anticipated arrival at Tecate, walk through U.S. Customs, board our van, return to pick-up site in San Diego
Please use this as general information only.
Guests are welcome to use their time as they wish while visiting the Ranch. You are welcome to bring other art materials (paint, sketchbook, colored pencils) to work on your own. Outdoor activities may be re-scheduled during inclement weather.
What’s Included?
Small group (maximum 10 participants)
Professional group leader throughout
Our ranch owner is our guide in each destination
All accommodations (7 nights)
7 Breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners
Transportation to and from San Diego to Tecate border
Transportation in Mexico (private van)
All workshop activities and materials, horseback riding, 2 off-ranch excursions
What’s Not Included?
Flights to/from San Diego
Passport/visa fees
Wine tastings and 1 lunch off the ranch
Flight insurance
Gratuities
Shuttle cost to travel from hotel to designated meeting point – TBD
Accommodation Style
You can expect a comfortable cabin accommodation with private bathrooms on this trip. We’ll be staying at a privately owned working horse ranch which is off the grid. Lighting is by kerosene lamps and candles in public spaces and solar powered lamps in the cabins. Cell phone/camera chargers are available. For this particular trip, single occupancy is discouraged but available with a $500 surcharge. Double occupancy is highly preferred. This is a working horse ranch, no daily housekeeping is available. Your room is your private space.