Having just returned from the Mexico City Quilt
Festival, I am enjoying the colors and culture of Mexico and Latino culture. The folk
arts and crafts, the music, and food are such a deep rich well of creative
inspiration. From Mariachis to Margaritas, and from Tacos to Tequila, a Mexican
restaurant with a Mariachi show is a good place to start!
I have always appreciated the folk arts and textile arts of Mexico and
Guatemala, and then there are design influences like Day of the Dead and Frida Kahlo. Lately
other influences are creeping in, like Succulents and Cacti. The richness of
these cultures are also expressed in the Colors of Cuba, which has a parallel
but unique Spanish/Latino flavor.
As the quilt movement in Mexico progresses, it is fun to see how the local
culture is expressed in their quilts. In the center of this collage is a detail
from Sonia Flores Ruiz award-winning quilt, “Casa De Las Comadres”.
Notice the Mexican yarn-dyed stripes, the 3-D braided hair, the paper-cut
banners that read “Mi Casa” and “Tu Casa”. (The border
collage is related fabrics we have in stock now.)
On my last day there, we had an embroidery class from an indigenous textile
artist who rode 8 hours on a bus to come teach us her native folk art. She told
us how traditionally they would raise the sheep, spin the wool yarn, and dye
the yarn with natural plant and bug (cochineal red) colors. However the
specialized sheep which their people have raised in the mountains for
centuries, are dying off because of climate change. Now she has to take a bus
that is 3 hours one way, to buy the wool to spin and dye the yarn.
I brought down 17 quilts made by our Charity Sewing Group, to donate to mothers
and children at the Migrant House in Monterrey. This is a charitable organization
that helps families escaping poverty and violence in Central America. Many
thanks to the quilters who contributed time and quilts to this effort!
Tomorrow I am flying to Nashville for QuiltCon. Yes this schedule is crazy, but
these 2 events are one week apart!
sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana and Paul
