Whats your Favourite Table Cloth??

This time of the year its just a sea of colour and movement, Plastic Table Cloths running out the door to all our faithful customers, we are wondering whats your favourite?? 

take a look at http://lasninastextiles.com

and let us knowxxxxx

How have you used your table cloth?

We are looking for the most ingenious use to win a gift of a new Printed Plastic Table cloth of your choice!!!  get sending us your pics on http://www.facebook.com/lasninastextiles?ref=hl

xxxxxx

Mother Nature - Earth Mother

I met this wonderful woman in the street last week, she was selling seeds to sow, gourds to use for everything in the home, muzzles for your sheep and put on a wonderful display of spinning wool, so much so i bought the long spindle that has become a dangerous object in my luggage and i am wondering when customs will say NO! — with Pen Pen Durston.

Beautiful Plastic Table Cloths

Who would have thought that 10 years ago it would be possible to find plastic table cloths you'd love to have!

When in the early 90's as i began to travel to Latin America, i saw them here and there, even bought back some cheap and nasty knock offs from Solomon Islands in the mid 90's.

But hit the jackpot when we finally came across the source and began to import the Mexican Oil cloth in the late 90's, these days we are well known for our never ending variety and eclectic designs, in fact its terrible when we go for stock and orders are unable to be filled as "the factory is closed for holidays" or  "they are not making them anymore" which sometimes is really not the case, just another white lie to fill an empty space and hopefully placate a distressed client!

At Mullumbimby Farmers Market they have our Printed Plastic Table cloths on the common tables on Fridays and New Brighton Farmers market on Tuesdays.

Here are some examples of these, the beautiful show-grounds this market is held on looking in the distance to Mt Chincogan the stalls full of locally baked, made and grown produce its a delight to visit such a market.

You can find these and many more examples of these at our Victorian retailers, After Store, Ballyhoo Art, Urban Jungle and Aireys inlet Foodstore.

In NSW they are for sale at Fratelli Fresh, Red Ginger and Secondhand Rose.

See our FB page for insights and stockists tooooooo!


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.428511037184723.85903.121763114526185&type=1&l=188a126130

Do You Know Why I LOVE My Job So Much??

A customer from two years ago visiting Byron this week wants a 3rd Dress, Hand Embroidered, Hand Sewn. she wears the other two all the time and wants a 3rd for when the others are indisposed. We talked of how at the time she thought it was a lot to spend but she has washed and worn them constantly and found that other garments from elsewhere have not lasted as long. I am glad as i can visit Phillipe who makes them again and support her and know my choice to provide well made products, made with love is appreciated.

OTOMNI BED SPREADS

This Lady and others take 3 months to embroider this Double Bed Spread. 

I have dealt with her family for over 10 years now, her husband and i have a good working relationship, however when an order i received whilst away from a scammer became apparent and i had made them and their friends work overtime for 10 days i had nothing to do but buy the stock, explain how sorry i was to have made them work so hard and remember, until the moneys in your account its not a sale. It appears this scammer has a very big reputation all over the world!! Still time to enjoy the beauty of these original worksx

FINE MARINO WOOL SHAWLS

Fine Foot Peddle Woven Marino Wool Shawls.

To keep you wrapped up warm this Winter, Large, Snug, Ethical also very hard to find in the rainy season were i have been this week as the sheep are too wet to shear until the rainy season finishes.

Juan's Birthday

It was Juan's 8th Birthday last week, i was fortunate to be there to share the festivities with the family, we bought a huge box of assorted biscuits and had hot chocolate as well, you can see we had fun hanging in the local square.

MAMACITA

My favourite Guatemalan, a very very old woman, i think about at home sometimes and wonder if she will still be out selling on the streets as she has done for years and years, thankfully i bumped into her the other day and had a moment to say hello!

ROBBERS - LADRÕNS

ROBBERS;: So if there was someone in your town robbing everyone would you as a community band together and take action? This is what we faced on Sunday as we travelled thru Guatemala, a road block in a Town as the whole town shamed the Robber and burnt his house down, an Eye for an Eye, tonight i heard of other atrocities as the public take action. Unable to find a way to stop thinking if this direct action is the solution i throw it open to you!

BABY ITS COLD OUTSIDE

Foot Pedal Loomed,
100% Wool Shawls to keep out the cold, very hard to find at this time of the year in Mexico as it rains a lot and the Sheep are too wet to shear, the production of these wares is more common in Nov, Dec, Jan when Winter is in full swing in Mexico and drier.

Thanks to a nudge from a valuable client i have some stock to bring back for August delivery. Can you stay warm till then??

Making Paper Flowers

How many of us are conscious of were our purchases come from and who has made them?
Today i have been visiting the Paper Flower makers and their families.

I had one of those uncomfortable moments wen you can see there is something wrong with someone but your not sure if you can say "OH! YOU HAVE BLUE PAINT ALL OVER YOUR MOUTH!!" Negotiating the situation with as much decorum as possible i got to the bottom of it very quickly.......Sara had been wetting her finger on the tinted edge of the paper to roll the edges and as she did she was looking like a school kid that had dipped his finger in the ink pot!

We all had a big laugh and it reminded me how special these makers are!  This family and their neighbours are all selling a Chinese mass produced Flower, they are keeping up with progress and the need for quick cheap solutions and customer demand, but the busy stall holders are the ones i visited with huge orders for Hand Made Paper Flowers as they have done for decades sending them all over the globe to appreciative customers who understand the value of a Hand Made product and truly value their beauty and craftsmanship. Thankfully there are a couple of younger makers who hopefully will carry on the traditions when the elders retire and not give into PROGRESS.
See our beautiful collection at http://lasninastextiles.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=36&page=2

Hours and Hours of Back Strap Looming

We're off tomorrow to see a special customer,
this calls for looking for all the nicest bits to show at the "Show and Tell" and enjoy the moment with others who appreciate a fine textile!

I got stuck on these two hand woven belts, from Guatemala, traditionally made with Indigo bases and warp threads of colour much like a pinstripe then embroidered over the top with the most amazing myriad of colour and design similar but different, same town different women.  Each one completely and uniquely different.

Anyone feel Blue this Morning?

Never underestimate the beauty of Plastic flowers!!!
I know its terribly old fashioned and for some of us conjures up memories of visiting Grandma along with all the doilies and fading carpet.
But after the fresh flowers wilt and get thrown away these will still be smiling back at you, if they gather dust you just dunk them in a bucket of soapy water and revive!! The perfect flower for a busy girl!
See our beautiful selection below....................http://lasninastextiles.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=36&page=2

Anyone Felling A Chill In The Air?

Anyone feeling a chill?

Searching for a bright alternative to the endless racks of Beige and Black?

These foot pedal loomed, macrame end scarves are my favourite for travelling, they can be rolled into a pillow, wrapped around your kidneys or traditionally as neck wear in many different ways, I have a way or wrapping them around my neck as well as my waist, they are light and soft, they are 100% wool and made as they have been for years by the same family network. A tradition passed on from generation to generation.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

I wish i was in Mexico today,
or even Melbourne,
as the Mexicans celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a day of national heritage and pride which is celebrated in the USA and Mexico, originally when the state of Puebla won a battle against the French in the early years of the Civil War.

A whole 2 hour program on independent Melbourne Radio was based on Mexican Music and Culture yesterday and today as well as the whole weekend, there will be Fiestas and dancing in any Mexican community.
We have our favourite Tequila out for a salute tonight,
VIVA MEXICO!!!!!!!

My Favourite Dress

The Frida of Course!
Ever struggle in the morning to find something to wear as you rush out the door?
Feeling a little glum and need a lift?
Ever catch yourself in the mirror and get an instant SMILE?
Last week when i went to town, i was stopped by two women who reminded me of this,
"were did you get the lovely dress?" they asked!!
Proudly i recalled the dozens of times i have been complimented when i wear a Frida and the women who say the same," i always get comments when i wear that dress"

Thanks to the ingenious women of Mexico and their no fear attitude to colour we have the real thing, they get better with age and can last years and years, see the endless Vintage Mexican dresses on line! Testimony to the original cotton version that they still make the same way, in the same villages since the 70's.
When i had the warehouse space i could have filled a book with all the beautiful stories i heard from women who had one, borrowed one, lost one, got married in one. Timeless and with a little accessorising can be worn in many different ways.

I know its not Sunday! (in AUS)

Just had to blog about this shiny 3D cross we shot last week, it is so Resplendent, Majestic, and only 17cm tall, it sits on my desk although would look much better on a wall in a cluster or alongside the bed as in all good catholic homes.
Maybe its because i didn't go to church yesterday i feel compelled to share it with you.
Let the light shine on it and you will be repented. AMEN
lasninastextiles.com

Three New Vintage Throw's, Three Different Towns

Looking thru the beautiful collection we have of Vintage fabrics i unearthed these three last week and have made them up into Throw's, they could also be used as Curtains, Wallhangings or Bed Spreads.

Each one Hand Woven and Embroidered in its makers own unique way.

They come from three different towns and have been used to identify their wearers this way, but also add to the personality of the owner by their use of thread, composition and embellishment.

Thursday ITIS!!

Ever sit at your desk and wish the week was over and you were in some far away place?
Todays the day, doing mundane jobs with the stereo up loud is not working, the knowledge that, that town is far away, its smells, food and people of course!!

Here's a happy snap of a tourist in the town she was visiting along side another tourist in the town she was visiting and the magnificent Outfit that she was wearing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!how could you not stop and ask were are you from? where are you going? without truly understanding, i was told a place in that town, then a day or two later without realising that i had found it, there was this massive EXPO and one State was showing off their traditions, for the cost of a Taxi ride i had gone 12 hrs.

I was in heaven, asked every friend i knew to go back with me, to taste the fare, dance with the minstrels that preformed there, they had Tequilla tastings, and one providor made a point of offering all the flavours to this tourist who had to compose herself before she went back on the streets for fear of acting like a drunk tourist! Here i am in the food court salivating! If only Mexico was just around the corner.......

Crafting whilst it rains.

Some days you just need to stay put, clean the desk, take care of bills and get around to the jobs we don't normally find time to do i had that day yesterday, finally making up Millagro Charm necklaces and finding a ring or two i bought in antique markets in Mexico.
The mens ring in Silver has an Aztec god design, we are still in the throws of identifying him.
The women's ring is a 70's cake with a Peace Dove, Laurel leaves with Turquoise and Coral stones in 925 Silver. Ahhh, its always a nice feeling when you get to the end of this kind of day.

Hand Woven Wool Hall Runner

Time to get the sox out, were are those slippers?
Is your Hallway in need of a refurbish?

Imagine looking at  this beautiful, earthy handwoven rug, from Mexico, in a Valley where the makers weave for the world market.  Most of their work goes to Europe these days due to their fine workmanship where high prices are asked, they are still using the same methods they have done so for centuries. Using mostly natural dyes, the traditions are passed down from generation to generation. This rug is 2.5m x 58cm $290.00 its unique, one of a kind.

HOME

There is nothing like that feeling of coming home, whether its a planned trip or one that drags out till you pining for your bed, your garden, your kitchen and the routine of day to day life in a familiar environment.

Were we live is full of fun and entertainment, superb beaches, breathtaking walks and the verdant vegetation that feeds you as you view it, keeping everything around you alive, whether its the frog who's lodging in your shower or the veggie patch that struggles along without your assistance and still feeds you when you return.  Morning duties are seeing what is ready to pick, tending the garden and then to dream about what yummy meal we can cook for dinner with all the fresh produce all day long.

In between its photo shoots, liaising with clients and my favourite, discovering stock that is hiding in corners of the stock room you haven't seen in a while.  Creating looks and making stock from all the amazing treasures we have.  What a beautiful life. Gracias Dios!

Poncho Time

They tell me its been Arctic in the Southern States, time for a poncho, this is the last of our Mexican Hand Woven, Hand Embroidered, Macrame Tasseled Ponchos.
Just add Jeans and Frye Boots!!! Easy.........................
Find them at White Nest, Blairgowrie 5988 9676 and Moss Grotto, Barwon Heads 5254 2277.

Helping others out less fortunate than you, at Easterx

http://youtu.be/X8VCoYv38n8
In Latin American Easter is a huge celebration, the poor are normally unable to afford the food for their table let alone a feast which could be shared by their family as well.
Mayan Families constantly support others less fortunate than us, please view the video attached to see some of their work and the people who benefit at this special time.

Mexican Suzani's in all shapes and size's

Today one of our favourite customers has asked for some more. 

Were do i start? how do i describe them? as the women who make these use mythical creatures to paint their picture it's hard to describe their figures, the colours are so alien to us as well, but bring joy to whom ever chooses to view them. 

These are $300 each and measure aprox 72 cm x 87 cm the colour below is a vivid tangerine silk thread.