10 Days of Buying in Mexico and Guatemala

What a whirlwind the last 10 days have been since i left Australia.

Energised by the long trip by plane and the fabulous day at the Getty Museum in Los Angels i hit the ground running.

After a few days in DF and then off to the Villages to rekindle relationships with suppliers and meet new ones in the beautiful towns i have visited this week, with so much colour and variety the highpoint being the people i met who make our Embroidered Otomi Bedspreads such kind souls and so happy to share with us their work or just a chat to find out who i was and where i was from :))

We bought Bags and Necklaces for sure the most beautiful necklaces anyone can find in fact this photo does not do them justice, each one is totally unique the hand beading and shading is to die for, stay tuned for some more posts on instagram of them in the flesh next week.

This travelling Gypsy is getting tired, i know its 11am where you are but here its dinner time and i must fly to meet friends, so Buenos Tardes y Hasta Mañana XX

"Gracias Melbourne"

The last fortnight was a flurry of selling at Tractor Home in Franklin street Melbourne, we got to see all our favourite customers in one place and share our stock with others who do not know the variety of product we import, commission and make to sell. 

It was a massive mission to create a space for 6 days with all our trinkets and as we traded items kept disappearing to their new homes so the workspace became an ever changing work of Art.  

We just loved sharing with Planet Luxe, Tractor Home, Marcs International, Ksj Design and Vivian such talented ladies it was a great inspiration and networking experience to be there.

Now its time to begin selecting the Orders we have and planing what we need in Mexico where we will be in two weeks time, picking up the goodies we don't have and making our further selections for the Christmas period.

I was commenting before how its often difficult to leave home when you have just returned, but feeling ready now to unpack the Melbourne case and upsize to the Mexico case filled with presses and supplies for my friends abroad.

Vamos as Dora would say, lets start the journey…………

Thanks again to all the wonderful stores, designers and decorators that came by last week,, Melbourne we miss you already XXX

"Tehuana how i adore you"

Is there a tribe? an indigenous group you love???

That you wish in your dreams you could get reborn into their culture??

For me its the Tehuana's those feisty women who ride on a motor scooter trailer like Helen of Troy, in the searing heat and look like they haven't a care in world as they have just beaten their husband with words and are off to do a little business (whilst he's shopping at the market for all the households daily needs) 

Oh to be the woman of this tribe!!!!!!!! who wears the most delicious Traje, for years i never bought a thing from these towns, always seeing it as a way to burn up my buying budget and not have enough to purchase anything else with what was left, its clothing haunted me for years and from time to time i would buy a piece here and there.

 

I even made friends with a travelling Tehuana salesman, who always had things in his case that would make me faint, i used to avoid him sometimes so i didn't have to see his treasures and pass out at his prices,,,,, i knew it was worth it but for that i could buy two blouses from a friend the following day in her home town.

Last night whilst unpacking some boxes i had a safely aside, i came across this book of Diego Rivera's paintings, i took a look at all the pages but kept coming back to this one of the woman Lola in her traditional clothing a paining that is at the Dolores Olmedo de Olvero gallery in Mexico City, here Lola is holding a huge open gourd bowl which is hand painted, and now a formidable price for an ordinary version of such a piece. 

 

I posted this print on insatgram and my followers cheered as they too had been provoked by the hauntingly beautiful shadings of the hand embroidery and flowers, i have a whole collection that i have been adding to from this town now, i expect it will be in some museum one day as people begin to comprehend the true beauty of something that has been totally made by hand and the legend of Frida Kahlo and her whimsy for the same town lives on.

My proudest moment below was in 2010 when my idol since the 1970's came to visit our small town and spoke on Mexican Textiles i shall never forget that day in my life,,, i was so anxious i forgot half the things i wanted to ask Chloe Sayer at the time, but since have had the good fortune to keep in touch with her by email and last year bumped into her on the street in Mexico City fortunately we both had time for a cuppa and a catchup once again, in Bangalow i got the opportunity to dress as a woman from Tehuanatepec. Normally the full traje includes a face crown made of lace that the women wear for weddings which are very hard to find these days with Vintage merchants and of course then there is the starch that you need to use to keep it standing up as a crown. 

My passion for textiles never ceases, and my need to buy the most beautiful pieces continues on. Fortunately i am surrounded by textile traders women and men who can understand the value in something unique, something hand made, an item of unique beauty these people often with histories in Fashion, Design and Art whom are conduits for my work and desires, and assist me to continue this work with their support and encouragement.

"Gracias a Dios"

Huichol Love from us to you XXXX

Our last Huichol necklaces…………Alas

This week i have had the opportunity to re-learn some Portuguese.
Due to an enquiry from Brazil @barblacerda_

Of course we have a website,,, was my response, but those who don't know we have been trading in this glorious merchandise for over 17 years don't know that!! We love to be challenged, but it took till Friday before i could brake the code, time to catch up and see to those things that hold u up and make you wonder????  These beauties are $140AUD or $130USA and one of a kind.

Thanks to Google Translate, i was able to say exactly what i wanted, gracias a diosxxxx

My adoration of things made by hand ethically, goes way back as you all know, we are passionate about empowering women and wearing things that are REAL things that have SOULS made from NATURAL FIBRES and FULL OF LOVE.

Grateful to have this as part of my heart and soul we continue to "Keep it Real" not greenwashing, just as it comes, and glad to answer in any language,,, so we can all grow together……….

Website Updating Today

Please forgive me for it appears to years since i last wrote, …………...

It appears that life and work have overlooked Blogging., one seems to get out of practice when not doing things regularly.

I'd like to start with a reorientation for myself and a future library of news and pictures to share with you.

Today we have been collecting all our beautiful Wall Art and preparing for the shoot and update of our Website.

At one moment my desk was covered with all the divine Wall Art that individual Artisans make that we collect from all over Central and South America………….

The Hand Painted Tin pieces that Lux has been making for us for a decade now, the Pewter Virgin of Guadalupe on a stand here complimented by a huge Filigree Cross, theres small Virgins as well for you to hang to take care of your Home, Heart, Family and Business.

I never tire of finding unique and different products to share with you, we love our job so very much.

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!!!!!!!