A Bigger Mosaic

Up to this point, all the mosaics I've made have used approximately 1/2" squares of huipil fabric. However, a few evenings ago I decided to start one using 1" squares. I'm planning to do a much larger one for myself once we return to the US and I have access to larger watercolor paper and/or canvases. It took me hours upon hours to cut all 108 squares and arrange them, but I like the result! You can see a bit more of the patterns, like the 11 birds from a Santiago Atitlan huipil that I used for accent pieces, than you can when the squares are smaller.

These mosaics are a great way for me to use up huipil scraps that are too small to include in the scrap samplers I sell. But they are very, very time intensive, so I have to be in the right mood to make one :)

Happy Holidays!

Thank you to all my readers and customers for making 2008 a great year for La Chapina!

Merry Christmas (and Feliz Navidad!) Happy Hanukkah, Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Pancha Ganapati, and Happy New Year!

Something New

I hadn't done much besides the Christmas ornaments with huipil fabric recently, so I've made a small batch of fabric pins with appliqued felt hearts. I thought they'd be cute as Valentine's gifts, since they are inexpensive ($5.50) and can be given to many people: to a teacher to put on her cardigan, to a girl to put on her backpack, to a mom to put on her purse or diaper bag, to a doctor to put on her coat, etc. They'd be cute attached to a little mug full of candy or a small basket, too!

Tiny Baskets

These little baskets are so cute and colorful. I bought some at a new little tienda here in town. They're only between 1 1/2" - 2" tall... Wouldn't they be cute on a wreath? Yet another "little something" I need to stock up on before leaving Guatemala :)

Cool Find

Last week I was in the capital with a friend of mine, and we came across a used book sale. Even used books are expensive in Guatemala, so mostly we were just browsing and moving on. But then we stumbled on something really cool! A big stack of Life magazines from the 1960s, in Spanish. All kinds of articles about the US space program, President Kennedy, and celebrities of the day.

I bought half the stack of 30-something magazines, and my friend bought the other. They're fun to read through, but they will also be great for crafting. I'd been thinking about buying some vintage books in Spanish for this purpose, but these are even better! Here's a photo of three of them.

Spanglish Christmas Poem

I read this in a local magazine and thought it was cute!

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the casa,
not a creature was stirring - ¡Caramba! ¿Qué pasa?
Los niños were tucked away in their camas,
some in long underwear, some in pijamas,
while hanging the stockings with mucho cuidado,
in hopes that old Santa would feel obligado,
to bring all children, both buenos and malos,
a nice batch of dulces and other regalos.
Outside in the yard there arose un gran grito,
and I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito.
I ran to the window and looked out afuera,
and who in the world do you think that he era?
Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero,
came dashing along like a loco bombero.
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados,
were eight little burros approaching volando.
I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre,
was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
''Ay Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Beto,
ay Chato, ay Chopo, Maruco, y Nieto!''
Then standing erect with his hands on his pecho,
he flew to the top of our very own techo,
with his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
he struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea.
Then huffing and puffing at last in our sala,
with soot smeared all over his suit de gala,
he filled all the stockings with lively regalos,
none for the niños that had been very malos.
Then chuckling aloud, seeming very contento,
he turned like a flash and was gone como el viento,
and I heard him exclaim, y ¡esto es verdad!
Merry Christmas to all, ¡y Feliz Navidad!

--author unknown

Feature on Travel Turtle

My shop and I have been featured on a blog called Destination Travel Turtle, which has posts about traveling, interesting locations around the world, art, and more. In the feature, I talk about my favorite things about Antigua, Guatemala, and my craft inspirations. Check it out! :)