La Chapina Huipil Crafts

Bird Feature

2009-05-19T20:34:00.003-05:00

My parrot mola ornament was featured today on the FoundHandmade blog.

Handmade Raffle for Trina

2009-05-18T12:07:00.004-05:00

Trina is a woman I've never met in person, but I have met her mother, sister, brother-in-law, and niece. A sixteen-year breast cancer survivor, she was just diagnosed with cancer again and had to terminate her very wanted pregnancy.

Please go here for some AWESOME handmade prizes you could win by purchasing raffle tickets. Prizes include handmade jewelry, children's clothing, dolls, hair bows, furniture, a quilt, and more!

A Bit of Vintage

2009-05-05T13:37:00.003-05:00

I love vintage stuff - One of my absolute favorite things to do is dig around at estate sales and thrift shops, looking for interesting treasures. Lately I've been looking for old books with old-fashioned illustrations, and I made all my Mother's Day cards using pictures from a 1950 kids' book, and old buttons.

I wondered how I could incorporate vintage into La Chapina while maintaining the Latin American theme of my shop. Then I found two old books that fit right in! One, from 1942, is a children's book about Peru. The other, from the 1950s, is a Mexican cookbook published by a company that made Mexican food products.

Recent Custom Orders

2009-05-04T10:55:00.002-05:00

I've had quite a few custom orders recently - Here are two from last week. The first is a recycled huipil name piece, and the second is a pair of chunky double-stranded bracelets featuring Guatemalan beads and a phrase in Spanish that's an inside joke for the buyer and her friend.

Featured on FoundHandmade

2009-04-30T17:30:00.002-05:00

One of my hand-sewn huipil art pieces was featured on FoundHandmade today in a blog post called "Not Your Grandmother's Embroidery". Lots of great colors and designs there!

One Year Blogiversary

2009-04-16T13:53:00.004-05:00

Oops, I forgot my own "blogiversary"! I started this blog at the beginning of April 2008, so I'm now at a year and two weeks.

I've been featured in a few treasuries this month so to celebrate this anniversary I thought I'd share one here, which includes my tagua slice bracelet. Click here for the actual treasury page, which expires tomorrow.

Huipil Octopus

2009-04-14T23:59:00.003-05:00

Etsy seller SewnNatural created a cute octopus using fabric from huipiles! She cut up a patchwork Guatemalan vest to make the little guy, and now she's been nominated in Etsy's Eco-Friendly item poll. You can vote for her here. She recently purchased some huipil fabric from me and I look forward to seeing what else she creates!

Free Shipping For a Limited Time!

2009-04-09T14:28:00.002-05:00

I've got exactly 30 days til my one-year anniversary on Etsy. My goal is to hit 1000 sales by 12am on May 8... To help you help me, I'm offering free shipping on all orders to the US and Canada for a limited time!

http://lachapina.etsy.com

Simply pay for the items as normal, and I will refund all of your shipping costs through Paypal within 24 hours of payment.

Thanks!

Sewing DUH!

2009-04-02T11:22:00.002-05:00

I bought my first sewing machine last summer and haven't used it too much. I was trying to learn from the manual, which is difficult, and I had the hardest time sewing in a straight line for the little purse I made.

I hadn't used the machine at all since coming back to the US, so I took it over to my friend's house for a sewing lesson over the weekend. The reason it was so hard to sew a straight line? I had never put the foot down! So the fabric was just going every which way, guided only by my hand.

Now it's a lot easier to sew straight :)

Giveaway!

2009-03-26T17:17:00.003-05:00

Check out Sig's blog for a La Chapina giveaway: Your choice of any jewelry item in my shop valued at $14.50 or less! Lots of bracelets, earrings, and even some pendants to choose from!

Hurry - She'll be choosing a winner tomorrow (Friday) at 8pm Eastern :)

Easter Stuff

2009-03-24T16:23:00.003-05:00

I love Easter - Springtime is by far my favorite time of year, and cute Easter stuff (and candy) combined with the longer days (more sunlight, yay!) and warmer weather make for a wonderful season.

I've enjoyed making some Easter and Springtime items for my Etsy shop...

Adoptive Moms in Business

2009-03-17T22:24:00.002-05:00

La Chapina was featured on the Adoptive Moms in Business blog this week. If you are an adoptive mother with a business you'd like to talk about, feel free to contact the site and talk about listing your company in their directory!

Milagros

2009-03-16T00:20:00.000-05:00

Eduardo from Alamo 2003 graciously agreed to provide information about milagros for this blog. Take a look at the many milagros he has for sale in his Etsy shop!

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Milagros, also known as an ex-voto or dijes, are religious folk charms that are mostly made in Mexico but are also produced in some other countries of Central and South America. Milagros are an old tradition, used for healing purposes and as votive offerings in Mexico and areas of United States. In Spanish, the word "milagro" means "miracle".

Milagros come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they might be nearly flat or fully three-dimensional; and they can be made out of gold, silver, tin, or lead.

As part of a religious ritual or an act of devotion, milagros can be offered to a symbol of a saint as a reminder of a petitioner's particular need, or in gratitude for a prayer answered. They are used to assist in focusing attention towards a specific ailment, based on the type of charm used. Milagro symbolism is not universal; a milagro of a body part such as a heart might represent different ideas such as a heart condition, a romance, or any number of other interpretations. Milagros are also carried for protection and good luck!

Milagros are often found as components in necklaces, earrings and other jewelry. They can be a basic part of your inspiration in turning an idea into a beautiful piece of art!

Guatemala Fabric and Bead Mirror Project

2009-03-13T12:05:00.003-05:00

This Guatemala-inspired mirror is a fun project for tweens, teens, and adults.

Materials:
--wood framed craft mirror with flat front (my frame is approximately 9 1/4" X 11 1/4").
--acrylic paints in your choice of one or two bright colors
--varnish (I used Delta Creamcoat Satin Interior Varnish.)
--paint brush
--scissors
--Guatemalan fabric scraps (you can purchase Guatemalan fabric scrap samplers here)
--Guatemalan beads with flat backs (I used butterflies; others in my shop that have flat backs include the little girls and boys, turtles, suns, palm tress, and more).
--tacky glue
--FrayCheck or other substance used to prevent fabric fraying
--small wire cutters (optional, used if you want to remove little hoops from the top of the beads)

Directions:
A. Painting/Varnishing
1. Remove mirror from the back of the frame so you can begin painting.
2. Paint the front and sides of your frame in one or two bright colors. I chose blue and yellow. Let dry and apply second coat if necessary, allowing that to dry too.
3. Use paintbrush to apply two coats of varnish (allowing to dry between coats). Be sure to smooth out any bubbles that may appear.

B. Decorating
1. Cut out four strips (mine are about 1/4" wide) of Guatemalan fabric to frame the hole the mirror goes in.
2. Apply Fray-Check to fabric edges.
3. Glue strips of fabric to the frame.
4. Cut out 10 squares of Guatemalan fabric. The squares on my mirror are about 3/4", but you can choose how big you want yours. You could also vary this by cutting out hearts or circles instead of squares.
5. Apply Fray-Check to fabric edges.
6. Spacing them out evenly, with one in each corner, glue the squares to the frame. I set mine on an angle.
7. Select 10 Guatemalan flat-backed beads. If you opt to remove the metal hoops, use the wire cutters at this step (adult supervision strongly suggested for tweens doing this project).
8. Glue the beads onto the frame between your fabric shapes.

C. Final Steps
1. Allow glue to dry.
2. Place mirror back in the frame.
3. Hang and enjoy!

More Vintage Kitsch

2009-03-09T23:19:00.002-05:00

Here's another silly souvenir with an Hispanic theme, this one from "South of the Border" in Dillon, South Carolina. I like mid-century architectural details and cars on it. A quick web search leads to the South of the Border web site; apparently this place is still around (with embarrassingly stereotyped Spanish accents/speech patterns typed right out on the home page).

Prayers in Paint

2009-03-04T09:48:00.005-06:00

Etsy seller Rosa Mystica creates religious jewelry, including pieces she makes using vintage Catholic medals. She also has a special fondness for retablos (or ex-votos), paintings that thank a saint or divinity for help they have given in the past. These paintings, common in Latin America, depict an instance -- sometimes very strange and unusual! -- of divine intervention. Rosa Mystica shares her thoughts on retablos here.

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I remember the first time I saw a retablo – vibrant colors highlighted a family kneeling in prayer at the bedside of a sick relative while the Virgin Mary looked on in a circle of light up in the corner. Beneath the image was a description with specific details of the illness and the cure that was brought about through divine intervention by the Blessed Mother answering the family’s prayers.

I loved it! I loved the color; I loved the simple devotion of the family; I loved the thought that the saints were hovering over us to answer our prayers; I loved the idea of a thank-you note done in paint to commemorate the miraculous event! I was hooked and decided to learn more about this style of painting and to try it myself.

Retablos are paintings that serve as visible reminders of the power of prayer. I’ve found two general types:

A painting of a saint, the Virgin Mary, or religious grouping such as the holy family that has been done like a portrait. These could be hung in the home just as we might hang pictures of beloved family members that we don’t see very often.
A painting that depicts an event in which someone prayed to a saint or Jesus and received divine help in a specific situation. These retablos follow a familiar pattern with the “action scene” taking up the most room, the saint appearing higher up observing what’s happening, and a section at the bottom that describes what was going on, which saint was prayed to, and then thanking the saint for help with the situation. This type of retablo might be hung in a church or in the home as a public way of thanking the saint for his or her help.

Mexican retablos (also known as laminas) are the most well-known and reached the peak of their popularity at the end of the 19^th century. Typically they were painted on tin, but could also be on wood. A retablo artist (or retablero) might set up shop outside a church with several stock images that could have the details filled in as requests for the paintings were made. These artists were generally untrained and their paintings are simple and primitive, but could also show great detail and emotion.

I’ve attempted both “portrait” retablos and “action” retablos. Many people like portrait retablos for gifts. I’ve done one for my husband who has a special devotion to St. Ignatius and have one hanging in my shop of my favorite saint, Therese of Lisieux.

The action retablos are a little more challenging – maybe because I haven’t done as many of them. I’m trying to rely less on training and more on emotion as I do them and remember that they don’t have to be perfect! Really, that’s what I liked so much about retablos in the first place. Their simplicity of faith and simplicity of style convey faith in answered prayers.

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Erin here again :) My favorite retablo was one I saw in Guatemala. It featured a man who was peeing outside, with a scorpion near his manly bits. He gave thanks that the scorpion did not bite him!

Here are two other examples of retablos/ex-votos.

A woman writes that her neighbor's dog had puppies but they were given away, and the thought the woman's baby was her own. However, thanks to the Virgin of Zapopan, the woman was able to get the baby away from the dog before the baby drank the dog's milk.

A woman writes that she's a bad cook, and her mother told her no one would marry her because of it. However, thanks to St. Pascual, the patron saint of cooks, she is now married to a man who loves to cook.

Peg Princess

2009-02-25T20:10:00.002-06:00

I've seen so many cute peg dolls on Etsy, that I thought I'd try my hand making one with a Guatemalan twist. So I painted "Silvia's" face, hair, and bottom but used huipil fabric for her dress and added some crystals to form a flower in her hair. The other Guatemalan aspects of this piece are the little ceramic butterfly charm behind her, and the embroidered ribbon I placed around the box. I think she came out really cute :) so I'm going to experiment with a few more.

Kitschy Souvenir

2009-02-21T21:35:00.003-06:00

I just got back from a two-week visit with my family and found something fitting the theme of Latin American crafts. Here's one of the items from my dad's "tacky souvenir collection", and it's from Costa del Sol. The women's clothing on the postcard features embroidered blouses and fabric skirts embellished with lace. What's Spanish for "kitschy"?

Huipil Collar Mirrors

2009-02-05T20:55:00.003-06:00

Believe it or not, mirrors like these are the very first idea I had for the huipil collars, but I'm only now starting on them. The wood circles and 7" mirrors were things I couldn't seem to find in Antigua.

I've made two mirrors so far, using collars that I've been hanging on to for more than a year. A lot of the thick collars like these are cut from huipiles made in the town of Almolonga. I like how they're turning out... The collars are so vivid, they're just screaming to be used in craft projects!

This post featured on Fiber Arts Friday!

Craft Room Progress Part 2

2009-02-01T22:05:00.001-06:00

About two weeks ago, I posted some progress pics of my newly-created craft room. Since then, my husband has put up two shelves spanning the length of one wall and installed closet doors, and I rearranged the room. I've still got several things to do before I'll consider it done, but it's very functional now. I put things in baskets and storage containers (which I already had) that used to be in plastic bags.

Still to go:

Fill the nail holes and paint the window trim (we replaced the window in that room and haven't done the finishing details yet).
Find or make window treatments.
Get closet shelving (so that I can get the boxes out of the corner and organize shipping materials in the closet). My parents are giving me the wire shelving they took out of one of their closets.
Put up a cork board so I can neatly display inspiration pictures and info I need readily accessible.
Buy folders for storing receipts, etc.

"Last Chance" Items

2009-01-31T10:16:00.000-06:00

I stocked up on lots and lots of beads and prints before I left Guatemala. Still, there are some designs for which I now only have one set or print remaining. So if there are items from my shop you've had your eye on, check out the "last chance" items and make sure you don't miss them :)

Just click here! At the time of this posting, I've got 10 items with the keyword "last".

Casa de Tesoros Guatemaltecos

2009-01-29T22:13:00.000-06:00

I lost track of just how many hours I put into this piece! But I had a great time making it. I painted and varnished it before gluing pieces of huipil fabric (different huipil for every cubbyhole) in and attaching the tiny treasures. Some of these fun ceramic beads, I sell in my Etsy shop, but many I do not, preferring to save them for special projects like these. Some of my favorites here? The little woven basket, the mermaid wearing a Guatemalan blouse, and the tiny car!

First Bead Show

2009-01-28T15:01:00.000-06:00

I went to my first bead show over the weekend, with two of my good friends. I like to find interesting and colorful beads to use with the cute ceramic Guatemalan beads/charms when I make jewelry for my shop. We went on the second day of the show, so there were good bargain bins in several of the booths. Digging through those areas was the most fun part for me! I got good deals on crystals in several colors, as well as some semi-precious stones like garnet and orange agate. My favorite buys were the colorful Czech glass in the "Picasso" finish... Really beautiful. I did see some lampwork cupcake beads that I adored (had seen similar ones on Etsy before, too), but I couldn't justify buying things for myself (as opposed to shop supplies) right now.

I look forward to the next show!

New Huipil Name Piece

2009-01-26T16:18:00.000-06:00

I completed this custom order a few days ago - This has the flat adornment instead of worry dolls so it can be placed in a standard glass-covered frame. Some of the huipiles used in this piece are from Quetzaltenango, Almolonga, Coban/Tactic, and Tecpan.

Craft Room Progress

2009-01-20T13:58:00.001-06:00

Now that we're back in the US, one of my first projects is setting up a room for crafting and shipping. The room was full of toys, tools, and other things that didn't have another place... and when we returned home last week, I added piles upon piles of textiles, bead containers, and other items to the mess! So it feels good to be organizing.

So far I've cleared everything out of the room, washed the floor, stacked all of the intact (and almost intact) huipiles on shelves, and begun to organize beads. I have a long way to go til it's done, but I now have our old dining room table in there (need to add the leaf) as a workspace, and I'm making use of a lot of the storage that I'd been using for my daughter's baby clothes.

The problem is, now I've got tons of other household stuff to sort through: either to find a new space for or to give away! For now it's clogging up our hallway :)

Before:

After about three hours of work:

After about six hours of work:

Stay Tuned!

We Are Back in the US!

2009-01-15T14:17:00.000-06:00

After nearly two years in Guatemala, our family of three is back in the United States! We just arrived last night.

As for the future of La Chapina Crafts? Don't worry, I accumulated a LOT of textiles, beads, and other craft supplies and brought them all with me! We hardly brought any of our own clothing, household items, or books home... All the suitcases were packed full of items for crafting! (And we were verrry lucky that the guy at the counter let some of our bags through without charging us for the extra pounds!)

In the coming weeks I'll be adding a lot of new items, like beads, Claudia Tremblay prints, and huipiles I've never had in the shop before. Stay tuned :)

Shalom

2009-01-08T02:15:00.000-06:00

I just finished this custom piece, which I made by hand sewing a used huipil collar and letters (which I also cut from used huipiles) onto fleece. I hadn't done any "wall art" recently, having been kind of focused on Christmas ornaments, nativities, and ceramic bead/charm jewelry in recent months. But it's nice to make a variety of things, and I've stashed away lots of collars for use in projects like these!

Featured On "Our Great Green Globe"

2009-01-06T13:24:00.000-06:00

Check it out here :)

Bracelets in Spanish

2009-01-06T11:12:00.000-06:00

Since I have ceramic letter beads for making personalized bracelets, I recently made a few bracelets using Spanish words. I've made a few so far, with "Amor" (love), "Amistad" (friendship), and "Mi Amiga" (my friend). There are a lot of words I can't make because I don't have any beads with tildes or accents!

Packing Woes

2009-01-05T11:09:00.000-06:00

It looks like we'll be moving back to the US in a couple weeks, so I've started sorting and packing. Each of the three of us can bring two checked suitcases and a carry-on on the plane, and already I'm worried about fitting everything! We're leaving most of our clothes, toys, and books behind, but I have a HUGE amount of beads, textiles, and various other supplies to cram in.

So far I've filled our three largest suitcases with (heavy!) fabric, and I've still got a lot more to pack. We're going to have to buy two more big suitcases, and I need to stop buying huipiles! I don't know what I'm going to do if our suitcases go over the weight limit... Wear four or five of the huipiles on the plane, I guess!

Cinta from Chajul

2009-01-03T10:56:00.000-06:00

Here's our friend, Y, braiding a cinta from Chajul into my daughter's hair. The pom-poms can be worn in different places.

A Bigger Mosaic

2008-12-30T16:48:00.000-06:00

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!

2008-12-24T11:55:00.001-06:00

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

2008-12-19T21:15:00.001-06:00

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

2008-12-15T12:36:00.001-06:00

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

2008-12-11T11:28:00.000-06:00

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

2008-12-07T11:59:00.000-06:00

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

2008-12-03T09:19:00.000-06:00

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! :)

Cute Little Girls With Their Birds

2008-11-29T14:14:00.000-06:00

This is possibly the sweetest huipil collar I've seen yet. It's completely hand-embroidered and features a little girl and a bird in each corner. Sometimes the hand-embroidered collars are more crude in their stitches, but you can tell the woman who made this one really took her time.

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Sale update: The jewelry sale is going great, with 11 pieces of jewelry sold so far. Still 2 1/2 days left!

Huge Jewelry Sale!

2008-11-26T09:51:00.000-06:00

I have marked down all my jewelry* 20%-25% between now and the end of Monday, December 1!

As always, every jewelry item comes with a Guatemalan fabric gift bag.

Check out my Eco-Friendly Seed Jewelry section and my Fun Ceramic Jewelry section for a total of 53 pieces of jewelry on sale! Choose from earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and sets starting at only $3.50 :)

*except for one piece: the custom girls' bracelet

San Pedro Sacatepequez

2008-11-25T12:51:00.000-06:00

The huipiles from San Pedro Sacatepequez have a very dense weave and are very colorful. The ceremonial versions are white with purple and red. Here's an everyday use huipil from San Pedro that I got last week. More photos of San Pedro textiles are here.

Amazing Hand Embroidered Collar

2008-11-22T16:49:00.000-06:00

This round, scalloped huipil collar is hand embroidered with large flowers and two birds. I love the detail of the birds - And this collar is very soft!

San Andres Xecul

2008-11-21T18:39:00.000-06:00

I found a great huipil from San Andres Xecul, made on commercial white eyelet fabric. It has the traditional animal designs machine embroidered around the collar and sleeves and is just beautiful!

Blusas from Coban

2008-11-15T13:06:00.000-06:00

I purchased these blusas (blouses) from Coban for a customer. Coban blusas are often made of commercial lightweight fabric like lace or eyelet and have beautiful hand embroidery and knotting around the collars and sleeves. The style of the flowers is called rococo.

Reina de los Barriletes

2008-11-11T16:12:00.000-06:00

Santiago Sacatepequez is the village known for its giant kites flown in the cemetary on All Saints' Day/Day of the Dead (Nov 1 and 2). They have other festivities leading up to the big holiday, including the crowning of the Reina de los Barriletes (Queen of the Kites), and these photos are from this year's parade. Notice all the people wearing their Santiago Sacatepequez traje. It's easy to see that traje is very important to one's identity in Guatemalan villages.

Mexican Paper Dolls

2008-11-08T20:28:00.000-06:00

I found the cutest little Mexican paper dolls at a local shop. They are mini books, only 4 1/4" x 5 3/4". One is a traditional cut-out paper doll book, with eight costumes from around Mexico, and the other is a sticker book with four pages of clothing and accessories.

Mural in Santiago Sacatepequez

2008-11-06T22:53:00.000-06:00

This mural is painted on an upstairs wall in the museum in Santiago Sacatepequez. It depicts a 16th century battle between the Spanish conquistadors and indigenous Guatemalans. At the bottom it says: Memoria Historica y Cultural de Guatemala (Historical and Cultural Memory of Guatemala).

Santiago Sacatepequez

2008-11-05T14:42:00.000-06:00

I went to Santiago Sacatepequez on Saturday for their Day of the Dead giant kite festival (more on that later!) and looked around their local museum. Inside they have a model of a woman at a backstrap loom, weaving her huipil. The huipil from Santiago is an abstract design in bright red, with splashes of dark blue, light purple, orange, and green also woven in.

Aguacatan Huipiles

2008-10-30T19:58:00.000-05:00

Aguacatan is a village in the Guatemalan department of Huehuetenango. The huipiles there are made using white, satiny, commercial cloth and a variety of colorful commercial ribbons. The collars and other adornments are hand-embroidered. It's a very light and fresh look!

I don't have any huipiles from Aguatacan, but I want to get one before I leave Guatemala. I did seek out some of the ribbons used on them, and I found some yesterday in the mercado. I don't know what I'm going to make with them yet.

The first photo shows the ribbons I bought yesterday. Click on other the photos below to see more photos of each huipil.

Santa Maria de Jesus

2008-10-29T13:05:00.000-05:00

Santa Maria de Jesus is a village not far from Antigua, Guatemala, and it has two basic designs for huipiles. The hand-woven versions (like the one on the left) feature a diamond-shaped pattern, usually in hot pink, purple, red, and green. The machine-embroidered versions (like the one on the right) are on commercial cloth and feature brightly colored birds and flowers.

Meet Jose, Ceramic Artist

2008-10-26T12:35:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I visited the Antigua workshop of Jose, the man who makes many of the ceramic beads I sell. He is the 6th generation of ceramic artists on his mother's side! His mother made ceramics and his father was a carpenter. Jose has been in the ceramics business for 28 years and has four children, but none of them plan to continue in the family business; he says they have gone to college and begun different careers. He has two employees in his workshop, and there are several other people who have their own workshops upon whom he can call if a big order comes in. He also has an employee who works at the store where he sells his items.

Some of the ceramic items Jose makes are made using molds, others are completely hand-formed, and others are a combination. He showed me the process of making a little cherub: He started with the wet clay (purchased in the nearby city of Chimaltenango), pressed it into molds to make the wings and head, and hand-formed the body, arms, and legs. Small clay items dry in the sun for about an hour before being put in the kiln.

Jose has an electric kiln but usually uses the wood kiln because of high energy costs. After being fired, the pieces are painted with acrylics and most are then glazed.

Jose's workshop is at his home and was much larger 10 or 15 years ago, when he had 16 employees. Business, which is highly dependent on the tourist trade, has slowed in recent years. He does, however, have three customers in the US who purchase large quantities for their retail stores. He makes lovely, very detailed nativity scenes for export.

Jose says his most popular beads are miniature Guatemalan masks, devils, and monkeys. He does custom orders based off of photos or sketches, if a customer needs a large quantity of a particular design!

The Zen of Cutting Up Scraps

2008-10-23T22:21:00.000-05:00

I enjoy putting together my scrap samplers because there's something relaxing about taking weirdly shaped pieces of fabric and cutting them into relatively-normally-shaped, small pieces for someone else to use. My mind is free to go wander as I cut and select 35-40 pieces for a bag. I think about the design of the huipiles or cortes from which each piece came, and where the fabric was made.

Yesterday I put together several scrap samplers; below is a photo of one of them. Again, for any of you who have purchased these in the past, I'd love to see the craft projects you've used them in!

Name Piece in Frame

2008-10-21T20:03:00.000-05:00

Reader D emailed me a photo of her son David's huipil name piece all framed and hanging on the wall. I like the colors she chose for the mat and frame!

Vicenta

2008-10-20T12:58:00.000-05:00

We met a lovely woman named Vicenta at her home workshop on Saturday. She lives here in Antigua and makes worry dolls, sews fabric bags, and makes jewelry sometimes, too. I made a large purchase from her, including two sizes of bags and two sizes of worry dolls.

Here's a picture of Vicenta next to her handiwork, and a few of her in-process worry dolls!

Great Use for a Huipil Collar

2008-10-17T20:39:00.001-05:00

Kansas Kate purchased a huipil collar from me last month and had an interesting idea: She affixed it to to a tin frame made in Mexico. It turned out very nice! She also provides a suggestion for a good adhesive to use for craft projects like this.

If you've got any photos of items you've made from huipil fabric or trim, please let me know... I'd love to display your work!

Earring Giveaway Winner!

2008-10-16T11:16:00.000-05:00

The winner of the turtle earrings, chosen via random.org, is commenter lunadelmar!

Thanks to everyone for entering!

Mural: Men in Guatemala

2008-10-15T22:39:00.000-05:00

On the wall opposite the women's mural in Dona Luisa's is a mural dedicated to the men of Guatemala. It is a wonderful work of art that presents Guatemalan men in different roles. Just as the center of the women's mural was a weaver, the center of this mural is a man working on a farm. Weaving and cultivating the land are traditionally two of the most important activities in Guatemala.

Guatemalan history is portrayed in the mural's display of the Mayan temples and the Spanish conquistadors. One can also see present-day men building and participating in sciences and music. My favorite scenes in this mural relate to rituals and customs: Look for the giant kite for Day of the Dead in Santiago Sacatepequez, men swinging incense burners and carrying religious signs during a procession, the pole swingers in Chichicastenango, and more.

On the left-hand side a man's hands release a dove: a wish of peace for Guatemala.

Mural: Women in Guatemala

2008-10-13T17:46:00.001-05:00

There are two large murals upstairs at a popular Antigua restaurant called Dona Luisa Xiconcatl: one dedicated to the women of Guatemala, and the other to the men. Today I wanted to showcase the mural of women.

Notice all the tasks and scenes associated with femininity in Guatemala, with the centerpiece being weaving with the backstrap loom. Others include making tortillas, buying and selling produce in the market, giving birth and assisting with birth, remembering the villages that were massacred during the civil war; dedicating children to the earth and to their God; participating in technology and sciences; cultivating plants and raising children; taking part in ceremonies; and holding hope for the future.

I like the woman at the top center, who's made up the parts of the landscape: forest, village, mountain, and river.

Nativities

2008-10-11T12:04:00.000-05:00

I found a bowl full of nativity character beads at one of my favorite bead places in town. I spent a week or so deciding what to do with them before I came across hand-carved wooden trays that were a great stage for the scene. I added rectangles of used burgundy huipiles to add some more color, and gold glitter glue to accent the carvings on the front I've made two of these so far, and in addition to the ones I put in my Etsy shop, I'm going to give some as gifts (and keep one for myself! Heehee).

Turtle Earring Giveaway!

2008-10-08T23:31:00.000-05:00

I put some cute Guatemalan turtle beads onto silver plated ear wires, and voila! Earrings for another blog giveaway. The earrings will come in a little Guatemalan fabric bag.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post (and don't forget to leave an email address or URL so I can reach you if you win!) by 11:59pm (Mountain time) next Wednesday, 10/15. Please let me know what your favorite item in my Etsy shop is!

Next Thursday I will announce the winner, and these earrings will be mailed to the winner (US address only) by the end of the 3rd week of October. Make sure you leave an email address or URL in your comment so I can contact you if you win!

If you like these earrings, I have many other cute novelty earrings and bracelets in this section of my Etsy shop :)

Mexican Tile Jewelry

2008-10-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

I love the jewelry in Shrunken Cat Heads' shop - It's inspired by Mexican tiles, and she makes the tiny tiles herself. They're so colorful!

Cori Crooks is the woman behind Shrunken Cat Heads. She had this to say about her craft:

I take inspiration for my work from my childhood neighborhood. As native of the San Francisco Bay Area, I had the good fortune to grow up around many different cultures. My Mexican tile jewelry and world tiles are reflective of my childhood neighborhood brimming with color, be it the tiled Chicano mural on the side of the local tortilla factory, or the hand painted tiles which wrapped around the building of my community's Portuguese newspaper, or the classical roman shapes that tiled the Spanish mission down the road. These images stuck with me and are a direct influence on my design and use of color. I recreate these classical patterns and prints them on to miniature tiles, which then become the foundation of my wearable art.

Fiesta Favors

2008-10-04T12:21:00.000-05:00

I thought ceramic charm earrings would make nice party favors for girls around the ages of 8-12, so I put together some listings of cute earrings in groups of eight. Every pair comes with its own Guatemalan fabric gift bag.

Peruvian Monkey

2008-10-02T20:18:00.000-05:00

One of the local shops I go to carries some dolls and stuffed animals made in Peru. I couldn't resist this little monkey! He's made of wool and has hands that tie together so he can hang around. I'm going to give him to my little girl for Christmas.

Papel Picado by Aymujer!

2008-10-01T16:03:00.000-05:00

Aymujer is a colorful Etsy shop run by two sisters, Yreina and Elsa. One of the products they offer is papel picado. The banners using this technique serve as a beautiful decoration for many occasions! Yreina was kind enough to write about papel picado for this blog.

Papel picado literally translates to ‘punched paper’. It is also sometimes referred to as papel de China or ‘Chinese paper’. Chinese paperwork arrived on trading ships from the east— along with ivory, spices and porcelain. The very fine, thin paper that the porcelain was wrapped in surpassed the existing natural fiber paper papers of Mexico. The Spanish also contributed to Mexican papel picado, bringing their styles of paper-cut lace from Europe. These, along with the tissue-thin Chinese paper, were quickly absorbed into Mexican folk art.

Traditionally, Mexican artisans punch their designs with mallet and chisels through thick stacks of tissue paper. In this way, it is possible to produce many flags from a single template. Families have sustained themselves over generations by passing down their unique designs, methods and styles of making papel picado.

Today, papel picado can be found on home altars, at gravesites on el Dia de los Muertos, and virtually any celebrations such as baptisms, weddings and funerals. Modern designs have expanded to include: Easter, Halloween, Christmas, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Independence Day and more.

What I make is, technically, papel cortado or ‘cut paper’. Depending on the design, I use scissors or an exacto knife. I draw out my original patterns and create a template. I can’t cut through as many flags at once like the chisel method, but I prefer the more intricate and delicate patterns that the exacto blade produces.

I’ve been making papel for a while now. I only recently started taking pictures of my flags. I don’t know why--- I guess that when you take something for granted, it doesn’t seem possible to sell it. My sister-in-law and I conceived our Etsy store in June of this year. Originally, I listed my papel because it made our shop look pretty! It really surprised me when it became our best-selling item. I have pushed myself to become at least a part-time capitalist, so I make sure to shoot pictures of the flags as I make them and list frequently. I enjoy building our little shop. Hopefully, it will keep on growing.

Thanks to aymujer for sharing this information with La Chapina readers!

The Dancing Chicken

2008-09-30T12:31:00.000-05:00

I found a great collar on a huipil from San Lucas Toliman. On one side is a little man working in the fields, and on the other is a woman with -- what appears to be -- a dancing chicken!

Personalized Charm Bracelets

2008-09-27T11:51:00.000-05:00

I found two things yesterday that gave me the idea to make some of these little bracelets: tiny versions of the Guatemalan girl beads, and ceramic cubes with letters on them. I wanted to make one with my own little girl's name on it, but the shop didn't have any "Z"s. I'll have to keep checking back!

Here's the listing in my shop. They'd be great stocking stuffers for the upcoming holiday season!

Fotonovelas

2008-09-25T13:20:00.000-05:00

I came across a stack of fotonovelas, which are comics/graphic novels illustrated with photographs instead of drawings. The ones I found range from the early '70s - early '80s, and the melodrama along with the huge mustaches and '70s clothing made them irresistable!

They have some significant wear, so I thought that the portions in good condition would make funny cards. I've made four so far, and put them in my Etsy shop.

"Julio's youth was demanding it its love..."

"I love you so much, but you're just a guy who plays pool."

Todos Santos

2008-09-21T09:57:00.001-05:00

I showed some scraps of huipiles from Todos Santos back in May, but I thought I'd share a whole one so you could see the context. They've got four sections: 1. elaborately woven section in the middle, 2. ric-rac collar, 3. striped sides, 4. plain section below the elaborately woven section. The backs look the same as the fronts.

Joyabaj

2008-09-17T11:33:00.000-05:00

Huipiles from Joyabaj are generally made of black or red subtly striped fabric. The collars, however, are large and colorful and feature large swirls in white. One of my favorite shops just purchased a large amount of used huipiles from Joyabaj, and I picked up about eight of them on Monday. I'm going to use the collars on pillows or as large frames for mirrors.

Feature on Fiber Focus

2008-09-15T15:25:00.001-05:00

Rayela's Fiber Focus blog has run another feature on La Chapina, this time about my expansion into supplies. If you're interested in why my shop has evolved in this way, check out her post!

Happy Guatemalan Independence Day!

2008-09-15T15:17:00.000-05:00

On September 15, 1821, the Captaincy of Guatemala (which was made up of Chiapas (now a state in Mexico), Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras) proclaimed independence from Spain.

This weekend we saw all the runners carrying the torch of freedom around Antigua, and today we're going to go watch some parades. Here are a few photos I took during last year's celebration!

Worry Doll Hair Clips

2008-09-14T10:58:00.000-05:00

I made some new clips using tiny worry dolls. These are about 2 1/2 inches long and I hot-glued a small piece of corte fabric to the clip, then hot-glued the worry dolls to the fabric. Sometimes working with hot glue drives me crazy, with all the globs and strings! But I think these turned out cute.

Watercolor Artist Claudia Tremblay

2008-09-12T15:20:00.000-05:00

After having success selling small versions of painter Claudia Tremblay's prints in my Etsy shop, I contacted Claudia to see if I could buy more of them directly from her. She and I met last Friday and had a nice discussion about her work. I find that Claudia's paintings radiate gentleness and tranquility.

Claudia is originally from Quebec, Canada, and moved to Guatemala about 11 years ago to work on an NGO project. She never left! She lives near the spectacular Lake Atitlan and gathers inspiration from the beautiful people and views around her. She has also painted subjects in other areas of Central America.

Claudia's prints make lovely scrapbooking embellishments for albums and life books, and a great focal image for handmade greeting cards. Of course some of my customers have been framing them as well. I offer many of her prints in the section called "Supplies, Embellishments" in my Etsy shop. Keep checking back, as I'll be listing several more of her larger prints in the coming weeks!

Guatemalan Yoyo Hair Clips

2008-09-10T02:08:00.000-05:00

I found an online tutorial for making "yoyos" and decided to create some hair clips using ones I made out of huipil and corte fabric. Yoyos have a hole in the center on one side, so I filled that hole by sewing in a tagua seed, then I hot glued the hair clip to the back. I'm pleased with how these clips are turning out - They kind of look like little flowers! It's better to use relatively thin fabric when making yoyos, so corte fabric tends to be much easier to work with than huipil fabric. Here are photos of two of the sets I've made so far.

Brillante Blog!

2008-09-08T12:42:00.000-05:00

Thanks, Om Shanti Handcrafts, for the blog award! Each recipient of this award is supposed to nominate seven other blogs and let those recipients know that they won. However, I'm breaking the rules because I'm short on time today. Here are three of my favorite craft blogs:

1. Fiber Focus - Articles and photos galore, concentrating on international textiles and techniques
2. Fieltrunguis - This blog features some of the cutest amigurumi style items you will ever see! The blog is written in Spanish, but even if you don't understand the writing you'll love all the photos.
3. doe-c-doe - Great mix of handmade items and very cool vintage finds

Giveaway Winner!

2008-09-05T02:02:00.000-05:00

The winner of the Guatemalan bear earrings giveaway is commenter #9, Erin!

Not me, a different Erin :)

Thank you to everyone who entered! More giveaways to come!

People and Animals

2008-09-04T12:16:00.000-05:00

Here are a few neat examples of huipiles that feature people and animals in the weaving. Quetzales (Guatemala's national bird), birds in realistic depiction, and lions are relatively common to see on huipiles from places like Quetzaltenango, Santiago Atitlan, and Nahuala, respectively, but here are a few that are a little different.

The fabric with the people and with the ducks is from Tactic, and the fabric with the butterflies is from Santiago Atitlan.

New Simple Huipil Babies

2008-09-01T19:35:00.000-05:00

Prior to yesterday, I hadn't made any of these for months! However, I had a special order and needed to deliver them today. For these two, I recycled huipiles from Almolonga (L) and Tactic (R). I really like to make a variety of things to keep crafting interesting, so it was good to work on these after so long. Right now I've only got one of the simple huipil babies left in the shop, but special orders are always welcome.

Friday Earring Giveaway!

2008-08-29T13:22:00.000-05:00

I made these earrings using purple bear beads made in Guatemala and silver plated hooks. Great for tweens or just the young at heart! They will come in a little Guatemalan fabric bag.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post (and don't forget to leave an email address or URL so I can reach you if you win!) by the end of next Thursday, 9/4. Next Friday I will announce the winner! Earrings will be mailed during the week that begins 9/22.

If you like these earrings, I have many other cute novelty earrings and bracelets in this section of my Etsy shop :)

Work in Progress: My First Quilt

2008-08-28T13:31:00.000-05:00

I finished the top of this small quilt last night. It's made up of 25 squares (5") I cut from used huipiles. I'm pretty pleased with how they lined up - not too crooked! :)

Now it's time to work on putting the back and binding...

Yellow, Pink, and Red Flowers

2008-08-27T12:44:00.001-05:00

I cut this collar from a huipil made in Almolonga. I love the collars on Almolonga huipiles- They're very wide and sturdy - thicker than most. This one is nice and cheerful and the inner circle is lined in dark blue velvet.

My First Real Sewing Machine Project

2008-08-26T12:05:00.000-05:00

First thought upon completion? Wow, that took a long time! :)

A friend found me a free online pattern for a simple purse, so I decided to try it out yesterday. I used material from a used huipil made in Tactic and a used corte (not sure where it was made).

Who know it was so very difficult to sew a straight line? This was my first attempt at the strap. Check out the stitching - Ha!

Needless to say I tossed that strap aside and started over. This time I used the corte material (which I also used for the lining), because it barely shows stitching. There are still a couple crazy wiggles in my lines, but it was definitely better. I'm thinking of using a piece of cinta (hand-woven ribbons that many indigenous women use in their hair) as the strap next time because turning the strap right-side-out after sewing it was a major pain! It took me about a half an hour!

Here's the finished product. The second photo shows the lining, pocket, and velcro closure. My two-year-old is obsessed with coins and has apparently already put one in this purse!

Huayruro Seeds

2008-08-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

I bought some huayruro seeds last week for jewelry making. These seeds (Ormosia coccinea) grow throughout South America and parts of Central America, and they are considered good luck. The bright orangey-red color with signature black spot reminds me of ladybugs!

I've made a couple things with them so far, a bracelet (using tagua seeds too) and some earrings (a pair to sell and a pair for me!)

Orders Shipped

2008-08-23T22:50:00.000-05:00

If you ordered items on of before 8/18, your items shipped today from Maryland. If you are pleased with your purchase, please leave feedback on Etsy. Thank you!

More Animals

2008-08-21T16:35:00.000-05:00

I bought a huipil last week that was really beat up, but I just had to buy it for the collar. It's a machine-embroidered piece from San Andres Xecul and features quetzales (Guatemala's national bird), lions, fish, squirrels, snakes, cats, and more. Super cool.

Items Shipped

2008-08-21T16:03:00.000-05:00

Items purchased on or before 8/15 were mailed Tuesday, 8/19, from Texas. Thanks!

Featured for Fall

2008-08-20T23:47:00.000-05:00

Etsy seller NaturalAmber put together a Top Five Picks for fall-inspired items. In it, she featured my red and brown miniature carpet. She linked to several other lovely selections too!

Day of the Dead

2008-08-16T10:32:00.000-05:00

In Latin America, Day of the Dead is a celebration of the friends and family who have passed away. Entire families go to the cemetery to spend time with their deceased loved ones on November 1st (and sometimes 2nd). They bring picnic lunches, sit down on the tombs, and enjoy the day together. Last year I spent November 1st at a cemetery in Antigua and November 2nd in the cemetery in Santiago Sacatepequez, which is famous for its giant kites. The men of the town work for months building the kites especially for this holiday.

In Mexico, especially, there is a class of art dedicated to Dia de los Muertos: skeletons dressed in bright, colorful, fanciful dress, dancing and carrying on. It is with this theme in mind that I've begun making some Day of the Dead bracelets. The skulls are tiny ceramic beads made in Peru.

A Little Organization!

2008-08-13T14:46:00.000-05:00

My beads and jewelry making supplies had been in about 50 separate little disposable plastic bags, then placed in larger plastic bags, which made it nearly impossible to find something when I needed it! So the other day I finally found some compartmentalized boxes and bought five. I still have about 10 types of beads in the little baggies, so I need to get one more box. It feel so much better to have them organized, and for only 75Q (a little over $10).

Now if I can just get my fabric and shipping supplies better organized!

Packages Mailed

2008-08-13T14:30:00.000-05:00

If you made a purchase before 8/5, your packages mailed yesterday from Texas. Thanks!

Etsy Link Exchange

2008-08-13T14:15:00.000-05:00

There are so many interesting handicrafts on Etsy! Here are some craft blogs from Etsy sellers; we're participating in a link exchange.

1. http://catherinetterings.blogspot.com/
2. http://www.famousmoviestarsblog.blogspot.com
3. http://www.littlelovables.blogspot.com
4. http://www.naturalamber.wordpress.com
5. http://www.irenedesign.wordpress.com
6. http://www.oakboston.blogspot.com
7. http://www.scrapsofstarlight.blogspot.com
8. http://www.krystyna81.blogspot.com/
9. http://carriers-cozy-cottage.blogspot.com/
10. http://zoepapilia.blogspot.com
11. http://handmadebyannabelle.blogspot.com/
12. http://www.zenabuonline.com
13. http://www.lieblingartcrafts.wordpress.com
14. http://www.earthandsunfolk.blogspot.com
15. http://sugarskullzblog.blogspot.com
16. http://omglia.blogspot.com
17. http://timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com
18. http://www.stripeymonkey.blogspot.com
19. http://firebirddesigns.blogspot.com/
20. http://www.cupcakecuppy.blogspot.com
21. http://claireeyedesign.blogspot.com
22. http://growingnotes.blogspot.com
23. http://huipil-crafts.blogspot.com
24. http://amys-treasures.livejournal.com
25. http://swiekysiggies.blogspot.com
26. http://lizbeth-faye.blogspot.com
27. http://tallis-designs.blogspot.com
28. http://baremaked.blogspot.com
29. http://www.etsysupplyshoppe.blogspot.com
30. http://gracedlace.livejournal.com/

New Ornaments

2008-08-12T17:02:00.000-05:00

I found the cutest cloth at the market this weekend. I cut around the little girls and hand-sewed each to red fleece and stuffed it with polyfill. The cloth has a frayed appearance on the edges and I applied fray-check to prevent unraveling. Finally, I used red and gold glitter glue to accent each one and provide a little sparkle.

I found some other fabric I'm going to list on Etsy as well... ones for you guys to come with ideas for :)

Beads Galore!

2008-08-09T20:29:00.001-05:00

I had the best afternoon - My husband watched our little girl while I headed out to the market on my own. No worrying about fitting the stroller in tight spaces or keeping a toddler occupied while I browsed!

I found a stall that carries lots of ceramic beads, different from the ones I'd been buying in another shop down the street. What fun I had, sorting through the baskets of tiny farm animals, fruits, hearts, and sea creatures! All different sizes, colors, and designs.

I was also excited because I got the owner's card and he said he would be willing to ship beads to me in the States. So if we ever manage to leave Guatemala :) I will still have a source for these great handpainted pieces!

Santa Catarina Palopo Fajas

2008-08-07T15:50:00.000-05:00

I like the fajas (belts) from Santa Catarina Palopo because they have brightly colored people and Mayan motifswoven into them. I bought these two yesterday - such vivid hues! Because the weaving there is done in a one-sided method, and the sides are finished, there are no messy threads on the back or fraying at the sides. So pieces of these would be great not just for sewing but for scrapbooking.

Environmentally Friendly Jewelry

2008-08-05T16:05:00.000-05:00

I found these beads at a local shop and started making jewelry with them. Also known as vegetable ivory, tagua nuts (and the seeds inside them) grow on tagua palms (Phytelephas aequatorialis) in the rainforests of South America. Use of the nut is considered environmentally friendly because once dried out, the tagua can be carved in the same way elephant ivory can be, and thus limits the killing of elephants. Furthermore, tagua palms can be grown without destroying rainforest land, so having this as a viable product lessens the need for local peoples to cut down rainforest to farm.

Tagua nuts and seeds can be dyed just like elephant ivory, and they are becoming popular for jewelry. Check out these colors; they're look like candy! I like the natural ones, too - such a lovely ivory color.

More in the new vegetable ivory jewelry section of my Etsy shop!

So Much Fun!

2008-08-02T16:02:00.000-05:00

One of the local bead stores is my newest obsession, because there is just so much to look at. Yesterday I purchased some earring-making supplies and went to town! I spent several hours last night making some simple ones using the colorful beads I've been buying here, like the little animals, food, and people.

I also tried my hand at a few that were a little more complicated but haven't listed any of those yet. I made some for my mom that turned out quite nice. I haven't worn earrings for over a year but I may start again.

The simple ones I've priced at $4.50, and I found cute little gift bags to put them in. Check out the new ceramic jewelry section of my shop!

Orders Shipped

2008-08-01T09:13:00.000-05:00

If you made a purchase between 7/16 and 7/22, your items shipped yesterday from West Virginia. Thanks!

Ornament Project

2008-07-31T13:08:00.000-05:00

As featured on Craft Gossip!

I made a couple ornaments the other night. If you want to try making some, here are the instructions!

Materials:

two pieces of felt
embroidery thread
thin piece of cardboard (I used the side of an empty cereal box)
about 15 inches of ribbon
a 2 1/4" worry doll
a little llama or animalito of your choice
needle
scissors

Instructions for llama ornament:

Cut two circles from felt, approximately 3 1/4" in diameter.
Cut a circle from cardboard, approximately 2 1/2" in diameter.
Cut a piece of ribbon, about 7 1/2" inches long.
Using embroidery thread, sew the llama onto one circle of felt.
Sew little lines to make snowflakes/stars or the design of your choice.
Sandwich the cardboard circle between the two felt circles (the cardboard gives it some stability).
Beginning at about "11:00", use blanket stitches counterclockwise to sew the circles together until you reach "1:00".
Fold the ribbon in half, places ends inside circles, and finish sewing the circle.

Instructions for worry doll ornament:

Cut two ovals from felt, approximately 4" long.
Cut oval from felt in contrasting color, approximately 3" long.
Cut an oval from cardboard, approximately 3" long.
Cut a piece of ribbon, about 7 1/2" inches long.
Using embroidery thread, sew the wory doll onto the 3" felt oval.
Stitch the 3" oval onto the front of one 4" oval.
Sandwich the cardboard oval between the two felt ovals (the cardboard gives it some stability).
Beginning at about "11:00", use blanket stitches counterclockwise to sew the circles together until you reach "1:00".
Fold the ribbon in half, places ends inside circles, and finish sewing the circle.

Facebook

2008-07-30T12:17:00.001-05:00

I've created pages on Facebook for La Chapina Huipil Crafts: the shop as well as this blog. If you'd like to join the network or become a "fan", check them out! Leave comments, product reviews, etc. And best of all, you can post photos of the crafts you've made using scrap bags, scrapbooking embellishments, beads, fabric squares, etc! I look forward to seeing your creativity.

La Chapina Huipil Crafts shop page.
La Chapina Huipil Crafts blog page.

I Love This One!

2008-07-29T09:53:00.000-05:00

This collar is machine-embroidered and cut from a huipil from Almolonga. Check out all the animals!