Using Vintage Peruvian Textiles for Jewelry
Posted: April 12, 2013 Filed under: Bracelets, Global Style, Peru, Textiles, Zinnia Folk Arts Shop | Tags: Bohemian Style, handmade, Jewelry, Peru, Textiles, Vintage Style 1 Comment »I’ve just received some lovely bracelets, handmade in Peru, and they are made from old, faded textiles. They really provide a little spring lift to the winter that will never end–it literally is snowing right now, as I look out my Minneapolis window. Yes, it’s April 12 and there is a home Twins baseball game tonight–expected temp is 34 degrees.
I wouldn’t really call these bracelets folk art, but they are handmade, they do use local materials and they are based on a weaving skill that was handed down from generation to generation. I hope you enjoy them too! Definitely a little color on another snowy day.
Click on the photo or right here to purchase!
Brown Mexican Textiles
Posted: February 22, 2013 Filed under: Chiapas, Folk Art, Global Style, Guatemala, Mexican Crafts, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Style, Mexican Textiles, Textiles | Tags: handmade, Mexican crafts, Mexican folk art, mexican style, Mexican textiles, table runners, Textiles Comments OffWinston Churchill said many things well. And he commented on many things. But who knew he had an opinion about color? The esteemed Mr. Churchill said, “I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colors. I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns.”
This post is in honor of the poor browns. They tend to take a back seat to their fellow colors, especially in Mexico. These textiles were discovered at the bottom of the pile, underneath the pinks, roses, reds, yellows, bright oranges and greens. They are a quieter bunch. I do think they have a certain beauty. But they don’t always stand out. They are good listeners. They don’t talk unless they have something to say. They shine when they are on their own. They never compete for attention.
Many of these camino de mesas (table runners) or placemats are woven of a natural brown cotton called “coyuche,” a word that comes from the Nahuatl word for coyote. On the other hand, it is possible that it is white thread dyed to look like coyuche, according to research done by an amazing textile archivist by the name of Karen Elwell. Her many photos of Mexican textiles and clothing are always instructional. Her Flickr photostream is right here.
The photos below are the textiles I currently have in the shop. CLICK on the photograph to take you to the shop. Some are in the online store, but if not, just send me an email on the form at the bottom and I’ll let you know if it’s available!
I couldn’t resist with the last photo. Brilliant color with the poor brown.
Need Some Mexican Folk Art Ideas for Valentine’s Day?
Posted: January 23, 2013 Filed under: .925 SIlver, Global Style, Mexican Earrings, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Jewelry, Mexican silver jewelry, Silver jewelry from Mexico | Tags: handmade, Mexican crafts, Mexican folk art, Mexican silver, Mexican Silver Jewelry, nickel silver, paper mache Comments Off
Some of these items are on the website–click on the photo and it will take you there. If it’s not on the website and you’re interested in purchasing, let us know through this form!
Using Enchilada Cans as a Vase in the Mexican Folk Art Shop
Posted: June 7, 2012 Filed under: Global Style, Mexican Style, Zinnia Folk Arts Shop | Tags: Flores, Home Decor, Mexican folk art, mexican style Comments Off
One of my very sweet friends gave me a bouquet once per week for a month to celebrate the opening of the new shop at 50th & Bryant in Minneapolis. When she asked me if I had any Mexican vases to use for rotating the bouquets every week, I thought of the colorful red and yellow cans used by El Pato to can their tomato and enchilada sauces. Most Mexican grocery stores carry them…you can make one of these colorful bouquets to add a little Mexico to your summer life!
Viva la Vida…
Unpacking the latest Mexican Folk Art Shipment
Posted: April 20, 2012 Filed under: Clay Ceramics, Folk Art, Global Style, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Pottery, Milagros, Religious Folk Art, Textiles | Tags: Ceramics, Folk Art, handmade, Mexican ceramics, Mexican folk art, Milagros, Religious folk art, Textiles, Tin Comments Off
Here’s a sneak peek of a small number of the items that were in the last shipment. This is from the trip I took in January and February! So unpacking everything is a little like opening Christmas presents for me. Everything will be going to the shop at 826 West 50th and will be available when we open but if you see something and can’t wait, let me know through this handy form….Saludos!
Gorgeous Vintage Guatemalan & Mexican Huipiles
Posted: March 22, 2012 Filed under: Chiapas, Global Style, Guatemala, Mexican Folk Art, Textiles | Tags: global style, Huipiles, Mayan Textiles, mexican style, Textiles Comments Off
Hello New Shop! We just received these, and many more, vintage Guatemalan and Mexican huipiles, dresses and blouses. The colors are stunning and they can be worn or hung on a wall. Either way you will love the color and the amazing handwork.
Look for them when we reopen in our new location, 826 West 50th in Minneapolis, in late April or early May!
Or you are welcome to inquire before then through this form…
Religious Folk Art
Posted: January 11, 2012 Filed under: Global Style, Guatemala, Religious Folk Art, Santos | Tags: Gerardo Ortega, Josefina Aguilar, Mexican folk art, Milagros, Religious folk art, Santos, Virgin of Guadalupe, Wood Carvings Comments Off
Carved Wooden Saints
Because over 90% of Mexico is Catholic, one finds lots of charming and beautiful hand-made religious folk art all over the country. The saints, above, are from Guatemala, another very Catholic country. Religion is a part of every day life in Mexico, from the home altar to crossing oneself in front of every church, to the pinning of milagros, to the omnipresent image of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Catholicism is not native to Mexico–the Spanish brought it with them in the 1500′s. In indigenous towns and villages one still finds religious practices that harken back to the days before the conquest.
If you’d like more about each of the pieces, click on the photo!
Josefina Aguilar Nativity Set
Mexican Shrine in a Bottle
Carved Wooden Virgin of Guadalupe
Hand Carved Wooden Hearts Covered in Milagros
13 Piece Painted Clay Nativity Set from Jalisco, Gerardo Ortega
Getting Ready for Valentine’s Day with Mexican Milagros
Posted: January 9, 2012 Filed under: Global Style, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Style, Milagros, Unique gifts & Jewelry | Tags: Charms, Ex-Voto, Folk Art, metal charms, Mexican folk art, Milagros, religious charms, Valentines Day 1 Comment »
These lovely wooden hearts are covered in small metal charms known as milagros. Milagro means “miracle” and these tiny religious charms depict legs, arms, hearts, breasts, ears, animals, people praying (just about anything really!) and are generally used to thank or request religious help for a specific problem. When they are not being used by an artisan, they are pinned on the clothing of a saint in Mexican churches or are attached to ribbons to be hung on a church or home altar. The milagros can be made of brass, pewter, pot metal, tin, and even silver. They are especially prevalent in Mexico and Peru but are also seen in Europe and can be known as “ex-votos.”
They can be found right here.
Mexican Folk Art Placemats for the Thanksgiving Table
Posted: November 5, 2011 Filed under: Global Style, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Style, Textiles | Tags: Celebrate the holidays, GUILD Collective, Mexican folk art, Mexican textiles Comments Off
A few weeks ago at GUILD Collective we put together a table that mixed pieces from Mexico with vintage dishes and silverware. It was surprising how beautiful the whole thing looked–a real mezcla/mixture–of old and new, Mexican tapestry placemats, religious icons and traditional china (see first picture) and glassware. If you’re starting to think about your Thanksgiving or holiday table, consider going global and combining the unexpected in a fresh way. If you are in need of some happy color to add to the mix, take a look at these colorful placemats, available online. They come in lots of different colors–each one is unique!
Our new holiday hours at GUILD went into effect this week and we will be open on Sundays, starting November 6 from 12-5. I’ll be working tomorrow!
NEW GUILD COLLECTIVE SHOP HOURS
Tues-Saturday: 10-6
Sunday: 12-5
Closed Mondays
Papel Picado & Fiestas
Posted: October 14, 2011 Filed under: Folk Art, Global Style, Paper Folk Art | Tags: Mexican folk art, papel picado, paper folk art 2 Comments »
These delicate tissue paper flags are known as “papel picado” or “cut paper/ picked paper” and are handmade in Mexico. They are another of the fabulous handmade traditional arts that flourish all year but particularly around times of important holidays, Christmas, Easter and Day of the Dead. If you’ve been to Mexico, you may have seen streets draped with these flags before and during holidays or special occasions.
They are made with a chisel and a stencil and “picked” in stacks of 30-40 pieces then strung on string in a long line, mixing colors and loveliness together. It is one of the ephemeral arts of Latin America–made for a temporary time, left to evaporate in the wind and rain after the holiday. A nice reflection of a cultural belief that we can’t hold on to anything, all aspects of our lives are temporary, even beauty.
Here’s a photo I took on my last trip to Oaxaca. Just walking down the street and turned the corner onto this exhuberance.
We carry packages of papel picado at GUILD.
