Write a Winning Limerick Testimonial about Zinnia Folk Arts and Choose a Mexican Folk Art Gift!
Posted: April 23, 2013 Filed under: Folk Art, Masks, Mexican Crafts, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Pottery, Milagros, Zinnia Folk Arts Shop | Tags: Ceramics, Mexican crafts, Mexican folk art, Milagros, Religious folk art 16 Comments »
Love to write limericks? Or never done it before but would like to win one of the four amazing pieces of Mexican folk art in the photo?
As you know, our First Birthday is coming up soon and to celebrate we’re offering a choice of one of the four pieces pictured here (all valued between $150-$225) to the winning testimonial limerick. Here are the rules:
1. Write an awesome limerick about Zinnia Folk Arts and what you love about it.
1.1 You may submit as many as you like.
1.2 Relatives and friends may submit anonymously by sending via snail mail to Zinnia, 826 W 50th, Mpls 55491. Put a number on the limerick so it can be identified.
2. Submit it to Anne at info@ZinniaFolkArts.com by Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 4:00 CST either in the shop or online.
3. The winner will be notified on Tuesday, May 7, 2013.
4. All entrants agree to permit Zinnia Folk Arts to use their limerick testimonial in online and shop promotion, with credit.
5. The winner chooses one of the four pieces featured in this photo–large wood tigre mask, large hammered tin mirror, large wood hand covered on both sides with milagros or the large blue (no lead) Metepec platter
6. Winner will pick up the gift in the shop at 826 West 50th St., Minneapolis. If the winner lives outside of Minneapolis, the winner will pay for shipping costs.
7. Questions? Please ask!
Here’s some inspiration!
There was a young belle of old Natchez
Whose garments were always in patchez.
When comments arose
On the state of her clothes,
She replied, “When Ah itchez, Ah scratchez.”
—Ogden Nash
There was a young lady named Bright
Who traveled much faster than light.
She set out one day,
In a relative way,
And came back the previous night.
—Anonymous
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!
New Carved Wood Hearts covered in Milagros
Posted: April 13, 2012 Filed under: Mexican Style, Mexico, Milagros, Religious Folk Art | Tags: Mexican folk art, Milagros, Religious folk art Comments Off
Hola! Just received a shipment of new hearts covered in milagros…some with beautiful golden wings, others are smaller or larger than we usually carry.
Check them out on our website, right here!
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 Milagros
Posted: November 29, 2011 Filed under: Folk Art, Milagros, Religious Folk Art, Unique gifts & Jewelry | Tags: Mexican folk art, mexican style, Milagros, Religious folk art Comments Off
Milagros (“milagro” means “miracle” in Spanish) are religious charms that are prevalent throughout Mexico and are traditionally used to request a “miracle” or thank the deities for miracles that have already happened. One can find milagros depicting legs, arms, breast, eyes, cows, pigs, hearts, lungs–just about anything that one would need help with or for which one may have received help. Mexicans purchase milagros that are meaningful to them, attach them to altars, shrines, and sacred objects found in places of worship, and pray for help with illnesses, relationships, animals or just about everything. Remember 99% of Mexico is Catholic. Milagros can be purchased in churches or from street vendors outside of the church.
Milagros come in lots of shapes and sizes and are made from many different materials. They might be made of gold, silver, tin, lead, wood, or even wax. One of the most common shapes is the heart, like the one in the second photo. These particular milagros are made of pot metal and are lovely and quite large (approximately 4″ tall). Smaller lead milagros have been used by an artisan to decorate the wooden hearts shown in the top photograph. Every wooden heart contains a different assortment of milagros.
We also have wooden hearts with milagros with tin wings at the shop. Stop in to see them! Or you can shop online right here...
