Custom Made Pinatas
Posted: December 17, 2012 Filed under: Folk Art, Mexican Crafts, Mexican Holidays, Mexican Style, Paper Mache, Pinatas, Unique gifts & Jewelry, Zinnia Folk Arts Shop | Tags: Celebrate the holidays, handmade, Mexican crafts, Mexican folk art, Mexican holidays, mexican style, paper folk art, paper mache, Pinatas Comments OffThis is the season for pinatas in Mexico. Big ones, small ones. The pinata maker in town will make lots of different ones to be purchased by families who will host the procession of visitors who go door to door looking for shelter–just like Mary and Joseph did so many thousands of years ago. The “Posadas” started yesterday, December 16th and will proceed every night until December 24th. The party at the last house will include the pinata game for children (and some adults). The pinatas traditionally have a clay pot in the center and then paper mache surrounding the pot and the star points. They come in lots of colors and sizes and designs and they are always a treat to see. Most public spaces will feature giant pinatas as decorations and they are especially gorgeous.
I have been embellishing pinatas since I started Zinnia Folk Arts several years ago and have several in the front of the store that I use for decoration. Over the years people have asked me to make them for their parties, bridal showers or weddings. This very pink pinata in the after photo is going to decorate a very sweet young girl’s room. I thought you’d be interested in seeing the before picture and the after. It used to be a Minnie Mouse pinata and now is a pink and green confection. Enjoy!
Here’s the before:
And here’s the after!
Folk Art Surprises Every Day in Rural Mexico
Posted: July 28, 2012 Filed under: Folk Art, Mexican Holidays, Paper Folk Art | Tags: Mexican folk art, papel picado, paper folk art Comments Off
On Wednesday, while driving to Patzcuaro,my friend and I decided to take a side road to look for interesting new folk art. We happened on the Fiesta Patronal de Santiago in the tiny town of Cuanajo, Michoacan. Santiago is the Patron Saint of this little town. We parked the car just in time to see the parade of charros (cowboys) on their horses riding down the main street. We followed everyone to the sounds of the band, to the church grounds where the Padre was giving an outdoor mass right next to this beautiful overhead display of papel picado.
Are you having a Mexican themed party?
Posted: July 3, 2012 Filed under: Mexican Style, Paper Folk Art, Pinatas | Tags: handmade, mexican style, paper folk art, Pinatas Comments Off
Did you know you can order a Zinnia embellished pinata? The one pictured above is going to a Mexican-themed bridal shower. We can make pinatas of different shapes and sizes (8-pointed or 5-pointed) in a variety of colors. Share your creative ideas with us or let us do the creative work for you. So if you’re thinking of adding something beautiful and unique to your next fiesta, think pinata! Call (612-824-4342) or email (info@zinniafolkarts.com) for pricing…
Paper Mache Mexican Folk Art Skeletons Gettin’ Married in the Morning
Posted: June 27, 2012 Filed under: Day of the Dead, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Style, Paper Folk Art, Paper Mache | Tags: Day of the Dead, handmade, Mexican folk art, paper folk art, paper mache Comments OffYou know that skeletons do everything that living people do, right? Well, they even get married! And more and more people want to include skeletons (especially smiling, happy skeletons) in their wedding plans. This happy couple would love to stand on top of a cake or on the head table at any wedding but especially those with a Mexican theme or a Day of the Dead theme. (Yes, people do that.)
Just look at the detail on these exquisite paper mache brides and grooms. The veil, the necklace, the soft green edging to her dress. And they even stand up on their own…the first couple is available, right here.
The second bride is also lovely and she’s available here. 
Our Shop is Open!
Posted: May 20, 2012 Filed under: Folk Art, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Jewelry, Mexican Pottery, Paper Mache, Religious Folk Art, Santos, Textiles, The Shop, Unique gifts & Jewelry, Zinnia Folk Arts Shop | Tags: Alpaca, Frida Kahlo, Josefina Aguilar, Margarita Fick, Mexican ceramics, Mexican dishes, Mexican folk art, Mexican jewelry, mexican style, paper folk art, paper mache, Religious folk art, Textiles, Wood Carvings Comments Off
Come visit us and put a smile on your face…Celebrate the joy of the great country of Mexico… See the ART in folk art!
We’re open Tuesday-Friday 11-6, Saturdays 10-5
Closed on Sunday & Monday
612-824-4342
www.ZinniaFolkArts.com
More Pinata Love
Posted: January 29, 2012 Filed under: Mexican Folk Art, Paper Folk Art, Pinatas | Tags: Celebrate the holidays, handmade, Mexican folk art, paper folk art, Pinatas Comments Off
Just an everyday sight in Mexico, adding a little joy here and a little fiesta there.
Valentines for Frida Lovers
Posted: January 17, 2012 Filed under: Frida Kahlo, Mexican Folk Art, Unique gifts & Jewelry | Tags: Folk Art, Frida Kahlo, Gifts, handmade, paper folk art, Valentine 1 Comment »
This is a very pretty, one of a kind, little Valentine made of a reprinted Mexican newspaper, filled with a soft cotton and then embroidered with red yarn along the edge. It’s been embellished with a photo of Frida Kahlo and some lovely gold designs. This is the only one left in red but I also have one in pink, green and black. But, sadly that’s it! I can’t locate the artisan who made these. They were made in the US but they have the right Mexican feel, don’t you think?
They are $13.50 each and can be found right here. Free local pickup in the Twin Cities!
Merry Christmas & See you Next Year!
Posted: December 25, 2011 Filed under: Christmas, Paper Mache | Tags: Christmas, paper folk art, paper mache, sacred hearts 2 Comments »
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all of you!
I’m taking a break to spend time with my family and won’t be posting until the new year.
Enjoy the season and I hope you can take a little break too!
See you next year…
Margarita Fick’s Paper Cut Outs
Posted: November 16, 2011 Filed under: Folk Art, Mexican Folk Art, Paper Folk Art | Tags: Margarita Fick, Mexican folk art, papel picado, paper folk art Comments OffI’ve talked about these before but they are so amazing, that I want to show you a few examples. These are gorgeous pictures cut out of black paper. The first one is large (38.5″ by 24″) and the other two are smaller (24″ by 16″). They are cut by hand, with a small fingernail scissors, by a master designer and paper-cutter, Margarita Fick. She grew up in a family that made papel picado, the cut out tissue paper flags, so she learned early about paper and its ways. She now is the only person I know in Mexico who creates these beautiful (and limited) designs. Most of her designs are women skeletons dressed in fancy cutout dresses, but she does do some Frida Kahlo designs and a few non-skeleton designs. The backgrounds are filled with insects, butterflies, lizards, dogs, pigs or a variety of animals, plants and leaves. The composition of the piece is always incredible.
Notice the asymmetry of the last photo. The symmetrical pieces are folded in half and then cut, but the asymmetrical ones are more difficult to make because they are not folded before cutting.
Contact us if you are interested in purchasing or have any additional questions!
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.
