Let the festivities begin! | View From Casita Colibrí
Posted: July 11, 2013 Filed under: Folk Art, Mexican Crafts, Mexican Folk Art, Mexican Holidays, Mexico, Oaxaca, Paper Folk Art, Virgin of Guadalupe | Tags: handmade, Mexican crafts, Mexican folk art, Mexican holidays, Oaxaca, paper folk art, Virgin of Guadalupe 2 CommentsSunday in Tlacolula
Let the festivities begin!
July 11, 2013 by spixl
Monday, we returned to Teotitlán del Valle for the Fiesta titular a la Preciosa Sangre de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo — the pueblo’s most important festival of the year. While special masses have been celebrated at the Templo de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo (the village church) since June 30, Monday’s convite (procession) by the unmarried women in the village, kicked off the more public events.
Lovingly decorated canastas (baskets) waited in the church to be reclaimed by their owners, placed on their heads, and carried through the streets.
Crowds gathered in the plaza in front of the church and sidewalks and streets along the route. And then it began — with solemn drum beats, fireworks, church bells, marmotas (cloth balloons on a pole), and a band.
Little boys (and a few girls) carrying model airplanes (don’t ask me why), paper mache lambs, and turkeys followed.
And then came the neatly organized rows of girls and young women.For over an hour they wound their way up and down and around the streets of Teotitlán del Valle. The weather was perfect, no late afternoon thunder showers this year, and it was glorious.
Stay tuned, the festivities continue all week. And, check out Oaxaca-The Year After this week for blogger buddy Chris’s photos and commentary.
via Let the festivities begin! | View From Casita Colibrí.
Flowers, flowers everywhere…
Posted: May 21, 2013 Filed under: Folk Art, Mexican Crafts, Mexican Folk Art, Paper Folk Art | Tags: handmade, Mexican folk art, mexican style, paper folk art, tissue paper flowers Comments Off on Flowers, flowers everywhere…“So, why did you name the store, Zinnia Folk Arts?”
Did you know that zinnias are a flower native to Mexico? Zinnias come in lots of different colors and shapes and sizes just like Mexican folk art. I love the image of the zinnia and the possibilities for design and branding. They are annuals in Minnesota (maybe they are everywhere?) and we celebrated our first anniversary by handing out packs of zinnia seeds. We also are sending them to people who purchase something from the online shop through the month of May to celebrate our one year at 50th and Bryant in Minneapolis!
Flowers all types are pretty ubiquitous in Mexico…calla lilies, roses, poinsettas, marigolds…check out the flower markets in Mexico City if you are there. They are stunning! In addition to finding flowers in the fields, markets and homes of Mexico you will find flower images almost everywhere else. Flowers are a common motif in jewelry, in the many painted functional and whimsical objects of clay and wood and really, just about everywhere! And is it me, or do they all look like zinnias?
Ok, I guess these could be called roses. This bag was woven first, then made into a bag and it is really beautiful…
Folk artists also make them from paper. Tissue paper flowers are having a moment–take a look at Pinterest or any wedding blog. If you’re in the Twin Cities, stay tuned for the class we’ll be having at the shop on June 22–we’ll be teaching you how to make beautiful, tissue paper flowers. It will be part of the 50th and Bryant Street Fest from 12-3 that day…more details later!
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 Off on Custom Made PinatasThis 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 Folk Art Surprises Every Day in Rural Mexico
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 on Are you having a Mexican themed party?
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 Off on Paper Mache Mexican Folk Art Skeletons Gettin’ Married in the MorningYou 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 on Our Shop is Open!
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 on More Pinata Love
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…
Zinnia Folk Arts 