TYING UP LOOSE ENDS

The loose threads in my life get tangled this time of the year, and the older I get, it seems the more snarly they are. The last six weeks were spent leaving Mexico, resting (not for long) in Oregon, and immersing ourselves in preparations and shopping for our summer in Refuge Cove. We make our lists and check them twice (my list includes food, fabric and fishing gear!), and try to rein in all those loose ends so we appear together and organized for the next stage of our life.

So what’s been happening in my gypsy quilter life? A highlight in our last few weeks in Mazatlan came at a spontaneous moment with our “sewing ladies”. As a season good-by, my good friend Bev and I decided to take the ladies out for a “shop” tour and luncheon. The focus was to check out a local gift shop (Casa Etnika) that features wonderful and unique items, many handmade or hand-sewn throughout various parts of Mexico. We would check out the hand-sewn products that might give them creative ideas of their own.

But prior to our touring of Casa Etnika, we took an impromptu tour of the Angela Peralta Theater, Mazatlan’s premier performing arts center that frequently features opera, tango, orchestra, modern dance, etc. We walked into the empty theater (except for a few members of the local modern dance company up near the stage), and wondrously wandered toward the front. Suddenly someone had the brilliant idea of sending our two illustrious sewers AND singers up on the empty stage where they could sing to us. And so they did. It was a breathtaking event – seeing and hearing Ceci and Lola send their voices through the magnificent concert hall. Timid at first, they soon filled with confidence and power. They were on cloud 9 and so were we. I’ll never forget the experience of witnessing these simple women performing in the spotlight.

I continued with my twice a week dyeing groups right up to the end of my Mazatlan season. What a great group of dyers joined me this year!

My friend Linda is writing a book about a young woman who is "the queen of the elephant riders". She faithfully came to my studio every week to produce fabric for her cover piece. This is just in the rough stages, and I can't wait to see the finished product...and read her book!

Who should knock on my door one evening but a face out of the past...Shannon came to work in my studio about three years ago and wanted to show me what she'd been doing. She and her husband live on their sailboat and travel the waters between here and there, and now she is an amazing, free-spirited quilter. She had four art quilts, carefully rolled and carried in her backback, to show me. I was thrilled to see her and her work!

Just last night I received an email from my friend Rosemary who frequents my dye sessions in Mazatlan. She wanted to show me the quilts she made from her dyed creations. Aren’t these colors fantastic?!

Midst our full and busy five weeks in Jacksonville, Oregon, I taught three classes within the local ASG (American Sewing Guild) membership: two in dyeing and one in discharging. These came as a natural continuation of my weekly groups in Mazatlan, and all I had to do was borrow a tubful of dyeing paraphernalia from Christine (gracias, amiga!). In preparation for my BC summer, I finished two quilts to be displayed at Quadra Island’s Quilt and Garden Tour (June 23-24) which will also include a site that will host my quilt journal group (Cyber Fibres). I have 13 little quilts to add to this collaborative display.  

Our last week in Oregon was spent in driving to Redding, California for a family birthday party for Tom, and a rescue-mission to put a decrepit 13’ 1962 Mobile Scout travel trailer back on the road and in our possession. It now lives in the “back 40” of our mobile home park and awaits renovation. I can’t wait to dye up a few curtains and cushions for this “tin can” wonder.

It was a lovely ferry ride back to BC for our summer at Refuge Cove. Along the way we were able to spend some time with friends in Anacortes, Now back in our half-time Canadian home, I instantly feel my loose ends dissolving.

MOSAIC WORKSHOP

Last week I went on the most wonderful retreat with a group of girlfriends. We loaded in one van (6+driver) and drove north one hour from Mazatlan, turned off at the “59” marker, then wound around on dirt roads for another twenty minutes until we landed at Barras de Piaxtla, the site of our three day mosaic workshop. Gail Blackburn, owner and creator of her resort, La Rosa de las Barras www.larosadelasbarras.com, was not only inviting us all to stay at her wonderful ocean side retreat, but also to learn about making mosaics. For inspiration and ideas, we didn’t have to look far - they were everywhere: showers, tabletops, doorsteps, sink tops, etc., all produced by multi-talented Gail. We shuttled up the hill to her home and studio which she shared for our workshop, and after a brief intro to the craft we were off and running to producing our own creations. With the sweeping view of the Pacific in front of us, along with her hillside organic garden below us, we happily worked (and played) for 3 days on our individual mosaics.

For sustenance we were treated to amazing meals of her local cook extraordinaire, Judith (pronounced Yoo-deet) and cared for at the resort by another local, Carmen. (I really wanted to take these women home with me.)

 Each evening we gathered at the shore for a beautiful sunset, and gathered again in the hot tub just before retiring.

On day 2, Gail took orders for manicures/pedicures/massages by Benita (at nominal prices), and many of us took advantage. This was a fantastic (5 star!) vacation full of creativity, relaxation, great food, pampering and best of all, friendship. Thank you Gail for providing this time for us!

Construction of my journal quilt: This little quilt fits under the theme of “just stitching”. I knew I wanted to use a solid color but didn’t have any idea of the content until I was looking at Gail’s brochure the other day. On the front is the prominent lighthouse that graces the point and defines this beachfront community. It was the perfect icon to remember my Barras de Piaxtla experience.  I chose a navy blue, solid hand-dye and marked where I wanted to stitch with chalk. To keep with the nautical feel, I trimmed it in red. Sweet and simple!

MY LITTLE BIRDS

I’ve been quilt journaling since 2008. My 40+ collection of 8 ½ x 11 inch tiny quilts represent my hearty participation in this wonderful group of creative quilters who have signed on to share their quilt stories with each other. Early on in this journey, we had up to 13 members in our “Cybre Fibres” group, but slowly it became clear that for some of these women, their intention was greater than their abilty to produce. This past December we all made it known to what degree we were committed, and now we are down to eight. Our initial system was set to cycle through the list of women who would present a quilt journal theme for the month, and the circle would go round and round. With each completed quilt journal, we would send them, via internet, to the collective group with the story of their construction or of their inspiration (or maybe even both!). We now have changed this to each of us coming up with a theme for the YEAR (8 themes per year), and perhaps expanding on one or two of these themes.

With our Cyber Fibre changes, we quickly came up with our individual themes which are now giving us much food for thought. Here they are for 2012: Tree of Life, Light and Shadow, Finding Perfection in Imperfection, Mapping, All That Sparkles, Black Matters, Public Art, and Whirlwinds. Isn’t this a wonderful list?!

On my recent trip to Chiapas, I became familiar with the artist, Kiki Suarez, German-born but now living in San Cristobal. I quickly connected with her work: simple, bright, colorful, lively. www.kikitheartist.com I knew I had found new inspiration for my fabric work.

Birds had been on my mind, and I loved the whimsical birds I found in Kiki’s book. I thought I’d try out a few, and consider them to be a part of “The Tree of Life”.

"SEWING LADIES" REPORT 2012

You might have been asking, “What’s been going on with those Mazatlan sewing ladies that Mary and Bev work with?” I haven’t been avoiding this topic, but rather waiting to get a complete look at what’s been done this season. I feel my first response should be something like “eating lots of tamales” or “having weekly parties” and there’s lots of truth here. But also we’ve been sitting on the sidelines, watching and waiting to see what happens with their new endeavor of their storefront in the Golden Zone (tourist district). My early December 2011 post tells of the inauguration of this shop, and they have faithfully been there each day to try to sell their wares to the small numbers of tourists that are coming to Mazatlan this year. They also have venues at “ex-pat” meetings where they are well known and well supported. I think they have survived, but the real truth will be told next fall, after the SLOW summer, when they will need to decide if they want to commit to another winter season in the shop. Maybe the cruise ships will return...hope, hope hope! For now, it’s too early to tell.

As far as my input, I invited them to my studio back in December (a horrible month for an invitation in the midst of the Christmas season) to print up a whack of local manta (muslin). I made up a schedule for 3 women per day to come over and spend 3-4 hours stamping, dyeing, bleaching etc. the fabric with the plan of later making their signature mariposa (butterfly) bags. Being the holidays, only 6 out of 12 were able to participate.

After the fabric-making was done, I created “kits” for them to make the bags. If I didn’t do this, the process would have been incredibly labor intensive, and probably would have driven me crazy with their primitive scissor method. Rotary cutters, mats and rulers make this process SO EASY for me and my modern northern friends, so I just took it over and zip, zip, zip…put together 18 kits. (IF it hadn’t been Christmas, I would have had them use the rotary cutter, to experience another way.) When I returned to our group after the holidays, I passed out 3 kits per participant with the other women looking on with envy. They ALL want to join in next year, and yes, I’ll do it in December. It’s a good month for me, before my own classes begin.

They made the bags and now have sold them. They are increasingly adding applique butterflies (and other objects) to their creations and their customers are snapping them up. Here in Mexico, the motto is “poco a poco” (little by little)…so true with these women.

In another two weeks, we’ll have another party as my good-bye. Everything is a celebration, with a little sewing in between. How fortunate I am to have these women as my friends!

KITTY CAT PARADE

Here come the cats! Once again, Mazatlan's "Bow-Wow Meow" fundraiser is happening and I'm a loyal fan who loves to create something in the dog or cat line for their silent auction. This year, my husband was very sick with a bad case of the flu and I had a week of free nights to sew and create to my heart's content.

On my recent trip to San Cristobal de las Casas, I discovered an artist who is a new inspiration for my fabric work. Kiki Suarez is German born, now living in Mexico, and produces lively, colorful, whimsical art that sings of life. Her figures are simple and primitive and perfect for rough-cutting fabrics and creating collages from my hand-dyes.

Our local animal group, Projecto de Animales de la Calle (PAC), are a devoted group of individuals who work to care for our local street animals and to control their populations. Often times they post photos on facebook looking for someone to adopt these special cratures. Recently two of them went to a weeklong spay and neutering clinic in La Manzanilla, and hope to have a similar clinic here in Maz in the future.

These four pillows will soon belong to folks who support PAC!

ADIOS MES DE AMOR #1

So goes my shaky Spanish: goodby month of love, part 1!
Really, where did February go? Which is much like the question I asked myself last weekend: how'd I get to be 59?
Even though we're blessed with a 29th day this year, the month has flown by.
Midst my trip to Chiapas and an added escape to Guadalajara during our city's Carnaval celebration, we had four fun dyeing days in my studio. One session was particularly busy with my Minnesota friend, Mary (another Mary, aka Orange Mary as that is the color she almost always wears), as she tie dyed meters and meters of fabric for her granddaughter's SKIRTS FOR PEACE project. Check it out on the web: www.skirtsforpeace.com.

During the last five years, Mazatlan has really found it's place in the art scene. My friend, Glen Rogers, brought the First Friday Artwalk to our town and it truly is a fantastic, crowd-drawing event. I participated for the first three years, but then dropped out to focus on my groups and my slow-to-produce craft that doesn't lend itself well to commercialism. I was missing having my work "out there" so happily participated in Glen's gallery, Luna (lunacontempo.com) for the annual Valentine show. The one directly above is my "credit card" piece I call "Circles of Love".  I thickened different colors of dye, squirted them on my treated fabric, then spread the color to fill in the spaces with the side of an old credit card. It was fun, easy, and I just had to quilt it!

CHIAPAS - PART TWO

I am back home now and spin-drying the full color memories of my trip to Chiapas. These are guaranteed to be color-fast, not to fade easily.

We were on the go each of our twelve days, either on our own, roaming the streets of San Cristobal de las Casas, or with our guide, Alex(www.cieloytierratours.com), exploring the ruins,

or the villages, or popular “water” spots:  Sumidero Canyon, Agua Azul or El Chiflon.

Since Chiapas provides 35-50% (two different figures I heard…take your pick!) of Mexico’s hydroelectric power, you can imagine how much water there is in this southernmost state of Mexico. Supposedly the rainy season is from May through October, which adds up to big rivers, big waterfalls, BIG water. And with big water comes amazing GREEN, particularly in the lower elevations.

Most amazing were our visits to the indigenous communities. With Alex we felt comfortable, rather than intrusive gringas. Under his direction, we put our cameras away, and tried to respect these villagers' requests to not be "in their faces” with our pushy western ways. San Juan de Chamula was the most unique village and certainly the strongest in their desire to retain their culture.

They have created their own religion (within the structure of the Catholic Church) and use this building as a gathering place for worshipping in their own way. The priests have been kicked out (except for baptisms) and it is common to see healers of all types at work, along with hundreds of candles burning (different colors for different requests),
pox and coca-cola being consumed (burping up coke is a way to rid oneself of the bad), groups or individuals chatting, all dressed in indigenous clothing that is the norm. As I said before, it was like stepping back in time.

All throughout these Mayan lands (from the Yucatan down to Honduras) there are many ruins of ancient sites. On this trip we visited three: Palenque, Tonina, and Tenam Puente.

To imagine what these sites must have been like 12 or 13 hundred years ago, with their incredible architecture and connection to the planets and the stars, seasons and their mathematical mastery is truly mind-boggling.

Another interesting aspect of this area was the recent revolution of the Zapatistas against the government. We saw two good movies on these revolutionary events that began in 1994, and although there is little that we witnessed on our trip besides signage along the roadsides and souvenirs in the shops, I believe it’s not over yet. The government has been more responsive to the Chiapanecans, but there’s a long way to go for the indigenous people to have their basic needs met.

Our travels in Chiapas once again confirmed that we are living in a truly amazing country with gracious people, fascinating history, and interesting culture. We never felt unsafe, as the northern media would like travelers to question. Go, visit, travel, search and find. All of Mexico is a jewel, waiting to be discovered.