For hands-on fun, escape winter and come to Oaxaca from February 4 to 11, 2013. Together, during this one-week workshop residency, we will be immersed in the textile culture of Oaxaca to create naturally-dyed felted fabric combining wool, silk and cotton that can be hand or machine stitched into an indigenous clothing design of your choice. Our experts, textile and fiber artist-clothing designer Jessica de Haas, from Vancouver, B.C., Canada and Eric Chavez Santiago from Oaxaca, Mexico, will show you how!
Jessica owns the clothing design company Funk-Shui and is an award-winning, internationally known fiber artist and teacher. She recently completed an artist residency in Oaxaca, and taught and exhibited at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca. See her website for bio and designs.
Eric Chavez Santiago, founding director of education at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, is a weaver and natural dye expert. He has taught natural dyeing techniques in Oaxaca and at U.S. universities and museums since 2006.
First, working with Eric in his family’s home studio in Teotitlan del Valle, we will dye and over-dye wool roving with natural materials: cochineal, indigo, wild marigold, pomegranates and other plants to achieve the colors you will use in your piece(s). We will learn about mordant processes to fix the dye and dye extraction to create over 10 different colors. Dye recipes are included!
Then, working with Jessica in the courtyard of our B&B, we will felt our naturally dyed wool fiber on silk or loosely woven cotton or muslin, making a durable and beautiful fabric. After your fabric is dry, you will have the option to cut and sew it into one of several indigenous Oaxaca styles: the huipil (tunic), the blusa (blouse), rebozo (shawl), boufanda (scarf) or quechequemitl (cape). Here is a piece from Jessica’s collection that you might like!
We give you a pattern book to choose your design! Below is a sample pattern for a quechquemitl.
This workshop is for all levels of experience! You do not have to be an artist to attend. We welcome beginners who have never worked in hand felting and more advanced fiber artists. This is a perfect residency for students, teachers and artists who may want to explore a different medium, too.
We will provide you with patterns for the basic indigenous designs that can be adjusted to fit. If you want to contemporize them, we can help you tweak and make minor adjustments. If you have sewing or pattern drafting experience and want to experiment on your own, you are welcome to work on an independent design project after your fabric is made.
We will be based in the weaving village of Teotitlan del Valle where for generations families have been creating wool textiles. During our time together, we will go on local field trips to meet and talk with weavers who work with natural dyes and weave fabric for wearable art as well as sturdier floor and wall tapestries. We will see examples of the types of garments that can be created from the felted fabric we make.
Participant materials to bring (preliminary):
- wool roving—either merino or corriedale, 2 lbs. or 1 kg. minimum
- silk, cotton, and/or muslin—3-4 meters (4.37 yards) minimum
- beads, sequins, buttons, ribbons, embroidery thread and other embellishments
Note: The materials listed are sufficient to make one garment. If you wish to prepare more than one piece of dyed felted fabric, you are welcome to bring more materials. However, it is likely you will only be able to complete one finished piece during the time allotted.
Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC will provide, included in your registration fee:
- all instruction
- 7 nights lodging
- 7 breakfasts
- 7 dinners
- all dye materials
- pattern booklet
- dye recipes
- sewing machine to share, needles, thread
Workshop is limited to 8 participants
Daily Workshop Schedule:
Arrive Saturday, February 4, Depart Sunday, February 11 — 7 nights, 8 days
- Day 1, Saturday, February 4, arrive and settle into your bed and breakfast posada in Teotitlan del Valle (we send directions)
- Day 2, Sunday, February 5, natural dye workshop to prepare wool roving
- Days 3-5, Monday-Wednesday, February 6-8, make the felted fabric on silk, cotton or muslin
- Days 6-7, Thursday-Friday, February 9-10, create your pattern, sew and embellish the garment
- Day 7, Friday, February 10, evening fashion show and reception
- Day 8, Saturday, February 11, depart
(Preliminary daily schedule subject to modification. Start and end dates will not change.)
Workshop Fee: $1,365 per person shared room and bath, double occupancy. Single occupancy with private bath, add $300. Most travel programs of this type and length cost more than twice as much!
Optional Add-ons:
Option 1: Arrive a day early, on Friday, February 3, and take a Zapotec cooking class on Saturday, February 4 with Reyna Mendoza Ruiz. Includes one night lodging, breakfast, lunch, cooking class and recipes. $110 USD each.
Option 2: Day 8-10, Saturday-Monday, February 11-13. Add-on two more nights and visit fly-shuttle manta cotton cloth weaving studios and archeological site on Saturday in San Pablo Villa de Mitla along with a mezcal tasting at a boutique mezcaleria in Matatlan. On Sunday, visit the Tlacolula regional tianguis market to see handcrafted aprons and rebozos. $245 USD each (lunch on your own; includes two breakfasts and dinners, transportation and guided visits). Depart Monday, February 13.
About Our Workshops, Retreats and Programs. We offer educational programs that are hands-on, fun, culturally sensitive, and offer you an immersion experience. Our workshop leaders are experts in their field, knowledgeable, have teaching experience and guide you in the learning process. Our goal is to enhance your knowledge while giving you time to explore and discover.
About Lodging and Accommodations. To keep this trip affordable and accessible, we stay in a local posada operated by three generations of women — grandmother, mother, daughter — all great cooks! The food is all housemade (including the tortillas), safe to eat and delicious. Vegetarian options are available.
Accommodations are clean and basic. Shared baths are across the courtyard. (Bring flip-flops and flashlight.) The base price of the trip includes shared room and bath; single supplement with private bath is available (add $300). Please indicate your preference.
Your registration fee does NOT include airfare, taxes, admissions to museums and archeological sites, gratuities, travel insurance, liquor/alcoholic beverages, some meals and some transportation.
Deposits, Reservations and Cancellations. A 50% deposit ($683) is required to guarantee your spot. The final payment for the balance due (including any supplemental costs) shall be paid by December 15, 2012. We prefer Payment with PayPal. We will be happy to send you an invoice.
If cancellation is necessary, please notify us in writing by email. After December 15, 2012, no refunds are possible; however, we will make every possible effort to fill your reserved space. Your registration is transferable to a substitute. If you cancel before December 15, we will refund 50% of your deposit. We strongly recommend that you take out trip cancellation, baggage, emergency evacuation and medical insurance before you begin your trip, since unforeseen circumstances are possible.
To register or for questions, contact: normahawthorne@mac.com I am happy to set up a Skype call with you, too. Skype name: Oaxacaculture
Taste Oaxaca: Shop, Cook, Eat
Immerse yourself in the food culture of Oaxaca during this 7-day, 6-night eating, cooking workshop-tour, January 23-29. Oaxaca is known for her chocolate, mescal, organic maize (corn), fresh fruits and vegetables, abundant chiles, savory spices and family operated kitchens. Superb meals are around every street corner and in fine dining establishments. Hand to mouth. Market basket to kitchen. Pan to plate. We will explore it all.
Make this your perfect winter getaway! Limited to 6 people.
Come with us to enjoy meals in fine-dining restaurants. Sample some of the finest mezcal made in Oaxaca not available for export. Taste humble street and market food from trusted vendors. Participate in food shopping and tasting excursions to learn about local ingredients. Roll up your sleeves and make three of Oaxaca’s famous seven moles with cooking classes from noted chefs and local indigenous cooks.
Cooking classes include a complete multi-course menu, from soup or salad through dessert. Your experienced cooking instructors have recorded traditional recipes passed down through the generations from mother to daughter. You will receive complete recipes printed in English that you can adapt to available ingredients at home.
Taste Oaxaca is limited to 6 participants.
What Taste Oaxaca includes:
Day 1: Wednesday, January 23, arrive Oaxaca, overnight Oaxaca
Day 2: Thursday, January 24, market shopping and cooking class, afternoon on your own, fine-dining, overnight Oaxaca (B, L, D)
Day 3: Friday, January 25, eat Oaxaca style, explore organic market food stalls and bakery, mescal tasting reception and fine-dining, overnight Oaxaca (B, D)
Day 4: Saturday, January 26, on your own morning to explore with suggestions, meet for lunch at family operated comedor, travel to Teotitlan in late afternoon, check into to B&B, supper in Teotitlan (B, L, D)
Day 5: Sunday, January 27, Tlacolula market, lunch at local comedor or market stalls, return to B&B, afternoon cooking class followed by dinner (B, L, D)
Day 6: Monday, January 28, cooking class and lunch, free-time in afternoon, farewell dinner fiesta at local restaurant (B, L, D)
Day 7: Tuesday, January 29, depart after breakfast (B)
Cost: The base cost for the trip is $1,595.00 USD. Most travel programs of this type and length cost more than twice as much!
It does NOT include airfare, taxes, admissions to museums and archeological sites, gratuities, travel insurance, liquor/alcoholic beverages, some meals and some transportation not included in the itinerary.
You may wish to come early or stay later. We are happy to make these arrangements for you.
Lodging/Accommodations
In Oaxaca city, we will stay in a lovely upscale bed and breakfast featured in many travel articles and rated very highly.
In Teotitlan del Valle, we stay in a local bed and breakfast operated by three generations of women — grandmother, mother, daughter — all great cooks! The food is all handcrafted and delicious. Vegetarian options are available.Village accommodations are clean and basic. Shared baths are across the courtyard. (Bring flip-flops and flashlight.)
You will have the option of having a double room with shared bath (across the courtyard) for the base price of the trip. Single supplement with shared bath (add $200). Shared room with private bath (add $200). Single room with private bath (add $300). Please indicate your preference on the registration form.
Reservations, and Cancellations
A 50% deposit ($800) is required to guarantee your spot. The final payment for the balance due (including any supplemental costs) shall be postmarked by January 1, 2012. We request Payment with PayPal. We will be happy to send you an invoice.
If cancellation is necessary, please notify us in writing by email. After April 1, no refunds are possible; however, we will make every possible effort to fill your reserved space. If you cancel before April 1, we will refund 50% of your deposit. We strongly recommend that you take out trip cancellation, baggage, emergency evacuation and medical insurance before you begin your trip, since unforeseen circumstances are possible.
To register or for questions, contact: oaxacaculture@me.com
This workshop is produced by Norma Hawthorne, Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC. For more information, see: http://oaxacaculture.com
→ Leave a comment
Posted in Cultural Commentary, Dining and Lodging, Food & Recipes, Oaxaca Mexico art and culture, Oaxaca travel, Travel & Tourism, Workshops and Retreats
Tagged blogsherpa, class, cook, course, dine, eat, excursion, food, market, Mexico, Oaxaca, recipes, restaurants, tour, workshop