Mexico rug patterns | Oaxaca Cultural Navigator : Norma Schafer

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Weaving a Curve-Documentary Film: English Subtitles

Posted on Monday, May 25, 2009 | 2 comments

I’m happy to announce that we now have the film that Eric and I made last February translated and imbedded with English subtitles. Hallelujah! Here’s the URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxgxcMQlQZM

Be sure to see the blog post: Documentary Filmmaking Workshop: Visual Storytelling for the February 19-16, 2010 workshop. Taking registrations now.

I’m so NOVICE using Final Cut Pro and even with help from the Apple Store, I just couldn’t figure out how to make that pesky little app in the software work for me. So, I called Erica Rothman, the instructor for our documentary filmmaking workshop, and she came to the rescue today. Three hours later and now I can say we finally have a completed movie! I gave Erica one of my Made By Hand Norma Hawthorne necklaces and a 1/2 pint of my homemade goat cheese in gratitude. So, please enjoy and I’d love to hear your feedback. Please note the the translation is not “word for word” but contextual!

Our next documentary filmmaking workshop in Teotitlan will start the last week in February 2010. We have some exciting new ideas to incorporate, and this upcoming workshop will be two days longer so we will have more time to shoot B-roll, edit (and, yes, complete the subtitles, if needed), and have a bit more down time!

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Posted in Oaxaca rug weaving and natural dyes, Teotitlan del Valle

Tagged documentary filmmaking workshop, Federico Chavez Sosa master weaver, Mexico rug patterns, rug weaving, Teotitlan del Valle, weaving a curve

Blue-Indigo-Anil: Natural Dyes of Oaxaca

Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2008 | 2 comments

These traditional Zapotec Mexican rug designs capture the beauty of the landscape, replicate the stone carvings on the archeological ruins of the Oaxaca Valley, and convey the artistry of the culture. The first rug on the left, Zapotec Eye of God, uses the natural dyes of indigo blue, the cochineal bug, and pomegranates. All the rugs shown here are of the highest quality pure 100% churro sheep wool grown in the Mixtec highlands of Oaxaca. The next rug (left to right) is called Thunders and Diamonds. This is a very traditional design in the village of Teotitlan del Valle. This rug is naturally dyed, too, with lichens, cochineal, indigo and pecans. The next rug is the Square Snail, that uses all indigo in various shades. The snail (caracol) here incorporates the greca or fret motif, a symbol that represents the stages of life: birth, growth, death, and rebirth. The next rug to the right of the Square Snail is called Contemporary, designed by Federico Chavez Sosa to incorporate the traditional Mitla ruins with a new look. The last rug is Pina de Maguey. The pineapple of the maguey cactus grows beneath the earth and is cultivated to produce both mezcal and tequila. The Oaxaca valley is filled with maguey fields. This rug, which Federico also designed, combines the traditional Zapotec Diamonds pattern with the interpretation of the maguey (or agave) plant. is also completely dyed with indigo. The color variations of indigo, from deep blues and purples to paler shades, results from the amount of indigo used and whether it is mixed with an acid or base.

These rugs are available for sale and can be special ordered in any size, up to 9′ x 12′

See my website and the Rug Gallery for more examples of great Mexican rug patterns.