Ends Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 3 PM! Perfect for winter warmth.
For years, I’ve stored beautiful wool hand wovens from Oaxaca and Chiapas in a cedar chest that Teotitlan del Valle carpenter Elias made for me. This cedar chest is called a baule, which traditionally is gifted at Zapotec weddings to store valuables and clothing that need protection from critters. They always had a lock and were often painted with the name of the bride and the date of marriage. I will return to the USA at the end of the coming week and offer these to you as part of my collection that I’m paring down. Many of these texxtiles are naturally dyed and artisan made. I have treasured them because I know everyone who has created them. Some are pieces were purchased years ago, so they have collector value. Most have never been or rarely been worn. So, very much LIKE NEW.
Please purchase before 3 PM on November 14. I will be packing them to take with me when I return to New Mexico for the winter holidays and mail them to you after November 20 — just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Perfect for wearing or gifting!
Pieces are priced FAR BELOW what was paid for them. Priced to SELL.
How to Buy: Send me an email to tell me which item(s) you want BY NUMBER and by name of item. Send me your name, mailing address, email address, and phone number. Tell me if you want to purchase using a Zelle transfer or a credit card. If you use a credit card, we add a 4% service fee. There is no extra fee for using Zelle. If you want Zelle, please tell me how your Zelle account is registered. For mailing, I will add a $14 packing and mailing charge. I am NOT putting these items for sale in the SHOP — only here!
Thank you!
#1 Indigo Poncho
#1. Indigo Poncho handwoven in Teotitlan del Valle by master weaver Roman Gutierrez Ruiz. He is an invited exhibitor at the Feria de Chapala, Original in Mexico City, and expoventas at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca. Román Gutiérrez Ruiz is a third generation weaver, taught this craft by his family as their business. There are currently 5 people in their workshop — spinning, carding, embroidering, and sewing.
Teotitlán del Valle is famous for its pedal loom rugs. Román has been teaching at the center of arts of San Agustin Etla for 12 years and about 6000 students have passed through his workshop. He has won numerous awards include the FONART Presidential Grand Prize, and the National Great Works of Popular Art Living Legends. One size fits all. Measures: 30″ long from neck V to hem, and 43″ wide from shoulder to shoulder. Priced reduction: $195 down from $245.
#2. Chiapas PomPom Throw
#2. Hand-woven on the back strap loom in San Juan Chamula, Chiapas, this is a versatile textile that can be used as a shawl, a throw, or just a decorative textile. The wool comes from brown Churro sheep brought to the America’s by the Spanish. It is hand-carded on the drop spindle loom. This textile is very soft and wearable. The pom poms are handmade from dyed wool. Measures 24″ wide x 68″ long. Prices to sell at $85.
#3 Puebla Quechquemitl
SOLD. #3. A warm brown quechquemitl woven on the back strap loom high in the mountains in the State of Puebla. Natural wool with hand embroidered threads colored with natural dyes. See the elaborate fringes. A soft, luscious fabric very comfortable to wear. This is a pre-Hispanic garment worn by indigenous women original woven with cotton. Easy on and off — just pull it over your head. Wear like a short poncho. The Spanish conquest brought wool to the Americas. Measures 29″ long from neck V x 38″ wide across the shoulder. Priced to sell at $145.
#4 Mixtec Poncho
#4. From Remigio Mestas’ curated collection at Los Baules de Juana Cata, this Mixtec poncho is woven on the back strap loom from soft, natural sheep wool. Note the red cochineal accent strip that runs along both edges of the textile. The randa, joining stitch, is fine and well executed. A perfect piece for winter warmth that will carry you will into chilly spring evenings. Beautiful drape! Priced reduction: $145 down from $195.
#5 Indigo Ombre Shawl
SOLD. #5. Glorious soft white wool woven on the flying shuttle loom by our friend Arturo Hernandez in Mitla, it is dyed with three shades of indigo. The hand-twisted fringes are masterful. If you love indigo, this piece shows off all the color variations of the first, second and third dye baths. Measures 27″ wide by 89″ long — long enough to wrap around your neck two or three times! Priced to sell at $145.
#6 Tlahuitoltepec Shawl
SOLD. #6. A luscious medium blue shawl with a very intricate hand-knotted fringe from the Mixe village of Tlahuitoltepec about two and a half hours beyond the Valles Centrales de Oaxaca high in the Sierra Madre del Sur. This beautiful indigo shawl is colored with naturally dyed wool. It takes months to tie a fringe this detailed. Measures 24″ wide x 82″ long. Priced to sell at $135.
I’m at my casita in Teotitlan del Valle and will return to the USA at the end of the coming week. I’m looking at the handwoven blusas and huipilesin my closet here! A collection of naturally dyed and artisan made textiles that I have treasured because I know everyone who has created them. Many are pieces I purchased years ago, so they have collector value. Most have never been or rarely been worn. So, very much LIKE NEW.
I’m reposting this. Glitches on website yesterday! Thanks for understanding.
Please purchase before 3 PM on November 14. I will be packing them to take with me when I return to New Mexico for the winter holidays and mail them to you after November 20 — just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Perfect for wearing or gifting!
20 pieces. Scroll all the way down!
Pieces are priced FAR BELOW what was paid for them. Priced to SELL.
How to Buy: Send me an email to tell me which item(s) you want BY NUMBER and by name of item. Send me your name, mailing address, email address, and phone number. Tell me if you want to purchase using a Zelle transfer or a credit card. If you use a credit card, we add a 4% service fee. There is no extra fee for using Zelle. If you want Zelle, please tell me how your Zelle account is registered. For mailing, I will add a $14 packing and mailing charge. I am NOT putting these items for sale in the SHOP — only here!
Thank you!
Reindeer Smocked Blouse #117”w 26 long
#1. Reindeer Smocked Blouse from Tijaltepec, Oaxaca. The animal figures are created by smocking the 100% cotton fabric. Green trim is embroidered. Note the amazing sleeves. A perfect outfit for the holidays and seasonal festivities. Measures 17″ wide x 26″ long. Size M-L. $135 USD.
106×110 cm
#2. This is an amazing back strap loomed 100% cotton poncho colored with natural dyes. I bought it from Los Baules de Juana Cata, curated by Remigio Mestas, in the historic center of Oaxaca. It is likely from the Mixteca Alta and made with a great deal of care and detail. Notice the hand-twisted fringes and the soft drape! Measures 45″ wide x 43″ long. $295
31x 45
#3. Completely created by hand on a back strap loom in Cancuc, Chiapas, this 100% cotton garment is embellished with hand-embroidered detailing using synthetic yarns in the traditional colors of the village. Belt it or wear it as a robe. Size L-XL. Measures 31″ wide x 45″ long. $145.
#4. Ejutla Oaxaca Blusa
SOLD. #4. A finest quality manta (natural cotton) blusa (blouse) from Ejutla, Oaxaca, purchased some years ago from Los Baules de Juana Cata curated by Remigio Mestas. He works with only the finest weavers and embroiderers in remote villages. The bodice and sleeve edging are embroidered with the finest cotton threads. The color mix is a dark lavender-gray. The fabric drapes beautifully. The neck tie is strong and sturdy. I’m unable to wear this because it is now way too big on me. Size L-XL. Measures 28″ wide x 24″ long. $165 USD.
35×41 long
SOLD. #5. One of my favorite Oaxaca villages is San Juan Colorado. It is a remote village on the coast and we will visit there in 2026. (email me if you want to be notified about this tour) Huipiles and blusas are created on the backstrap loom. This huipil is made with 100% cotton and natural dyes. The green is raw indigo. The red is cochineal and the brown is nut shells and leaves. A stunning piece. Measures 25″ wide x 41″ long. Size M-L. $235 USD.
23”wide x 25” long
#6. From the southern Oaxaca coast village of San Mateo del Mar, this fine gauze blouse was woven on the back strap loom. It features sea creatures, wildlife, and plants from the region including ducks, palm trees, and roosters. It is a size S-M. Measures 23″ wide x 25″ long. $95
26” wide x 35” long
#7. In Pinotepa de Don Luis on the Oaxaca coast, the rare purple snail dye is used sparingly to decorate hand-woven textiles. The figures include the double headed eagle, rows of corn, and people holding hands in community. This huipil has more purple snail dye than is typically used, making it a special piece. The white cotton threads are hand-spun on the drop spindle malacate by Monica from the famed family of Don Habacuc Avedano. Size M. Measures 26″ wide x 35″ long. $285.
118 long x 88 wide cm
#8a. This is a super-sized fuschine-dyed huipil from Santiago Ixtlayutla on the coast of Oaxaca, and is considered rare! The back strap loom woven dress, embellished with flora and fauna designs, is cotton with the designs woven in silk. The silk, a protein based fiber, absorbs the dye. The bleeding of the color is an intentional part of the process. The garment is folded after weaving, soaked in water, then dipped in dye. The bleeding mirrors the woven design. I purchased this from the private collection of Oaxaca textile museum founder in 2007 and rarely worn. Notice the tight randa (joining embroidery stitch) — hard to find this quality these days. Dry clean only. Size L-XL. Measures 34″ wide x 46″ long. Priced to sell at $595.
#9 Pinotepa de Don Luis Huipil28” wide x 36” long
SOLD. #8b. This is a traditional woven textile from Pinotepa de Don Luis on the Oaxaca coast. It is not natural dyes yet it is one of the most finely woven pieces of cloth I have seen in years. Size L-XL. Measures 28″ wide x 36″ long. Priced to sell at $135.
23-12” long x 22” wide. Adjustable neck. Sleeves 18” long
#9. Curated by Merry Elizabeth Foss who worked with seamstresses and embroiderers in the remote mountainous region of Puebla state, this Chakira (beaded) blouse is white on white. Not the fine embroidered trim around the adjustable neckline and sleeve. Merry sold these at Malouf on the Square in Santa Fe at over $400 USD. Size S-M. Measures 22″ wide x 23-1/2″ long. Priced to sell at $125.
27” wide x 104 cm long drop sleeve 18”
SOLD. #10. Vintage Guatemala ikat heavier weight cotton fabric designed into a contemporary style dress with two huge front pockets from one of the finest Oaxaca shops. Machine washable or dry clean. Size L-XL. Measures 27″ wide x 41″ long with an 18″ long sleeve. Priced to sell at $135.
50×61 cm
SOLD. #11. From the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, machine embroidered blouse on wine colored cotton fabric with frilly sleeve. All Oaxaca blouses embroidered on a machine are distinctive because the embroiderer hand-guides the needle — so we consider this made by hand. Size S. Measures 20″ wide x 24″ long. Priced to sell at $65.
11” across bodice, 27” armpit to armpit, 124 cm long
#12. Oh My Goodness. Drop dead gorgeous. Try to find something like this in your quest for finest hand embroidery anywhere. This is punto de cruz — cross-stitch — along with incredible hand-smocking on bodice and sleeves. This is a vintage piece in very good condition, very wearable. From Michoacan. Size S-M. Embroidered bodice measures 11″ across; 27″ wide armpit-to-armpit; and 50″ long. Priced to sell at $165.
#13. Purple Ruana
SOLD. #13. Ruana is a modified poncho, open in the front and on the sides. Wear it straight or sling one or both front panels over your shoulder for a superb fashion statement. Natural dyes. From curator collector Remigio Mestas at Los Baules de Juana Cata. Measures 34″ long. The two front panels are 19″ wide each. The back panel is 38″ wide. One size fits all. $145 USD.
#14 Coyuchi Poncho
SOLD. #14. From Pinotepa de Don Luis, Oaxaca. Coyuchi is native brown cotton that pre-dates the Spanish conquest. As a native grown plant, it is harvested, seeded by hand, then beaten and spun on a drop spindle malacate. Very labor intensive. This piece is embellis with figures dyed with purple snail dye — very rare. One size fits all. Measures 38″ wide x 28″ long. $195.
#15 Aldama, Chiapas Huipil
#15. From indigenous designer Alberto Lopez Gomez, who is featured in New York Fashion Week and winner of international awards, this huipil is woven on the back strap loom in Magdalena Aldama, Chiapas. Size S. Measures 22″ wide x 22″ long. $195.
#16 Huipil Magdalena Aldama, Chiapas
#16. Albert Lopez Gomez designed this piece that was woven on the back strap loom in Magdalena Aldama, Chiapas where talented Maya women in his family create glorious cloth. The human figures at the bottom of the bodice represent the gods who hold the universe on their shoulders. Size S. Measures 20″ wide x 22-1/2″ long. Priced to sell at $170.
#17 Khadi Oaxaca Natural Dyes
#17. Blue. Khadi Oaxaca is a workshop known for its lightweight garments made on the back strap or flying shuttle loom with all natural dyes. This tunic is dyed with indigo with wild marigold. Size S. 21″ wide x 28″ long, 11″ vents. Great over skirts or slacks. Layer over an insulated shirt for winter wearing! $95
#19. Khadi Oaxaca Indigo + Wild Marigold
#18. Teal. Khadi Oaxaca is a workshop known for its lightweight garments made on the back strap or flying shuttle loom with all natural dyes. This tunic is dyed with indigo with wild marigold. Size S. 21″ wide x 28″ long, 11″ vents. Great over skirts or slacks. Layer over an insulated shirt for winter wearing! $95
#19. Green Khadi Oaxaca
#19. Green. Khadi Oaxaca is a workshop known for its lightweight garments made on the back strap or flying shuttle loom with all natural dyes. This tunic is dyed with indigo with wild marigold. Size S. 21″ wide x 28″ long, 11″ vents. Great over skirts or slacks. Layer over an insulated shirt for winter wearing! $85.
#20. Native Oaxaca Green Cotton + Purple Snail Dye
SOLD. #20. Very rare and sought after native green Oaxaca cotton, hand-spun, woven on a back-strap loom, and embellished with figures dyed in rare purple snail dye. A one-of-a-kind. The green cotton is pre-Hispanic and used by indigenous weavers long before the Spanish conquest. It is amazing that it still survives today, although in very small quantities. Woven in Pinotepa de Don Luis, Oaxaca on the coast. Size M. Measures 25″ wide x 28″ long. $195.
I’m at my casita in Teotitlan del Valle and will return to the USA at the end of the coming week. I’m looking at the handwoven blusas and huipilesin my closet here! A collection of naturally dyed and artisan made textiles that I have treasured because I know everyone who has created them. Many are pieces I purchased years ago, so they have collector value. Most have never been or rarely been worn. So, very much LIKE NEW.
I’m reposting this. Glitches on website yesterday! Thanks for understanding.
Please purchase before 3 PM on November 14. I will be packing them to take with me when I return to New Mexico for the winter holidays and mail them to you after November 20 — just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Perfect for wearing or gifting!
20 pieces. Scroll all the way down!
Pieces are priced FAR BELOW what was paid for them. Priced to SELL.
How to Buy: Send me an email to tell me which item(s) you want BY NUMBER and by name of item. Send me your name, mailing address, email address, and phone number. Tell me if you want to purchase using a Zelle transfer or a credit card. If you use a credit card, we add a 4% service fee. There is no extra fee for using Zelle. If you want Zelle, please tell me how your Zelle account is registered. For mailing, I will add a $14 packing and mailing charge. I am NOT putting these items for sale in the SHOP — only here!
Thank you!
Reindeer Smocked Blouse #117”w 26 long
#1. Reindeer Smocked Blouse from Tijaltepec, Oaxaca. The animal figures are created by smocking the 100% cotton fabric. Green trim is embroidered. Note the amazing sleeves. A perfect outfit for the holidays and seasonal festivities. Measures 17″ wide x 26″ long. Size M-L. $135 USD.
106×110 cm
#2. This is an amazing back strap loomed 100% cotton poncho colored with natural dyes. I bought it from Los Baules de Juana Cata, curated by Remigio Mestas, in the historic center of Oaxaca. It is likely from the Mixteca Alta and made with a great deal of care and detail. Notice the hand-twisted fringes and the soft drape! Measures 45″ wide x 43″ long. $295
31x 45
#3. Completely created by hand on a back strap loom in Cancuc, Chiapas, this 100% cotton garment is embellished with hand-embroidered detailing using synthetic yarns in the traditional colors of the village. Belt it or wear it as a robe. Size L-XL. Measures 31″ wide x 45″ long. $145.
#4. Ejutla Oaxaca Blusa
#4. A finest quality manta (natural cotton) blusa (blouse) from Ejutla, Oaxaca, purchased some years ago from Los Baules de Juana Cata curated by Remigio Mestas. He works with only the finest weavers and embroiderers in remote villages. The bodice and sleeve edging are embroidered with the finest cotton threads. The color mix is a dark lavender-gray. The fabric drapes beautifully. The neck tie is strong and sturdy. I’m unable to wear this because it is now way too big on me. Size L-XL. Measures 28″ wide x 24″ long. $165 USD.
35×41 long
SOLD #5. One of my favorite Oaxaca villages is San Juan Colorado. It is a remote village on the coast and we will visit there in 2026. (email me if you want to be notified about this tour) Huipiles and blusas are created on the backstrap loom. This huipil is made with 100% cotton and natural dyes. The green is raw indigo. The red is cochineal and the brown is nut shells and leaves. A stunning piece. Measures 25″ wide x 41″ long. Size M-L. $235 USD.
23”wide x 25” long
#6. From the southern Oaxaca coast village of San Mateo del Mar, this fine gauze blouse was woven on the back strap loom. It features sea creatures, wildlife, and plants from the region including ducks, palm trees, and roosters. It is a size S-M. Measures 23″ wide x 25″ long. $95
26” wide x 35” long
#7. In Pinotepa de Don Luis on the Oaxaca coast, the rare purple snail dye is used sparingly to decorate hand-woven textiles. The figures include the double headed eagle, rows of corn, and people holding hands in community. This huipil has more purple snail dye than is typically used, making it a special piece. The white cotton threads are hand-spun on the drop spindle malacate by Monica from the famed family of Don Habacuc Avedano. Size M. Measures 26″ wide x 35″ long. $285.
118 long x 88 wide cm
#8a. This is a super-sized fuschine-dyed huipil from Santiago Ixtlayutla on the coast of Oaxaca, and is considered rare! The back strap loom woven dress, embellished with flora and fauna designs, is cotton with the designs woven in silk. The silk, a protein based fiber, absorbs the dye. The bleeding of the color is an intentional part of the process. The garment is folded after weaving, soaked in water, then dipped in dye. The bleeding mirrors the woven design. I purchased this from the private collection of Oaxaca textile museum founder in 2007 and rarely worn. Notice the tight randa (joining embroidery stitch) — hard to find this quality these days. Dry clean only. Size L-XL. Measures 34″ wide x 46″ long. Priced to sell at $595.
#9 Pinotepa de Don Luis Huipil28” wide x 36” long
SOLD. #8b. This is a traditional woven textile from Pinotepa de Don Luis on the Oaxaca coast. It is not natural dyes yet it is one of the most finely woven pieces of cloth I have seen in years. Size L-XL. Measures 28″ wide x 36″ long. Priced to sell at $135.
23-12” long x 22” wide. Adjustable neck. Sleeves 18” long
#9. Curated by Merry Elizabeth Foss who worked with seamstresses and embroiderers in the remote mountainous region of Puebla state, this Chakira (beaded) blouse is white on white. Not the fine embroidered trim around the adjustable neckline and sleeve. Merry sold these at Malouf on the Square in Santa Fe at over $400 USD. Size S-M. Measures 22″ wide x 23-1/2″ long. Priced to sell at $125.
27” wide x 104 cm long drop sleeve 18”
SOLD. #10. Vintage Guatemala ikat heavier weight cotton fabric designed into a contemporary style dress with two huge front pockets from one of the finest Oaxaca shops. Machine washable or dry clean. Size L-XL. Measures 27″ wide x 41″ long with an 18″ long sleeve. Priced to sell at $135.
50×61 cm
SOLD #11. From the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, machine embroidered blouse on wine colored cotton fabric with frilly sleeve. All Oaxaca blouses embroidered on a machine are distinctive because the embroiderer hand-guides the needle — so we consider this made by hand. Size S. Measures 20″ wide x 24″ long. Priced to sell at $65.
11” across bodice, 27” armpit to armpit, 124 cm long
#12. Oh My Goodness. Drop dead gorgeous. Try to find something like this in your quest for finest hand embroidery anywhere. This is punto de cruz — cross-stitch — along with incredible hand-smocking on bodice and sleeves. This is a vintage piece in very good condition, very wearable. From Michoacan. Size S-M. Embroidered bodice measures 11″ across; 27″ wide armpit-to-armpit; and 50″ long. Priced to sell at $165.
#13. Purple Ruana
Sold. #13. Ruana is a modified poncho, open in the front and on the sides. Wear it straight or sling one or both front panels over your shoulder for a superb fashion statement. Natural dyes. From curator collector Remigio Mestas at Los Baules de Juana Cata. Measures 34″ long. The two front panels are 19″ wide each. The back panel is 38″ wide. One size fits all. $145 USD.
#14 Coyuchi Poncho
SOLD 14. From Pinotepa de Don Luis, Oaxaca. Coyuchi is native brown cotton that pre-dates the Spanish conquest. As a native grown plant, it is harvested, seeded by hand, then beaten and spun on a drop spindle malacate. Very labor intensive. This piece is embellis with figures dyed with purple snail dye — very rare. One size fits all. Measures 38″ wide x 28″ long. $195.
#15 Aldama, Chiapas Huipil
SOLD. #15. From indigenous designer Alberto Lopez Gomez, who is featured in New York Fashion Week and winner of international awards, this huipil is woven on the back strap loom in Magdalena Aldama, Chiapas. Size S. Measures 22″ wide x 22″ long. $195.
#16 Huipil Magdalena Aldama, Chiapas
#16. Albert Lopez Gomez designed this piece that was woven on the back strap loom in Magdalena Aldama, Chiapas where talented Maya women in his family create glorious cloth. The human figures at the bottom of the bodice represent the gods who hold the universe on their shoulders. Size S. Measures 20″ wide x 22-1/2″ long. Priced to sell at $170.
#17 Khadi Oaxaca Natural Dyes
#17. Blue. Khadi Oaxaca is a workshop known for its lightweight garments made on the back strap or flying shuttle loom with all natural dyes. This tunic is dyed with indigo with wild marigold. Size S. 21″ wide x 28″ long, 11″ vents. Great over skirts or slacks. Layer over an insulated shirt for winter wearing! $95
#19. Khadi Oaxaca Indigo + Wild Marigold
#18. Teal. Khadi Oaxaca is a workshop known for its lightweight garments made on the back strap or flying shuttle loom with all natural dyes. This tunic is dyed with indigo with wild marigold. Size S. 21″ wide x 28″ long, 11″ vents. Great over skirts or slacks. Layer over an insulated shirt for winter wearing! $95
#19. Green Khadi Oaxaca
#19. Green. Khadi Oaxaca is a workshop known for its lightweight garments made on the back strap or flying shuttle loom with all natural dyes. This tunic is dyed with indigo with wild marigold. Size S. 21″ wide x 28″ long, 11″ vents. Great over skirts or slacks. Layer over an insulated shirt for winter wearing! $85.
#20. Native Oaxaca Green Cotton + Purple Snail Dye
Sold. #20. Very rare and sought after native green Oaxaca cotton, hand-spun, woven on a back-strap loom, and embellished with figures dyed in rare purple snail dye. A one-of-a-kind. The green cotton is pre-Hispanic and used by indigenous weavers long before the Spanish conquest. It is amazing that it still survives today, although in very small quantities. Woven in Pinotepa de Don Luis, Oaxaca on the coast. Size M. Measures 25″ wide x 28″ long. $195.
We met at Luvia’s photography studio at 9:30 a.m. Before that, most of us returned to the village market to take more pictures. The early morning light here is illuminating. The light plays with shadows and texture; there is so much to capture the eye. This is a daily market in Teotitlan del Valle, one of the few remaining here in indigenous culture. During Dia de los Muertos, as families buy flowers, bread, chocolate, fruit, candles to decorate graves and home altars, the market is even more resplendent.
At the studio, we send photos to Luvia’s computer and then have a look-see with a discussion about each of our works taken the day before and this morning. We were frantically editing the ones from this morning to get these ready to send. We talked about composition, cropping, lighting, finding the details, getting closer to our subjects than many of us are comfortable with. It’s an exercise in asking permission to photograph and then stepping into a space that is tighter than usual.
We began to see our world differently and with more definition.
We especially enjoyed our visit to the home of Luvia’s grandmother. She is age 78. Many women age faster here, especially the older generation who have borne and raised many children, and did everything by hand including: shucking corn from the cob, washing laundry and dishes, carrying water, preparing meals three times a day, and feeding the farm animals — chickens, goats, turkeys, cows. Each morning they walked to the market and home again throughout their lives where the daily social contact there was so important. Many ducked into the local convenience store to sip mezcal together and catch up on gossip.
Then it was home again to do everything necessary to keep an extended-family household going.
We were so happy this workshop fit into Luvia’s schedule. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker and Vogue magazines, and she has had exhibitions in the USA and Europe. Fujifilm and Leica awarded her grants as a rising star, and she will be going to New York to participate in an arts residency in 2025. Both Luvia and I agree: we do not want to hold workshops during Day of the Dead — November 1 and November 2. We want this to be quiet time with our families to reflect on meaning, loss, life and death, and to remember our loved ones.
Here are some of the photos I took that day in the market and with Luvia’s grandmother:
And here is my Day Of the Dead Altar to remember my parents. I call it my Memory Altar. It looks very much the same year after year, which is very reassuring.
On the second day of our photography workshop in Teotitlan del Valle, our instructor, Luvia Lazo Gutierrez, made appointments with families to visit them in their homes. This was an incredible exercise to capture a more intimate view of village life and to understand the technical aspects of light, shadow, distance, and perspective. Luvia, whose work is featured in The New Yorker magazine, Vogue magazine, and represented in U.S. galleries, made suggestions for ways to best focus on portrait elements. In addition, we took turns photographing each other, which was very fun.
We visited two weaving families and a practice session for the new Dance of the Feathers group. Luvia asked us to look at subjects differently — to move close up with our feet rather than using the zoom feature, to focus on elements such as hands and feet or a particular section of the body. We challenged ourselves to be more conceptual rather than literal. It was an excellent learning experience.
Since it’s Halloween today, I want to make an important distinction between this tradition rooted in Catholicism, and Day of the Dead which is rooted in pre-Hispanic indigenous tradition. Day of the Dead is NOT Halloween. It is an important ritual to remember, respect, and honor those we love who have passed before us. It is quiet, reflective, introspective, and reverent. We sit at gravesites cleaned and decorated with fresh flowers, fruit, vegetables, drinks that loved ones preferred, talk to them, and feel their presence even though they are gone from us.
Visitors have brought the film Coco to Oaxaca, with face painting, revelry, and little understanding of indigenous culture. Day of the Dead is NOT this.
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Meet Makers. Make a Difference
Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC has offered programs in Mexico since 2006. We have over 30 years of university, textile and artisan development experience. See About Us.
Programs can be scheduled to meet your independent travel plans. Send us your available dates.
Arts organizations, museums, designers, retailers, wholesalers, curators, universities and others come to us to develop artisan relationships, customized itineraries, meetings and conferences. It's our pleasure to make arrangements.
Select Clients *Abeja Boutique, Houston *North Carolina Museum of Art *Selvedge Magazine-London, UK *Esprit Travel and Tours *Penland School of Crafts *North Carolina State University *WARP Weave a Real Peace *Methodist University *MINNA-Goods *Smockingbird Kids *University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
December 6-14: Oaxaca Textile Tour and Workshopsincluding dye and weaving workshops, Tlacolula market, spinning village visits, plus lots more. With Fiber Circle Studio, Petaluma, California. Registration open!
January 11-17, Deep Dive Into Oaxaca: Cooking, Culture + Craft.Take a cooking class and printmaking workshop, visit artisan studios, weavers, and potteries, eat street tacos, taste artisanal mezcal, shop at markets, and explore the depths. SOLD OUT
February 6-15:Guatemala Textile Study Tour: Cloth and Culture. Discover Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Panajachel, Chichicastenango Market, and visit Coban where they weave fine gauze cloth called pikbil. SOLD OUT
March 12-17: Deep Into the Mixteca Alta: Oaxaca Textile + Folk Art Study Tour 2025. This is cultural immersion at its best! Following the Dominican Route, we visit potteries, churches, Triqui weavers working in natural dyes, a cooperative in Tijaltepec that makes smocked blouses, the expansive Tlaxiaco Saturday Tianguis. Experience another side of Oaxaca.
October: Japan Folk Art and Textile Tour.SOLD OUT. Get on the Waiting List. Email us.
Oaxaca has the largest and most diverse textile culture in Mexico! Learn about it.
When you visit Oaxaca immerse yourself in our textile culture: How is indigenous clothing made, what is the best value, most economical, finest available. Suitable for adults only. Set your own dates.
One-Day Tours: Schedule When YOU Want to Go!
Ruta del Mezcal One-Day Tour.We start the day with a pottery master and then have lunch with a traditional Oaxaca Cook, who is the mole-making expert. In Mitla, we meet with our favorite flying shuttle loom weaver, and then finish off with a mezcal tasting at a palenque you may NEVER find on your own! Schedule at your convenience!
Teotitlan del Valle Map with select rug weavers, restaurants, village attractions
Tlacolula Market Map -- where to find food, shopping, ATMs, and more
Our Favorite Things to Do in Oaxaca -- eating, shopping, gallery hopping + more
We require 48-hour advance notice for orders to be processed. We send a printable map via email PDF after your order is received. Please be sure to send your email address. Where to see natural dyed rugs in Teotitlan del Valle and layout of the Sunday Tlacolula Market, with favorite eating, shopping, ATMs. Click Here to Buy Map After you click, be sure to check PayPal to ensure your email address isn't hidden from us. We fulfill each map order personally. It is not automatic.
