The 18th annual Feria Maestros del Arte happened last weekend at Lake Chapala, Jalisco, about 40-minutes from Guadalajara. I had never been before and I decided it was time! Plus, it gave me a chance to spend some time with friends Chris and Ben, who moved to Ajijic from North Carolina last year.

I knew that Oaxaca would be well-represented among the 87 artisans participating. I was especially eager to see Teotitlan del Valle weaving friends Estella Montaño and Family, and mother-son team Maria de Lourdes Lazo Sosa and Isaac Armando Lazo.

And, there was another good friend, flying shuttle loom weaver Alfredo Hernandez Orozco with his son Yaolt, who make extraordinary cotton cloth home goods and clothing. Their workshop is in El Tule.

There were other Oaxaca artisans whose work I know and respect: alebrijes makers, ceramic artists and sculptors, basket weavers, and some very fine clothing weavers from remote areas of the Oaxaca coast and Mixe regions. Many of these are included on our Oaxaca Discovery Tour coming up at the end of January 2020 (yes, a few spaces are available).

- Juan Toribio from San Juan Cotzocon, whose work I wear with pleasure
- Sebastiana Guzman Hernandez from Pinotepa de Don Luis, who we visit on our Oaxaca Coast Textile Study Tour
- Antonio Guzman Hernandez hand-carves jicara gourds for jewelry, lamps, drinking and serving vessels
- Martina Avila Morales, Pinotepa Nacional, who makes exquisite embroidered blouses — we see her on the coast, too

- Maria Aragon Sanchez and Gloria Cruz Sanchez, who craft fine red clay pottery in San Marcos Tlapazola up the road from where I live
- There are the carrizo (river reed) woven baskets by Amador Martinez Antonio, Santa Cruz Papalutla, Tlacolula
- Represented are two alebrijes makers from San Martin Tilcajete: Enrique Fabian Ortega and Zeny Fuentes

- Jewelry designer Francisco Jesus Hernandez Perez also makes collage in the style of Rodolfo Morales, is across from Santo Domingo Church
- Others include: Shoemakers Clara and German Garcia Antonio, prize-winning Atzompa potter Alicia Leticia Garcia Blanco, palm jewelry artist Monica Diaz Martinez, and Cuarto Suspiro high-fire clay studio located in San Andres Huayapam

An added bonus of going to the Fair was participating in events hosted by Los Amigos del Arte Popular. This is a non-profit group that supports Mexican folk art. They are appreciators and collectors, and do a lot to underwrite this Feria and provide scholarships for artisans to travel here.

I also had a chance to connect with friends Mariann who moved to Ajijic from Philadelphia, friend Ellen who comes to Oaxaca every winter, her sister Sally, and locals Elizabeth and Greg who live in Chapala. I also bumped into David and Barbara from San Diego, too.


Unlike the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe that covers the world, this Fair reunites those of us with Mexico-LOVE. While I’m most happy living in Oaxaca, coming to the shores of Lake Chapala is a refreshing change of pace and a great party all the way around. I had to come home to rest!




Textile Fiestas of Mexico: New Guidebook for Smart Travelers
The book, Textile Fiestas of Mexico: A Traveler’s Guide to Celebrations, Markets and Smart Shopping by Sheri Brautigam and published by Thrums Books, is hot off the press. It’s a comprehensive guide to some of Sheri’s favorite Mexican textile villages and towns. I contributed two chapters!
Textile Fiestas of Mexico, book cover
Sheri invited me to cover Teotitlan del Valle, the Oaxaca rug weaving village where I live, and Tenancingo de Degollado, the ikat cotton rebozo weaving center in the State of Mexico, where I often visit and lead study tours. Of course, the answer was Yes! I’m happy to say I contributed both the descriptive narrative and photography for these two sections.
Grand Master Evaristo Borboa Casas, age 92, ikat rebozo backstrap loom weaver
Sheri and I share our secrets with you because our first priority is to support the wonderful, talented Mexican artisans — many of whom are Grand Masters of Mexican Folk Art. Whether you join a tour or get there on your own, you want this book in your back pocket or tote bag for insider tips.
Selection of Teotitlan del Valle wool rugs from Porfirio Guttierez studio
How You Can Order the Book!
ISBN: 978-0-9964475-8-4
$24.95 trade paperback
120 pages
200 color photographs, map, glossary, and index
Buy your copy at Amazon, ClothRoads, and at your favorite Indie bookstore. Distributed to the book and library trade by Independent Publishers Group. If you live in Oaxaca, the book is soon to be available at Amate Books on Macedonio Alcala.
How to Buy in Mexico
Patrice Wynn is the Mexican distributor for Textile Fiestas of Mexico. She is also selling the book to buyers in Mexico, both at AbraZos, Zacateros 24 in Centro Historico, San Miguel de Allende, and also by mail. Please write to ventas@sanmigueldesigns.com to get details of how you can have it shipped to you in Mexico, either as an individual or as a store.
Here’s a preview of photos I contributed to the chapters on Tenancingo de Degollado and Teotitlan del Valle.
Tenancingo weaver Jesus Zarate with his amazing ikat butterfly rebozo
Come with me to Tenancingo, February 2-10, 2017 for an ikat textile study tour. We have a few spaces open for single and double occupancy. You’ll meet everyone I talk about in the book!
Knotting the rebozo fringes can take two or three months
The beauty of the book is that you can use it when you travel independently or as a resource on a guided visit.
Weaver in the Teotitlan del Valle rug market
One-day Natural Dye Textile & Weaving Study Tour–November 3, 2017
We tell you how to get there, the best artisans (in our humble opinion) to visit and when the major festivals are scheduled.
We recommend how to negotiate purchases in the markets and from artisans in their homes. What is the fair and ethical way to shop in Mexico? Sheri explains it!
Indigo dye pot, Teotitlan del Valle
We help you discern the good from the bad, the better quality from the mediocre.
At the Sunday rebozo market, Tenancingo de Degollado
And, we give you restaurant and lodging tips — because where to eat and sleep means you will have a more enjoyable experience.
Ancient Zapotec temple stone, Teotitlan del Valle Community Museum
Through description and photos, you can see what to expect before you get there and plan your travels so your time is well-spent.
Juana Gutierrez cards sheep wool, a woman’s tradition to prepare for spinning
Chapters include Oaxaca, Chiapas, Uruapan and Puebla, plus Estado de Mexico (State of Mexico). You go deep into local markets, cooperatives and regional celebrations.
Ikat rebozos by Evaristo Borboa Casas, Tenancingo de Degollado
Author Sheri Brautigam owned a textile design studio in San Francisco for twenty years. She has worked as an English Language Fellow for the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, and as a serious collector and purveyor of fine indigenous textiles from Mexico and Guatemala. She sells collector-quality textiles through her online shop, Living Textiles of Mexico, and writes a blog, Living Textiles of Mexico.
Omar Chavez Santiago explains the symbology of the weaving patterns
FYI: Many of you know that Teotitlan del Valle is a town of about 6,000 people and 2,000 looms. The major “industry” here is wool tapestry weaving. In the book, I concentrate on a handful of weavers who work only with natural dyes. We are committed to promoting environmental sustainability and respiratory health.
Cleaning a rug woven with naturally dyed wool–Federico Chavez Sosa
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Posted in Books & Resources, Chiapas, Cultural Commentary, Oaxaca Mexico art and culture, Photography, Teotitlan del Valle, Textiles, Tapestries & Weaving, Travel & Tourism
Tagged book, celebrations, fiestas, guidebook, Ikat, independent, Mexico, natural dyes, Norma Schafer, Sheri Brautigam, shopping, textiles, tips, tourism, tours, travel