The Colors of Oaxaca Part 2

thus the story begins of what we made in our the colors of oaxaca workshop!  it begins with the true story behind these two mixed media hearts by susan halme made for mary stanley and colleen darling.  you see, two of our three hosts had broken their wrists within days of each other prior to our workshop. susan found these arm milagros in oaxaca and cleverly made each of them a cast.  

susan and colleen, loved these sisters.  their surname suits them to perfection=darling.

kaari meng of french general was part of our group and, using her usual french general colors, assembled this beautiful mixed media necklace.

molly's necklace

and beautiful molly

here is my necklace, whipped up speedily since, as i mentioned in my last post, we spent more time out of the classroom than in.  by the fourth day, realizing i had made nothing, i decided to sit out the excursions to the zocalo and surroundings, quietly stitching away by myself in the studio.  within a few hours i was able to begin the necklace and almost complete a mini fabric collage.

i tried to stay within the theme of the colors of oaxaca.  

As did edith of renaissance ribbons with her necklace adding some of the orient into the mix.

but this is not about me.  The comraderie we had was so pure, translucent, flowing like a crystalline stream towards that ocean of sisterhood that it will be hard to forget.  

mini purse by mary price of art from scrap.  red is a difficult color to photograph so this in reality is much more dramatic.

mary price's teenage daughter also jumped in and came up with these clever bows.

i loved pamela's tassle

we also got to play a bit with indigo dyeing.

although not part of the group, i quickly adopted ellen benson.  remember, the raconteur par excellance....she has since stayed in touch with the most hilarious emails. 

mary stanley's self portrait doll

saying goodbye was not easy.....

letting new friends fly back to their distant nests seems quite unfair.  but i know in my heart, we are still holding each other dear as is shown in this farewell garland we made for the casa.  it is customary for all workshops that take place there leave a bit of soul on one of the casa walls.

bye bye amigas

i will never forget you

two weeks have gone by since my return....

and although a bit down got straight work on a tiny french-knotted heart copied from one susan wore one day.  it has since been gifted to my daughter's co-worker louise.

I have stitched and stitched; still inspired by all fibre and fabric artists.

Oaxaca.....I SHALL RETURN