Tuesday, March 25, 2014

More Oaxaca, More Color

More shots from our February trip—our great escape into a world of color.
Colander garlands
A quilt-like textile made of embroidered squares
One of the Santiago brothers in La Union
La Union guard turkeys. Seriously loud and scary.
Then sacred and the profane at a ceramics shop
Ocotlan Market wares
Oaxacan fabric store zippers


Friday, March 21, 2014

February in Oaxaca: Colors

I was lucky to escape the Polar Vortex this winter for 8 days and nights, and to once again visit Oaxaca. While the food, friends, and temperatures were a highlight, it was being in a landscape that wasn't monochromatic that did me as much good as anything. This was a winter that left so many of us feeling trapped, physically and mentally. And I also felt trapped visually. Being in a place where color was so enmeshed in the everyday did my soul a lot of good.

Here's some of what we saw. There will be more to come.
Market crochet samples
Carvings in La Union
La Union brickyard
Oaxacan embroidered shirt 
Sweet baby of a bookmark vendor
Young plants in a greenhouse
No explanation needed
Al fresco chess tournament on Oaxaca's zocolo



Monday, March 17, 2014

Tiny Bits

I've decided that while I'm finishing up my book (see previous post, numeral 1), the only way Pearl the Squirrel posts will exist is if they're short and sweet. So here starts the beginning of a photo, a phrase, or a project per post. My expectations need to be low if I'm going to continue. (Yours probably already are, given the delinquency of this blog.)
So today, for your viewing pleasure, a baby blanket I knitted for my friend's sweet baby girl. The only good thing about the very cool spring we're having is that she'll get to use it a little before it gets very warm, since though we had her baby shower in December, I didn't manage to get this to her until last week. (It's also got grey on the sides, which you can't see in the photos. It's knit with Classic Elite Yarns Toboggan.)
Sweet dreams!