Field Study: Needle Arts & Crafts of the Southwest

ArpilleraOur search for an authentic Arpillera finally ended at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe.  These charming “mini quilts’ are so colorful and dimensional with fruits and vegetables, animals, and people in traditional scenes.  Arpillera detailThey originated in Chile as a way of telling the world about the atrocities of the 1970’s, but now they are an art form more cheerful and colorful in nature.Button BowlThe button bowl was also purchased at the museum gift shop, which was loaded with great stuff.  The museum itself is a wonderful treasure of needlework and clay dioramas.  Here are some of our favorites from inside the museum:Clay Statues Museum Beading Museum WeavingSuch amazing workmanship, and even more incredible in person!Clay ChurchThis little clay church is very similar to the style of items displayed in the museum.Southwest DollsThese little folk art dolls can be found all over the Southwest as well, celebrating Anasazi, Native American, and Mexican traditions.Burro WeavingThis weaving of working burros and the little shoulder bag (pictured above with the dolls) also have roots in the Southwest, and can be found throughout New Mexico, Mexico, and South America.Vintage Mexican Wedding DressesWe are also showing some vintage Mexican wedding dresses.  These are old enough that they are made of cotton, and they are covered in hand embroidery.  Most of these dresses in the markets now are made from polyester, and they just don’t have the same look.Embroidered PurseWe found this amazing purse at an outdoor market. The story goes that it was made from an antique (wedding?) dress which was covered in embroidered roses. The parts that were still intact were carefully cut out and remade into bags. Since the older threads were made from natural dyes, it is a bit delicate and is prone to fading, but that adds even more character to the vintage appeal.Embroidered CoatThis coat was actually purchased from a boutique in Old Town Albuquerque and was embroidered by machine, but the style of the floral borders and the thread colors set off by the black background is so traditionally southwestern that we had to include it in our field trip. And since it’s already quite warm there, it was marked down considerably– yay!Southwest Folk ArtThere is something very real and personal about this kind of folk art.  Being fabric artists ourselves, we appreciate the work involved and the handmade nature of it.  We love to scout out treasures made by fellow artists and crafters when we travel, and the Southwest is a treasure trove!signature

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2 Comments

  1. What beautiful pieces!! I had a friend with a quilt like the one at the top…those are amazing!Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty

  2. Wow those are amazing textiles! The amount of time that was put into them must have been massive! Thanks for linking up at Merry Monday! Have a great day!

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