Late Mexico Update

For those of you checking on on this blog I just want to let you know that things are going well. We´ve covered lots of ground and found new product and connected with old friends. It´s been incredibly hard to find a computer. When I´m "free" I´m on a bus or sleeping.

We are now in Patzcuaro, a favorite place in the state of Michoacan. Our last stop was Cuetzalan in the state of Puebla. We spent 12.5 hours on 4 buses getting from one to the other.

I´ll post details and photos from the trip when I get back to Chiripa.

Kathryn

Next Trip

New Year's Day 2009 at Chiripa, Madison, Wisconsin.

Madison had a timely dose of snow this morning. (Although, it was nothing like what we got at on New Year's Day pictured above.) It covered the dirty piles of snow and reminded me that we still have a lot of winter left. Lucky for me some of the Chiripa crew is leaving for a buying trip to Mexico; and I'm one of those leaving.

This trip will focus on central Mexico with a quick exploratory trip to the state of Nayarit where the Huichol people make their incredible beaded figures and yarn paintings. We'll also visit Tlaquepaque, Jalisco and San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.

Beyond that will depend on time and circumstances. We know we will end in Patzcuaro, Michoacan and fly out of Morelia. I will try to post periodically to this blog. Last time I was not able to upload photos, but maybe I'll have better luck this time.

I'm anxious to travel. I don't know if it's the long hard Midwest winter or just my need to explore some new places, but I'm more than ready. I'm also looking forward to seeing friends and business associates who we've met along the way. And picking out product is always fun. What recession?

Kathryn

Our stone iguana planter is getting tired of being buried in snow!

The Greeting Card Dilemma

In an effort to provide a complete shopping experience I decided from the beginning to include greeting cards at Chiripa. I made an assumption that I could find bilingual cards. AND, I wanted something that would tie in with the "artisan crafts" that we feature.

I found cards produced in Mexico with historic Mexican images--blank inside.


cards from Queretaro, Mexico with hand painted silk panels--lovely, but blank inside;


and even some US cards with Mexican themes--also, blank inside. I began hounding sales reps for greeting card distributors at gift shows. Nothing, until last month when I received a call. Leanin' Tree had paid attention to my plea (and a few others I suspect). A new line of Spanish language cards had been in production for two years. They were proud to announce the launch. How could I not order the package complete with spinner?


The cards have nice messages in Spanish with the English translation on the back. Here's a sample:
Deseandote un dia tan bello y perfecto, que parezca haber sido hecho especialmente para ti. Feliz Cumpleanos
(Wishing you a day so perfectly beautiful, you feel as though it has been created especially for you. Happy Birthday.)

I think these cards will be a great way to support Spanish language classes and learners. I'm also hoping the Spanish-speaking community will like them.

But they still lack the "artisan craft" angle that I want. Maybe we'll have to create our own cards with images of the beautiful crafts we carry at Chiripa. We'll see. . .

In the near future I'll be off to Mexico for new adventures. kl