August, 2012. We are traveling in southern Mexico, looking for distinctive artisan crafts for Chiripa.
It is the rainy season in Oaxaca. In the morning, strands of misty clouds hang from the lovely shoulders of the green mountains, like elegant necklaces.
Brilliant flowers glitter in the soft air.
After an afternoon shower, a ray of sunlight breaks through. It drapes the weathered old cathedral in glory, and crowns it with a rainbow.
In the village of Teotitlan del Valle, weavers listen to the rain and peek out from under dripping tile roofs. Then they lean into their work once again, crafting elegant wool rugs on wooden pedal looms. The rugs (tapetes) emerge in glorious patterns and colors from nature. The variety is endless, put a popular pattern is “Mountains and Rain.”
At Chiripa, you can see tapetes from some of the best weavers in Mexico. -JM
