End of year Etsy Special!

It's almost 2012! As a reward for surviving another year, I'm giving all my friends and followers on the interwebs a coupon code for free shipping on my etsy. To redeem, just enter this code at check out: S0C1ALM3D1A

Now, go check out my naturally dyed yarns!

Feliz Navidad

Today the entire Plaza de Armas was closed to car traffic and the whole square was taken over with vendors. Of what? Of Christmas things, mostly. And Peruvian made things (all the sweaters, silver jewelry, Andean textiles, toys, ect you can think of). And tonnes of NGO's and non-profit entities fundraising for their charities. There were lines of people streaming into the square from all sides, and it was the most diverse crowd of people I've seen since I got here (between the tourists from here, there and everywhere, and the Peruvian inter-class mixing). So fascinating. However, it was raining, and the crowds just kept getting bigger, so I came home and worked on weaving for a while. I keep seeing these bracelets that are woven with beads sewn on the edges, and I'd love one, so I decided to come home and make it (now all I have to do is find beads). Add that to all the xmas lights, and you have a glittering, smiling mass of people celebrating the holiday in a way that doesn't make me want to hate Christmas forever...

Rain for Christmas?

Oh Cusco, you are so different than Michigan when it comes to Christmas..... I don't have piles of snow and fuzzy boots to make everything joyful and white. The houses are not decked from top to bottom in little twinkly lights, and bushy pine trees are a little scarce on the ground. However, I've done my best to instill a little sparkle to my room.


Please note the cat sock stockings... So adorable. I'm still thinking about some xmas lights to go up there with the little glass balls!

First private salsa lesson since I've been in Peru

Went out for salsa last night after some deliberation (I'd been out late ever night since Thursday) and ended up dancing with Heidi, a world champion salsa dancer/instructor from outside of London. She's been around for almost 2 weeks now and while I've seen her around and been introduced to her, last night was the first time I actually got to talk to her and spend some time with her. She was saying she thought she was getting rusty at leading and since there weren't enough guys last night was leading me and one of my friends. She gave me some really good pointers and then somehow I ended up having a private lesson with her (at midnight!) to work on some of my technique things. Cost me $20 but she said she usually charges $90 for privates so I was like Yeah, Okay! It was awesome! Like everyone else here she was really surprised at how fast I learn and absorb information, and we covered A LOT and I was feeling so much better about a bunch of things after. And because I salsa so often, I can practice and work on it. Went back out for some reggaeton-salsa after and just hung out and danced with her. So awesome!

More new designs learned!

I learned a new Technique in Chinchero on Saturday!!! This is a 3 color design! Woven with two colors in one of the two double-cloth warps. The design is a Chili de 6 pares.



This is a Mayo Q'uenco. It's a mountain pattern!

Newly tested designs!

Newly Tested Designs! The above image is Chinipuytu de 12 pares in the center and a Maya Cuti Varriation.


The rest are the Nawi Awapa (circular woven border), Huacac Nawin de 4 pares (basic bird's eye), Aysa Cuti de 4 pares (the one that looks like a river), and Challaypu de 11 pares (the diamond pattern).

Langscape, Volume II, Issue 9

As part of what I'm doing with the CTTC, I have networked us to Terralingua (an non-profit in Canada that acts as a hub for groups that preserve bio-cultural diversity). Part of being a new member is an article in their newsletter, and I got the dubious pleasure of helping one of their writers with our article. It's now out as of yesterday!!! You should totally check it out.

Here's the PDF, go to p.21 for the article!

Natural Dyed things for Chirstmas?

In case you know any knitters, crocheters, weavers, or people who just like to hoard yarn, my etsy is freshly updated and full of naturally dyed yarns!

Check out my Etsy here!

Cut Paper Work

This is the new set of cuts I’m working on. The designs are derived from the molecular structures of plants. Eventually, I'm going to be using the dye plants I use here, but first I have to take samples of all of them to the local University here and bribe a Biology Professor to take the photos for me.....

They're all untitled so far (suggestions would be lovely) and the last one is going to be a diptych (it's mate is on my floor, in progress as I write this).