~NEW WEBSITE FOR THE BLOG~

I've been away from the blog for awhile now because I'm working with my web designers at Griffin Graffix. The new web-site will also host my blog. Hoping to get it up in a couple of weeks.
The tile shop aand the gallery will have their own sections and LOTS of pictures!

Meanwhile, look at our temporary page for a sneak peek at our new signage.

www.ColibriDesignVallarta.com
E-mail: sales@colibridesignvallarta.com

~MASCARA TASTOAN~2012~TASTOAN MASK~

Here is our latest bad boy, collected in Sept. of this year. It was "played" in the 2012 Dance of the Tastoan.

The "Dance/Battle/Fiesta" is celbrated each July 25th, the Feast Day of Santiago in the streets of Tonala, Jalisco.

                ~~~~~~~~~~

Aqui esta nuestro tipo malo mas nuevo, coleccionado en Sept. de este año.
Lo fue "jugado" en La Danza de Los Tastoanes de 2012.

La "Danza/Batalla/Fiesta esta celebrado cada 25 de Julio, el Dia de Santiago en las calles de Tonala, Jalisco.

~LUPITA P' URHEPECHA STYLE~~LUPITA ESTILO P' URHEPECHA~

Greetings, all...just back from a tour of our favorite treasure hunting areas... central and southern Mexico. Lots of work yet to do in the shop, getting everything in it's place.

We're proud to showcase one of our latest finds. SHE IS AWESOME!!! I was soooo excited to find her!!! Another one of the very special ones...a masterpiece in the "Naif" style of the native Michoacan carvers. She stands 22" high, 10" wide, carved from a well cured Michoacan pine slab 4" thick.

She's even more beautiful in person...come by and adore her. She is at Calle Aldama #190, between Juarez & Morelos in colonia Centro, Puerto Vallarta.

                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saludos a todos...acabamos de llegar desde un tour de nuestros lugares favoritos para buscar tesoros...el centro y el sur de Mexico. Tenemos mucho trabajo en la tienda, todavia para poner todos en sus lugares.

Tenemos mucho orgullo en presentando uno de nuestros  mas recientes hallazgos. ¡¡¡ ELLA ES ASOMBROSA!!! ¡¡¡Yo fui taaaaanto emocionada de encontrar la!!! Una otra cosa muy, pero muy especial...una maestra en el estilo "Naif" de los grabadores indigenas de Michoacan. Ella tiene 55cm de altura, 25cm de anchura, grabada de una tabla de Pino Michoacano, bien secado que tiene 10cm de grosor.

Ella es aun mas hermosa en persona...ven a ver para adorar la. Ella esta en Calle Aldama #190, entre Juarez y Morelos en col. Centro, Puerto Vallarta.

~KEN EDWARDS' PAINTERS & THEIR 'CHOP MARKS'~

With this handy guide, you can see who painted each piece of your beloved Ken Edwards Stoneware...provided they were working during the last decade. I don't remember exactly when we were presented with this lovely gift, but it was shortly after the turn of the new century. This one was painted by 'spiderman' Victor Pila Frias.

~MAGIC...HAND CARVED~~MAGIA...GRABADO A MANO~

This was one of those great finds that you wish for on every buying trip. We bought this one in 2006 for "Casa La Piña". I imagine this beautiful architectural detail as having been part of a sign for a juice bar. It's quite old & hand carved of very hard Mexican pine, a slab 5 inches thick...wow!

We found it in Michoacan. They still do a lot of similar work there, but now days it's mostly of High Density Fiber Board. It resists warping and of course it's not so thick, so it's lighter. The wood grain is not an issue to be dealt with and they can use electric grinding and sanding tools. It makes for some very beautiful and practical furniture. There's plenty of that in "Casa La Piña" as well.

I'm posting some pictures on our sister blog "Azulejos Colibri", of the fanciful tile work there. Some of this furniture makes it's way into the act also.


http://www.azulejoscolibri.blogspot.com

~HANDMADE PAPER COLLAGE~~ COLLAGE DE PAPEL HECHO A MANO~

One of my babies. She's made of cotton fiber with wool, mica, rubelite and pigments added into the pulp.
                                                                   ~~~

Una de mis bebes. Ella esta hecho con fibra de algodon y con lana, mica, rubelite & pigmentos añadidas en la pasta del papel.

~PANCHO'S VILLA~~VILLA de PANCHO~

               This beach home featured a revolutionary era style bedroom that was dubbed "El Cuarto de Pancho"! We also had the "El Cuarto del Tequila", "Cuarto de Dia de Los Muertos" and I got to design the "My Wildest Fantasy in Tile" bathroom. The tile work throughout the house was very fun to design and to watch as my guys brought it to fruition. As the muchachos were putting on the finishing touches, we took the owners on a grand shopping expedition to several of our favorite furnishing & accessorizing destinations thoughout Mexico! Way cool!!!

               After a hard day of revolutionizing, old Panch' kicks back on the porch relaxing to a superb sunset on the Sea of Cortez! Yeah, we know he didn't drink...but we know he WOULD have, if he could have been HERE..."¡Cerveza Victoria...por supuesto!"

               For a welcome into the courtyard our clients wishes were transformed into a custom mural by one of the great muralists of Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato. I drew it up and sent it in to our pal Rene & he had his best guy on it. PERO, pero....find the boo boo....I think old Cayo was a little too much in the spirit when he was installing it. I couldn't take the chance of breaking it (the one tile) to have it re-placed correctly.  Well...as the old saying goes..."Only God is allowed to be perfect".  For more views of awesome tile, visit....
            www.azulejoscolibri.blogspot.com

         

~EXTERIOR VIEW~~VISTA EXTERIOR~

                     OUTSIDE OF THE "THEATRE" SHOWING THE DOOR-STOP HOLDER

~DETAIL SHOT~~FOTO del DETAILLE~

                                   
                                         A CLOSE-UP OF THEIR PLAYBILL.

~UN PAR de SINVERGUENZAS~~A PAIR WITH NO SHAME~

The title doesn't translate TOO badly! Literally translated "without shame". I love Spanish...so expressive. So many definitions/inferences within just a single word. "¡SINVERGUENZA!" An exclamation to express shock or out-rage. It is to say that some one is shameless or brazen.

I was looking through old Mexican movie posters online to explore the relationship between angels and devils in Mexican culture when I can across this title, "Un Par de Sinverguenzas". The storyline of the movie does not deal with devil and/or angels, but the title struck me as perfect. The angel supposedly does nothing to be ashamed of...the devil supposedly feels no shame for his deeds...how perfectly ironic! How fitting...as my premise was to explore their similarities.

I just finished this story box yesterday. 'Asemblage' is my favorite medium. I find many intriguing tidbits on my travels, file them away until I find the proper container. Then, the story wends it's way like a meadering river. I usually craft or modify the accessories to suit size and esoteric requirements. Putting a story box together is like creating a 3D puzzle. I like a complex tale that involves the viewer's imagination, that has many facets to the imagery.

Since moving to Mexico 12 years ago, I'm finding more mystery and inspiration than ever.

~STAR PINEAPPLE~~PIñA ESTRELLA~

A ceramic pineapple in the mid stages of creation. La señora Laura had it slow curing beneath a old shirt. Imagine my thrill as she rolled it up to reveal this special beauty! Their creativity is so amazing! How do they keep thinking them up?They work every day in their shady courtyard studio. I'm reminded of several quotes about inspiration..."Don't wait for inspiration. It comes while one is working."~Henri Matisse. From Johannes Brahms~"Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind." This innovation, dedication & craftsmanship is what makes the Hernandez Cerrano family number one in our Piña loving hearts.

~TILE & STONE VANITY TOP~~CUBIERTA en PIEDRA & AZULEJOS~

This is an example of my 'collage style' tile designs. Here I use tile from 2 tile houses of Guanajuato with sink and accents cut from Saltillo tile along with cut & formed stone from Durango.

The shower uses these same elements, as does the built-in pedestal bed headboard and side tables. I have started a blog dedicated to our tile & tile projects.

Click the link below or on the right...Azulejos Colibri

www.azulejoscolibri.blogspot.com

~HUMMINGBIRD at the DOOR~~COLIBRI en la PUERTA~

Our finishing touch to a home re-model in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. Hand-cut ceramic tile and glass drops, all made in Mexico!

~ANNOUNCING~A September 2012 opening!  A tile shop/design center annex to Galeria Colibri. We're making our preparations and looking forward to our next adventure in artistic tile. We'll be bringing in ceramic, glass and stone tiles from our favorite tile houses in Saltillo, Lerdo, Dolores Hidalgo, Tonala', Puebla & Ciudad Mexico. There are some truely amazing tiles out there, in diverse styles to fit every taste & budget.  I love collaging with all the colors, textures, finishes & patterns.

~ENCHANTING SHAWL~~REBOZO ENCANTADOR~

Another example of 'Love Incarnate' and the richness that infuses the daily lives of the wonderful artisans and their family members. Notice the adorable 'animalitos' inhabiting this beautiful cross-stitched wool rebozo from Michoacan. It's handwoven wool with cross-stiched designs. very snuggly & comfey. I've even worn mine here in Vallarta, enjoying my morning cup on the deck, watching sunrise color our world.

~¡JAGUARES MAGICOS!~~MAGICAL JAGUARS!~

These beautiful jaguar masks were made by one of our favorite families of Alebrige crafters. La familia Joaquin Vasquez Hernandez from San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca.

Jaguars have been revered in Mesoamerica since time immemorial. They are truely amazing creatures. These largest of cats in the western hemisphere are only in the Americas, descendants of the Asian leopards who crossed the Bering Land Bridge and evolved to their new environs. Their prowess and strength earned them a Godly status with the early human inhabitants of the New World. They have yet to relinquish their thrones.

~PERFORMING SQUIRREL~~ARDILLA AMAESTRADA~

Our urban squirrels just LOVE to tease the neighborhood cats!

I just HAD to share this one. I actually have a slideshow of the little imps doing their high wire acts! I roll it out at times, just for a laugh! I just LOVE their little toes!!!

Squirrels have long held a special place in my heart. Growing up in the mountains of Southern Calif., my friends & I would entice them to take peanuts from our hands on our deck railings. We loved them so much that when we found the inevitable car victims, we'd give them funerals in  little shoe-box coffins. What a surprise to find so many of them living here. I now realize how much I've missed them.

~TZITZIKI~~FLOWER of the FOREST~

This serene image, captured in a corner of the Hernandez Cerrano family workshop. Proud piña makers, now 3 generations strong. Their workshop has a registered trademark. It's called Tzitziki, a Pur' hepechan word that means "Flower of the Forest". They've also constructed a community Museum/Showcase in their courtyard, where visitors can see enormous award winning pieces from years gone by.

~FORBIDDEN FRUIT~~FRUTA PROHIBIDA~

These Piñas and Piggy were part of a special order to be shipped to the USA, so we couldn't have any!!! The sheaf of corn is a new design. So spectacular! Oohh, I was so jealous! The Piggy!!! Words fail. But, OWWWWCCHH!!! Do you see the broken upper rim on the upper left?!?

~DIVINE PINEAPPLE~~PIñA DIVINA~

This is one of the famous "Piñas de Barro", clay pineapples from Michoacan. There are many Pineapple crafters in the small town of San Jose de Gracias, Michoacan. Our favorites come from the workshop named "Tsitsiki", a Pur'hepechan word meaning "Flower of the Forest". The family of Pedro Hernandez Carlos, 3 generations, work their magic hands to produce these exquisite pieces. They are accomplished by a combination of molds and hand work. The details are all by hand. They are a wonder to watch in action. Consistent prize-winners and innovators, they set the high bar for their fellow craftsmen of the town. This is an example of one of their prize-winning designs.

Every time we visit them, I wander in awe, through the various work stations and drying areas they have set up for each of the stages of production. I want them ALL!!! This last visit, only 2 weeks ago, we got a preview of some new styles they're working on. The family is SO amazingly creative. And there are all sizes, from tiny to gigantic.

In the next few posts, I'll be showing pics from the workshop...get ready to swoon!!!          
                                                    

~HAND-WOVEN & EMBROIDERED SHAWL from MICHOACAN~~REBOZO de MICHOACAN, TEJIDO y BORDADO A MANO~

A profusion of colorful animal & plant life adorns this gorgeous example of art enriching daily life for the Pur' hepecha people of Michoacan. This cozy shawl is hand-woven of non-dyed wool over cotton, then embroidered with dyed wool yarn.

Textiles are the very characterization of a people. 'Love Manifest' in the creation of useful items of comfort for family & friends. Exemplified in shirts, blouses skirts and trousers...shawls, ponchos, belts, and scarves...table cloths, runners and rugs. It brings to mind the timeless snippet...'weaving the tapestry of life'.

The many peoples of Mexico use varied materials, tools and patterns adapted over centuries, though, not only for use in their own microcosms. A vigorous trans-continental trade since ancient days, has one culture influencing the next. Art is always in evolution.

                                                     ¡Vendido!  Sold!

~TRADITIONAL STYLE~~KEN EDWARDS~~ESTILO TRADICIONAL~

Tranquil, enchanting, graceful. Three words that describe the feeling conveyed by this simple yet imaginative style..."Tradcional"...also known as "Palomar". The artisans are free to choose from a multitude of fantastic flowers, leaves, birds & butterflies making each composition an unique work of art.

Ken Edwards offers an amazingly full line of dinnerware and serving pieces in 4 styles, as well as kitchen & bath accessories. Home decor items include lamps, planters, boxes, candleholders and over 100 animal & bird figures. The tiles in this series work very well in a kitchen or bath. They read well from a distance. The line even offers drawer & door pulls!

~KEN EDWARDS STONEWARE~

Just one of the many magical pieces from the artisans at Ken Edwards, waiting to grace your table and cupboard.

There are 3 styles of decoration. One wouldn't call them a pattern, because each scene is a different combination of elements. The designs have been part of Jalisco for countless years.  A language the artists use to express their love for the diverse natural beauty of the region. Elements in the designs include, birds of all kinds, butterflies, rabbits, deer, fish and fantastic flowers and leaves.

This is a large platter in the style "Coleccion". The other styles are "Monarca" and "Tradicional". The style "Tradicional" was originally called "El Palomar". I'll post examples of the other styles in my next posts.

Stoneware is fired at a very high temperature, so these are dishwasher and microwave safe. The glazes are also lead free. More about Ken Edwards later also....wish I knew how to make a smiley face...I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!!!