To know a Maya woman in Guatemala is to know resilience. A Maya woman has an undeniable strength, despite poverty, despite discrimination, despite the obstacles in her path. It is a strength that allows her to keep her children fed and to negotiate an uncertain future. This story of Maya artist Bartola Morales is an […]
10
Apr
Apr
If life hadn’t taken an unexpected pivot, we would be in China right now with a group of friends. This very day, we would have been visiting a village that specializes in folded embroidery (my favorite kind), and we would be on our way to a workshop in that technique and others at the Sun […]
13
Mar
Mar
“A leader is a person capable of always giving a little more in everything they do in helping and contributing to the well-being of the group and the community. A leader tries to be as humane as possible to resolve conflicts. A leader must be a responsible, honest and sincere person. A leader accepts constructive […]
07
Jun
Jun
This week’s blog comes straight from Guatemala! Madeline Kreider Carlson, Creative Director at Multicolores, sent us this beautiful dispatch about the newest creative work and education of the talented Maya rug-hooking artists of Multicolores. We continue to be amazed and inspired by their work and their lives. Thanks, Madeline. Many Colors, Many Stories In February […]
18
Jan
Jan
Teach me the language of color, and I will tell you my story. Together, we will tell the world. Rug Money author Mary Anne Wise has been traveling the textile byways in India the last couple of weeks. I’ve loved receiving the occasional missive from her where she reveals a funny moment or details an […]
05
Oct
Oct
Publisher Linda Ligon and I have been on an action-packed book event journey in Minnesota and Wisconsin this week celebrating our new book Rug Money, its authors, and one of its talented young artists. Wednesday night we spent a delightful evening in the home of a Judith McGrann learning more about Rug Money and the […]
27
Apr
Apr
Author Mary Anne Wise recently sent me some pictures that did my heart good. She and fellow author Cheryl Conway led a rug-hooking tour in Guatemala last month. On these tours, they partner members of Multicolores, the rug-hooking nonprofit they founded, with North American rug-hooking students. The Guatemalan artists share their techniques and processes with […]
16
Jun
Jun
We at Thrums Books have admired the hooked rugs from Multicolores—the Cooperative of Maya Women Rug Hookers in Guatemala— from the beginning. We’ve been in awe, frankly, at the excellent work these Maya women have been producing. Simply, the rugs are gorgeous. Colorful, playful, exquisitely rendered. Look a bit closer and you’ll see color combinations that […]
27
May
May
The Hidden Category One of my bookshelves is spilling over with travel guides. Places I’ve been, places I want to go. Most are in the “rough” or “hidden” category (or you could call it the “cheap” category), because those are the kinds that are most likely to lead you to the unexpected. I’ve just added […]
22
Apr
Apr
Threads There are many threads to this story. First, there’s Mary Anne Wise, master hooked-rug artist, and her calling to do something to help a village in Guatemala that was covered by a mudslide during Hurricane Stan in 2006. There’s her friend and partner, Jody Slocum, who heads an NGO called Farmer to Farmer, fostering […]
