A bracelet for protection

This bracelet was made by a huicholean woman and you can find it Etsy here.

The huicholean community is one that cherish nature and values all that it has to offer.

This bracelet is made of chaquira beads and has rumbus forms all over it. Those rumbus, for the huicholean community are known as “Ojo de Dios” or “God’s Eye” and represent the four cardinal points: north, south, east and west.

It is also given when a child is born, and it is believed to protect the child as he/she grows up.

It is interesting how each culture has its own believes, and it’s own personal representation of what it is surrounded by. In this globalised world it is important to value each other’s background and culture so that we can learn to live with each other in a harmonious way.

Weaving, threads and colours

Lots of geometric figures weaved such as triangles, rumbus, zig-zags form infinite lines that all together form an exquisite textile. With a single piece of fabric like this, it can be turned into a centerpiece, a cushion, placemats, handbags, blankets, etc. and can give light and life to your surroundings!

These textiles are made by weaving the warp and weft with a “telar de cintura” (sp.)  which means Backstrap loom used by indigenous experienced loomers. It is mainly used by communities in Mexico, Central and South  America.

 

It is a bit complicated to explain how a backstrap loom works, but I have found this blog  where Laverne Waddington, a woman that has been learning backstrap weaving since 1996 in Bolivia can explain it in great detail here:

Laverne Waddington explains how Backstrap weaving works

Small chaquira beads

Mexico is well known for its crafts and colours. Nevertheless, these handmade items made by experienced crafters vary in motives, colours and forms from one another from region to region, depending on the indigenous community that lives there.

Three years ago, I had the chance to volunteer with one of these communities in a boarding school, called Estipac, aimed to young women and men, where they learn about working in the countryside. While huicholean women, that attend Estipac, were resting from their everyday chores, they would take out their colourful crystal beads, a really fine needle and nylon thread and would start creating magic!

They tried teaching me how to create these beautiful pieces, but I have to admit it was really difficult. The needle is .8mm thick so that it can go through the 1mm crystal bead (chaquira) hole! It took me at least 20 minutes to put the nylon thread through the needle hole!  Once you have it, you start looping and knotting the chaquiras together in order to create different forms! The finer the work is, the prettier it is (and the harder it gets)! Also, in order to put the chaquira over wood, clay or any other material they paste each chaquira bead with a special resin onto the material.

Huicholean men and women make necklaces, brooches, pendands, bracelets, masks, and even a Vocho Huichol! Which means a VW car that is covered with all these chaquira beads. Just amazing!

Vocho Huichol!

 

Mexican Colours!

Mexico is full of bright and vibrant colours! It’s traditional people have a natural sense of how to combine in their everyday life goods such wonderful colours having nature as inspiration. You can find all these colours in flowers, plants, and animals.
Lots of Indigenous communities such as Huicholes, Tarahumaras, Nahuas, etc. have long lived in Mexico and are all well known for their wonderful handcrafted goods they make such as jewerly, textiles, pottery, painting, etc.

Huichol Bracelet