Happy Mardi Gras New Orleans Crew

Since Katrina New Orleans friends are all over. Many relocated to Arkansas where we now enjoy a taste of the culture. Holding on to tradition and culture adds spice to communities, figuratively and literally!
This mask piece is an older one when I was still creating large over beaded sections on my work. Kim DeCoste fof Quilts Inc. dubbed my work as "overbeading" way back in the 90's during the Embellishment Shows. These shows were great since the focus was on artquilts and a buffett of beads, trims, buttons, fabrics and all things shiny!

Nature stirs creative energy

Petit Jean Mountain rock formations look like layers of fabric!

Cedar Creek Falls with icicles.
I am back in the studio working on a show for the spring, pictures coming soon.

All the election drama, immigration talk, economics, and local politicos planning more GLBTI oppression and can be a bit much so my outings help me focus and get re centered to create.

This winter has been cold with not much sun so I am making it a mission to go out into the woods on sunny days. Arkansas has beautiful National Parks and this time the trip was to Petit Jean Mountain and the beautiful Cedar Falls. It was windy and really cold and you can see the icicles near the top of the falls. The sun was great while it lasted. Some of the unusual rock formations looked like layers of fabric.

Being intentional about getting in touch with the land, listening to the wind and the trees helps me feel the creative energy stirring. My recommendation if you get stuck in your creative process whatever it may be, go outside!

Wisdom of the woods

The Power of Circle

"Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves."
Black Elk, Oglala Sioux

Pinnacle Mtn. State Park

Little Rock, AR

Feliz Ano Nuevo

Night and Day Guadalupe
Sabrina Zarco

As the calendar year comes to a close I am busy working on several small gifts. Some quilted art others are collage works. I will take some pictures and post later.

Tamalada Tradition

Tamalada
Carmen Lomas Garza

With Christmas season comes tradition and family. Whether its blood family or your created family it’s a time for sharing stories, learning lessons, doing some community organizing, teaching, bonding and most definitely lots of fun. For me and my family it means gather to make TAMALES! From many people I hear about Christmas turkey or ham but for me its tamales all the way; its not Christmas season for me with out them; so once again we gathered to make the tamales.

The tradition runs deep in the Latino collective memory since tamales predate most of western “civilization”. Tamales can be traced back as early as 5000 BC. They were served as a nutritious and portable food for Aztec, Mayan, and Incan warriors. It is understood that the Aztecs greeted their incoming conquerors with the tightly wrapped festival food. Mexicans and Americans of Mexican descent celebrate by sharing this tradition of generosity and good will by making and then giving out tamales as gifts.

If you have never done it it’s quite a process. Soak the leaves, dry them, and sort them. Manteca and your hands in the messy masa to get just the right consistency, it’s an art in itself. Then make the filling, whatever you wish. Tradition for some says de vendado as a friend reminded me and then started the debate about border town puerco and red sauce and is it true that pina and cinnamon are now called nouvelle/fusion/ pochada tamales? All I know was that it was messy, creative, and lots of fun! I felt like I was home.

When we figured out the right consistency, we were ready to spread the masa, add the filling, roll, tie in a bundle, and steam. We each shared memories of making them and tried to remember the tips from elders about each step. Thanks to ancestors our tamalada gave us several dozen to share among us. As the TexMex music continued to play in the background and the kitchen was filled with leaves, masa, and the smell of garlic and fresh steamed tamales; we sat back and smiled. We realized we had done a good job; it had been our turn to keep the tradition alive.

Happy holidays to you and yours….and I wish you peace, love, and TAMALES!

Here's a book filled with a culturally relevant story and great art to share with young ones as you pass on the tradition of making tamales. Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto and Ed Martinez

In Guad We Trust

December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day

Mexicans and those of Mexican ancestry everywhere celebrated La Virgen Morena or La Virgen de Guadalupe, aka Tonatzin, Mother of all Gods, who appeared before an indigenous man the Spanish named Juan Diego on the Cerro de Tepeyac one December day in 1531. Her image was forever imprinted on the cloth tilma he was wearing as proof of her visit.


Tepeyac Garden

Tilma image

Whether or not you're a believer, one thing is clear the weight of Guadalupe in Mexican culture. She is omnipresent not only in the spiritual sense but in the concrete sense. Her image graces nearly every home altar, taqueria, and tienda; anywhere her people are, you will find Guadalupe. She is seen as the leader of the oppressed and hope where there is none. Children dress in traditional clothing and reenact the scene and many artists celebrate her in their work.

Circuit Board Art Marion Martinez

Guadalupe series Yolanda Lopez

Home garden altar



Guad Art Car