Embroidery from Lake Patzcuaro

Near Lake Patzcuaro, women embroider pictures like this one that can be framed or made into decorative pillows and clothing.
The themes of these embroidered “stories” originally came from ancient mythology of the Tarascan or Purepecha Indians, drawn from seals found in Tzintzuntzan. Gradually the women around Lake Patzcuaro began depicting traditional village dances such as the Dance of the Viejitos, and festivals such as Dia de los Muertos and Corpus Christi. The artisans also embroider scenes of women cooking, men fishing, and other scenes of daily life in a Purepecha village like this favorite of mine with a red background. The frame is really special too. It was made by a Purepecha artisan who carves wood trays and boxes and sells them in his shop near the main plaza in Patzcuaro. I asked him to make frames for the embroidered "pictures" and the result is two beautiful pieces of art in one. A lot of people buy these pieces and don't ever frame them, but I think they look even more stunning hanging on the wall framed and behind glass.

Meet Teofila Servin Barriga. She's an award winning artisan who is going to be demonstrating and exhibiting her work in our booth at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market July 10-12.
Teo’s desire to embroider began when she was only 10 years old living in the Santa Cruz rancho near Patzcuaro, Michoacán. She and her mother-- her teacher-- spent hours embroidering there. She has sold her pieces to collectors in Mexico, Europe, the United States, and Japan. In 2000 Teo helped to found a collective of 60 women embroiderers, and she continues to teach embroidery to young people at Michoacan’s Casa de las Artesanias (folk art center). Before being selected to participate in the Santa Fe show, she was invited to represent the embroiderers of Michoacan at a special exhibition in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and to participate in the Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art exhibit in 2004.
When not exhibiting, Teo lives and works in Sanabria, which is near Ihuatzio, on the rode between Patzcuaro and Quiroga.


The photo on the left shows Teo selling her collective's work on the Plaza Grande in Patzcuaro during this past Semana Santa.
Check out www.mexicobyhand.com to see more Patzcuaro embroidery that is available for purchase.