Textile artists in Mexico and parts thereabouts have a quantifiable advantage over Minnesotans: about 6 months. For half the year, Kim and I work in Kim’s backyard; during the other half, winter chases us indoors to knit and drink wine. But on our recent jaunt to Mexico City, our host Claudia opened up her glorious third-story studio for us to get our hands wet.
Naturally, she had an indigo vat on the stove, so our day consisted of felting and dyeing. I immediately spied a wool purse of Claudia’s own design with thoughts of an indigo dip. She obliged.
Claudia also taught us the secret to felting bangles, so we tossed some of those in the pot, too. Claudia’s assistant, Kevin, felted a luscious turquoise shawl.
Our workday wrapped up with a lovely meal—margaritas, ceviche, duck tacos, tortilla soup— and a ride in Claudia’s Bug, while the bag and bangles dried in the sun.
Parting shot: Still-life with indigo bag, while waiting for the Minneapolis bus this week.
Next up: Seeing red: The cochineal show at Belles Artes.
mndigo 
That bag is gorgeous! Hail to the adventurers!
Why, thanks! I love its pedigree: made by an artist I know, dyed in her own vat.
Fabulous! I met Claudia at the World Shibori Network conference in Oaxaca in 2016, where we did a workshop together. She made a fabulous felted piece for the exhibition that included loofah.