Otomi's From China...Just Not the Same...

I was distraught to see the 
cover of the latest 
Wisteria catalogue.

On the sofa was a collection of pillows
 of Otomi design.

I noticed that they were being

done by machine using a crewel pattern.

The first thing that I noticed was that, 
 of course, the pattern on the pillows was exactly
 the same on each one.  

Definitely machine made, probably

in China or India.

One of the attractions of this ancient art 
 to me was that the 

Otomi women embroidered them
 free hand so that each was different.
 Of the hundreds I have 
sold, they were all one of a kind.

You can see the difference for yourself.

Insects, fauna, animals, flowers.

You always noticed something different as you

lived with them.

  A decade ago I went to the 

Enart trade show in

Tlaquepaque,  Mexico. 

 I am always looking for new textiles and

I found this family who had lived

for generations in the

 Sierra Madre Mountains and hand

embroidered fabric.

I placed an order and requested

 that they all the pieces

be done in one sold color. 

And in thread colors that they

 normally didn't use.

I immediately started a great 

relationship with these artists.

They were so kind and caring and just 

needed any outlet to support

their families.

My disappointment was that this would

 greatly cut into how many 

I sold, and then ordered from Mexico.

The Wisteria pillows are 

listed for $69 each.  

So this is an example of 

how doing trade with China has 

a global effect.

Kind of sad.