When I was about 5 or 6 years old, my parents spent a few months working in the village of Santiago Atitlán. I don’t remember too much about my time there, but I do remember one incident very clearly:
There was a reason why my nickname was María Komatz, “komatz” meaning “snake” in the local Tzutujil language. I was wild, and loved to climb trees. So my poor babysitter had to find a way to entertain me… with embroidery.
I loved it. I have no idea what pattern I was working on, but I remember being very concentrated, careful with every needle movement. After what seemed to Little Mari like hours, I was finally pleased with my work and decided that I was done…. only to find out that during my careful stitching I had managed to stitch the fabric right onto my jeans!
I’m pretty sure I cried after that.
It took 23 years for me to get over that Embroidery Trauma. But with Kakaw Designs working now with a group of embroidery specialists in Sumpango, I figured I needed to overcome my fears. So last weekend, I went for a special embroidery class with a friend.
Learning from Claribel and Tomasita
Turns out, I love embroidery! It takes lots of concentration for sure, but it also has a meditative effect… My friend Laura loved it, too. She was actually SO concentrated that she was silent for much of the class.
That day we didn’t get to finish all the work, but since then we have finished the embroidery at home. They will soon be turned into little pouches, and we can’t wait! We’ll have to reserve the pouches for something very special.
Thank you, Claribel, Tomasita, and Luqui for all your help and patience! Also… notice my dress? Tomasita embroidered it 🙂
What should we embroider next? Laura has gotten inspired and already finished a flamingo and a whale, on two different shirts. They’re adorable! I’m thinking little animals, too, in pouch form as gifts to my fellow pet-loving friends. How cute would THAT be? 🙂
XOXO,
Mari
Kakaw Designs 