The Rancho tour

More wool for Las Rancherias

I've just return to SMA for the summer. It's lovely and cool here in the mountains and the rains have come on time this year so it looks like it could be a good corn crop. Hope it continues.
I brought down a lot of wool. Most of it was collected by Kate Kiely but also Gene Shepherd sent yards and yards of great wool but others send some too. We needed 2 vehicles to get it all down. Jim Schwantz helped with his pickup truck. I am attaching some of the photos here. We appreciate ever donation of wool. This helps with the quality of the rugs.

The Little Store at Agustin Gonzales

Our popularity is growing. More and more people are going to the village to see the rugs, even taking the bus! So we now have a mini store for these visits. It is at the house of Bonifacia. Just a couple of weeks ago Judy Christoffersen, Becky Rhode and I went out to paint a sign to help people locate the building. The women came too to help paint the designs. Judy had created a huge stencil with the letters. By the way, she is now our official product developer and in a few weeks has created some great new products. Here are some photos of the event. Also are photos of Judy teaching a color and contrast class.

Paola's 1st Birthday

Bee line cutter and wool donations

Gene Shepherd and the CA group have come through again. The donated yards and yards of fine wool for Las Rancheritas. Plus a Bee Line Cutter!!! We are so grateful for our generous CA supporters. The new rugs are looking amazing with this wool. I return to the USA in a week with a big new collection of rugs. Stay tuned

Myra

I have such wonderful opportunities when in Mexico. 2 weeks ago I was invited to photograph and attended the Quinceañera of one the Las Rancheritas, rug hookers, daughters. As you will see from this short video it was a very special event. It began at a church but the party took place in the farm yard of the family. Truly amazing and touching.

Boni at the 2013 ATHA Confer. Long Beach CA (+playlist)

Udated video of Boni's trip.

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Boni attends the 2013 ATHA Conference in Long Beach CA

A show in Ashville NC

If it were not for all our helpers we would not be where we are today.  This year our number 1 sales helper  is Lisa Morphew. Lisa has been selling the rugs in her area since spring. On Sept 28 the rugs will be on display and for sale in Ashville.
Here are photos of Lisa and artists. They are using the rugs for inspiration.

Helping

I came across this quote which I would like to share.
"You can't solve all the worlds  problems by yourself, but when you find one that touches you, you absolutely can make a difference."

This coming Wed. I will be meeting Bonifacia Tovar, leader of Las Rancheritas, in Los Angles CA. She will be teaching, Hooking off a Frame at the Biennel ATHA conference. http://atharugs.com/biennial2013/
This is just another step along our way but a big one. Just getting Boni's visa has been a challenge but it came through. I will be writing more on the special time for Boni. Remember she lives in a house with no plumbing and only a fire to cook on. We will be staying at the Hilton. I can't imagine all the exciting new adventures this will be for her. And the new connections this will bring to the group. Please say tuned. 

Here is a video of Boni talking to the group. This give you a chance to see the faces and the ambiance of the village.

Painting Fund Raiser

Thank you so much Lisa Morphew for this creative way to fund raise for Las Rancheritas. Here are images from painting for promotion.

Las Rancheritas becomes a Cooperative

I just returned from Agustin Gonzales where I brought Yolanda, a representative and teacher from Global Justice. Global Justice provides training in forming cooperatives and Yolanda is the teacher. It was a delight to watch her take some rather skeptical women and turn them around to be excited about learning how to form a cooperative. She used words like democracy, shared power and equality. She made everyone, including myself, excited about learning this new skill. She will be going to the Rancho for 5 sessions to help them learn and create their own cooperative. Las Rancheritas are intelligent women that want to succeed and grow. Now they will have the skills. Hurrah! Forming a cooperative will also allow them to register as such and this in turn will provide them with a legal tax free status and connect them to government assistance programs. They will soon be selling in the Organic Markets on Sat. Did you know that the market is a cooperative with 70 members and the Rosewood donates the space? This has been a dream of mine for years. Las Rancheritas just needed education on how to organize themselves, and now they will receive it from a savvy Mexican woman that understands them and can speak their language and knows their culture. Thank you Kathy for connecting me Betsy and Global Justice. I feel like I can breath again.

Ten Thousand Villages in Austin

Susan White, Nare Brandenburg and Charlotte Bell selling rugs at the trunk show at 10,000 villages in Austin.

Boni's Visa

May 20 will be a day we all need to send good vibes and prayers to Boni. That is her appointment for the visa interview. The attorney says it's a pretty sure thing but a little extra help from all of us can't hurt.

More Wool from generous rug hookers.

Rug Hookers from Minnesota have answered the call. Here is the word from our rug angel Kate Kiely: "I shipped eight boxes of wool last Wednesday. They should arrive on Tuesday or thereafter. This was a fun shipment....so many vibrant colors and a stash of lights / whites for dyeing! The women were very generous. Some women dyed brights specifically for the Las Rancheritas. They just keep on giving when the call is sounded. Very heartening!" Very heartening indeed. Thank you all. Here is a photo of Kate with some of the wool collected I would like to also put out the plea to all of you to consider hosting a show. Sales have been slow this year and now they have all this great wool I can only imagine the wonderful rugs to come. It's easy and fun to do. call or email me for details.

What $50 will buy

Ever considered what the rug hookers do with their money. Here are some of the options.

1. Enough seeds to plant corn and beans for 1 year for a family of 4.

2. Part of school fees

3. Shoes for 3 people.

4. Electricity for 3 – 4 months

5. 2.5 months of daily transportation to work in San Miguel.

6. Flour, sugar, salt, laundry soap, matches for a family of 6 for 3 months.

7. first communion dress or suit.

 Luxuries

1. hand cream

2. aspirin or other pain relievers

3. bandaids and toothbrushes

4. color books and crayons

5. books

6. meat, generally only for festivals

7. dental visit  (used only in emergencies)

8. doctor visit  (used only in emergencies)

 

Carolyn Gratton

Meet Carolyn, the helper not listed on the last blog. She lives in SMA and is a Mujeres en Cambio member. Carolyn does most anything Las Rancheritas or I need. I consider her my partner and right hand. She attends meetings when I am not in town, provides transportation to Boni, helps sell rugs and more. Without her help we would have big problems. Plus her husband Mirl works for the Lions Club and does eye and diabetes testing. Thanks to both of them for their dedicated work.

The Helpers

They are: Mujeres en Cambio: the group that started us, money for the store and more, Bonifacia Tovar: organizer or the group, Judy Christoffersen: fund raising and general "do-it-all", Becky Rhode: fund raising and sewing machines plus lessons, Gene Shepherd: on line instruction, lessons and invitation to show at ATHA, Jinny Roddewig: best rug hook camp sales person, Hipolito: remodeling of the store, Isabel Carzares: book keeping, Florentino: iron work on the store, Kate Keily: our main source of wool donations, Gaby Negrete: Secretary, Shirley and Jim Schwantz: wool haulers and sales twice a year at the Clutter shows, Rebecca Brooks: raffel and brainstormer for fund raising, Laura Ramirez: secretary and my email connection when in the states, Barbara Hanson: creator of shows in the US and SMA, Jessica Hanson: English teacher, Susan White: brought first rugs to the USA: Wolf Sittler: my husband, you name it, he does it, Charlotte Bell: whatever needs to be done next. 

I would like to ask all you rug hookers, or any one else for that matter, to please consider sponsoring a show of rugs at your next event. We lost one major show this spring and we really depend on hooking camps for our sales. It's fun and easy. Just email me for details. 512 447 2150.