Monte Photo Shoot, May 2005

Bonnie Rodriguez, one of our totally wonderful and upbeat U.S. designers, decided to take a journey to Mexico in early April.  There she would meet and get to know many of the people who are an important part of MonteDesigns.

From photo shoots to fittings, from fancy coast to simple inland, she did it all in – are you kidding? – a week.  In the beginning:

“It cannot possibly be this hot….can it?  I feel as if I am moving in slow motion.”

 “O.K., much better now….Whew, AC does make a difference.  Hey, what were we working on?”

“Ah right, Dani’s fitting for the Yal-Ku shoot.  How many skirts are we doing and boy do I miss my commercial machines.  These little machines I brought are sooooo SLOW.”

“You want to take pictures of me?  Bummer, I left my Monte skirt in the States!” 

And so it went for the first couple days as introductions were made and relationships established.  Since this trip was part work and part vacation, some time was devoted to experiencing the leisure aspects the coast has to offer.

“Dinner with the girls at the Bakery?  You bet.  FA-BU-LOUS.”

“What exactly is a mojito?”

“Of all the places I’ve been since I got here, I like the beach and ocean in Tulum the best.”

Her last stop, the Monte…..a world far removed from the hustle and bustle of the tourist coast.  A place where hammocks are for sleeping and chickens occasionally wander through the house.  A place where tortillas are hand made daily and decades old  traditions are honored.   A perfect place to experience embroidering on a foot pumped treadle machine and spend time with the women who do it the best.

Bonnie’s story can be found at our new link Skirt Talk.  Check it out.

The embroidery in the center picture below was created by Bonnie and the Ladies of the Monte, a combined effort of laughter, camaraderie and skill.  It now hangs in Bonnie’s studio in the USA.   That’s all for now.

A blessed 2006 from MonteDesigns.