Las Lupitas

In my wanderings around San Miguel, I occasionally will buy a few of the wonderful and colorful papier mache dolls!

If you can believe it, papier mache originated in China, the inventors of paper itself. They used papier mache to make helmets which they strengthened with layers of lacquer dating back to the Han Dynasty (BC 202 - AD 220)! In Europe, the papier mache industry started in France and Spain in the mid 1700's. Eventually this craft came to Mexico and the papier mache dolls were created. They are commonly referred to as Munecas de Carton. Muneca in Spanish means doll and carton referrs to cardboard. They also have been called Munecas de Carnival, Las Lupitas and even, Munecas de Puta (puta meaning prostitute.)

They are painted on old fashion looking swim suit has evolved. The hair styles have changed, earrings and glitter are more common and some even adorn a funny little hat. Many times there will be names painted on the front of their chest, like Lupita, Maria, Luz... I've never seen a Robin though.

There are several families in Celaya (less than an hour drive from San Miguel) that have been making the Lupitas for over a hundred years.
With a glue gun in hand, I secured these Lupitas to the top of the armoire in one of the bedrooms in my casa in San Miguel. Originally, I just had them sitting up there and my brother was tired of them falling over ever time he opened the armoire. Unfortunately, they will need skin graphs if I have to take them down! I particularly like the red head with the bee hive hair doo.I bought this lithograph a while ago in a little store in San Miguel. I had it framed with a simple glossy black frame and it hangs in my guest bedroom.If you can believe it, bought several of these little chairs at Cost Plus a few years ago and I love to use them with my Lupitas as a centerpiece when having a Mexican dinner party. My Mom and I have decorated our Christmas tree at the casa in San Miguel with the girls. It's even fun to use a Lupita as a decoration on a birthday gift.

These Lupitas were cleverly arranged and glued on a wall in an entry of a beautiful home over in Patzcuaro. As an interior designer, I have always thought gluing them on the wall, standing up, like a border in a girls room would be great!

There are endless uses for these Lupitas!

You Go Girls!

Casa Blanca in San Miguel de Allende

Nothing is better than stopping into Casa Blanca Restaurant in San Miguel de Allende for a cold beer and for the best margarita in town!

Casa Blanca is a charming little spot and is spotless. The service is superb and the food is delicious not to mention well priced! Some of my favorites on the menu are their cream of spinach soup and the chicken crepes. The soup is made fresh daily and it is so light. The thin crepes are packed with chicken with a delicate bechamel sauce. My husband loves the filete de arrachera and the large shrimp stuffed with a cream of spinach. The waiters are so nice. As you probably guessed, they are brothers. I can not recall when I did not receive a complimentary hors d'oeuvre when I go there for comida or dinner.
I love this chandelier that hangs in the main dining room. This tin piece is made locally.
My Mom says they make the best Chiles en Nogada that she has ever had. Served at room temperature, Chiles en Nogada is a roasted poblano chili stuffed with picadillo (a luscious mixture of beef, nuts, onions, candied fruit and cinnamon.) The poblano is then covered with a walnut cream sauce and pomegranate seeds. When Pomegranates are out of season, chopped red pepper is a good substitute. The rose made from a curled up tomato skin is one of their signature decorations.
The desserts are sooooo good and the presentation fabulous! They prepare an assortment of dessert crepes and the decorative design is always different.

Casa Blanca is one of the great restaurants to which I take my groups. On Day Two, when we are on my guided walking tour of San Miguel, we stop for comida (lunch in Spanish) at Casa Blanca and a ice cold lemonada, cerveza or margarita really hits the spot! Buen Provecho y Salud!

Casa Blanca

Hidalgo 34

San Miguel de Allende
Closed on Mondays.

Please tell Luis that I sent you in!

Papel de Chino in Mexico

Walk into any paper store in San Miguel de Allende, and you can buy sheet after sheet of colored Papel de Chino, tissue paper. When the Spaniards came to Mexico, so did the Manila Galleons sailing from China and the Philippines to Acapulco with fragile cargo that was wrapped in this fine tissue paper. China invented paper, hence the use of Chino in the name. Papel de Chino is used all the time and everywhere.

This was in Uruapan on an outdoor table at the large craft fair that I went to last March.
These stairs in front of the church in Patzcuaro were decorated with the purple and pink Papel de Chino flowers for Easter week.

Homes around San Miguel de Allende and Patzcuaro are noted for decorating their foyers on the Friday before Palm Sunday. It is a celebration of La Virgen de Los Dolores, Our Lady of Sorrows.

I love the use of the Papel Picado, cut paper, for his decorations in the Parade in Uruapan.

On the church in Patzcuaro, the "purple" tissue is symbolic of Easter.

The column is gracefully decorated with the Papel de Chino flowers.

A simple, little table is dressed up with the papel picado as the table border.

The uses for the Papel de Chino are endless!

Galeria San Miguel

Galeria San Miguel on the jardin in San Miguel de Allende is the oldest gallery in town. For twenty five years, the Galeria was the only gallery in town except for the faculty gallery at the Instituto Allende. Over two thousand artist have been represented. Among the most famous were Aurelio Pescina and Romeo Tabuena. Sylvia Samuelson moved to San Miguel with her artist husband at the time, Fred, in 1952. He had studied at the Chicago Art Institute. In November of 1962, the gallery opened its door under the portales on the jardin and was in that location for 13 years. Later the gallery moved the corner of Hernandez Macias and Umaran. Five years later, the gallery moved to its current location right on the jardin, Plaza Principal No. 14.

Mary Mendoza has been Sylvia's right hand gal for twenty-five years this last June! She started with Sylvia when she was 18 years old. When my group is in town, the gallery is one of my first stops on my guided walking tour.

These delightful scenes of everyday life in San Miguel are painted by a local artist, Carlos Vital. I love how the artist captures the blooming jacaranda tree in the bottom right piece.
These series of paintings are by David Leonardo. A well known Mexican artist, especially famous for his murals. Leonardo is the artist that painted the large mural at the Instituto Allende (I wrote about that in my post dated May 12, 2010)

These colorful paintings of life in San Miguel are by Roz Farbrush, a part time resident.
"Zapata" is painted by an Argentine artist, Gabriel Vitta.

Sylvia told me a funny story that happened many years ago. She was hosting a reception and the gallery was packed. At one point, one of the waiters discovered there was a painting missing. The culprit was found at one of the local bars, the Cucaracha, having drinks with the painting sitting next to him. He was arrested and would have spent seven years in jail if Sylvia had not dropped the charges. The next day he came in to apologize and asked her if he could borrow some money. Being the good soul she is, she lent a few hundred pesos to him, never to see it again!

A few years ago, there was a parade of horses and their riders in the jardin. Before Sylvia and Mary knew it, one horseman rode his horse right into the gallery and gallery patrons ran for cover.

Only in San Miguel!

Galeria San Miguel

Plaza Principal No. 14

San Miguel de Allende

ssgalsanmig@hotmail.com

The Fourth of July

All last week and going into this week, I have been celebrating my birthday! Officially it is July fourth but I like to stretch it out, then who wouldn't. Earlier last week, I went to Sushi Den with my friend Laura. At the end of lunch, our waiter brought me a little bowl of Green Tea ice cream. Very nice gesture but not that good.

That evening, Len and I went over to Suzy's house for a some hors d'oeuvres, drinks and opening of birthday gifts. Yeah. Here's a little video clip of Suzy singing. Suzy sings

Friday, Len took me to the Capital Grill and Sunshine, the hostess, had the table decorated with little stars and a birthday card! We splurged and had steak tartar that they had prepared for us per Len's request. They too brought me some "to die for" chocolate ice cream with a candle in it! Saturday was another great day. We went to Sushi Sasa and had great lunch. The cod with black bean sauce is one of our favorites. We also had an assortment of sushi items, Unagi being on the top of our list. These beautiful orchids were at the reception desk. They are real! What a simple but elegant way to display them with the bunch of Bear Grass in a little bundle. Lovely!

Sunday was the official day. My parents were the first to call from San Miguel de Allende. Then my Aunt Mary... Carter, my brother, called from San Diego. Len gave me my birthday presents. He did a excellent job of shopping. We went over to Dick and Karen's for dinner Sunday night. Dick is in the background peeking through the "Happy Birthday." I had another "trio" sing to me. Check out the little video that I shot. karen, Dick + Lori sing Karen grilled some steaks and marinated chicken breasts. Lori brought a feta, watermelon and mint salad. I made a ceasar salad with strips of sauteed jalapenos. Karen gave me a plastic gun that shoots out a stream of continuous bubbles. I see it is for ages 3 +.

Birthday week has not stopped. My friend Judy stopped by on Monday with a little gift and she is taking me out to lunch later in the week.
Heck, I think I will just celebrate all month! July rocks!

Flowers at the Denver Art Museum

Last Monday I was at the Denver Art Museum changing out a few floral arrangements.

We are waiting for security to come get us and escort us to the Woodman urn. I was joking around in the kiddies area. The poor turtle. He doesn't look too happy.

Liz was waiting to get to work. We teased her that she looked like a "cleaning lady" and maybe that could be her next career. Judy, Liz and I just finished the arrangment for the Betty Woodman urn. The ceramic urn is on permanent display at the museum and we are in charge of creating new arrangments. We usually change them out three to fours times a year and the design for the arrangment is influenced by what season it is. We designed this particular arrangement to go with the King Tut exhibition that just opened. Everything is (and must be) artificial. I was very impressed with the big blue Agapanthus that I found and how real they looked. Agapanthus is one of the flowers that I love to buy in the market in San Miguel de Allende and put into one of my copper pots in the living room. My friend Diane has beautiful Agapanthus growing in her gardens out at her Rancho Casa Luna just outside of San Miguel (a place where I take my groups for a day of cooking.)

We used a variety of grasses, red/orange Torch Gingers, blue Agapanthus, green Agapanthus, tropical leaves and tall Cypress. I think King Tut would have approved!

As member of the flower council, a few of us create a fresh arrangement every Monday for behind the information desk in the North building of the Art Museum. This copper vessel is something I designed and had made years ago. I had it made in the town of Santa Clara de Cobre, Mexico, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from San Miguel de Allende. This town is known world wide for its copper work. This is one of the towns in which I will be taking my group in February for my Artesans & Architecture tour. We will have a demonstration of an artist creating a copper piece and later, visit a home of a weaver of the traditional wool ponchos.

We kept the opening of King Tut in mind when we designed the arrangement above by using Proteas, white Hypericum, Safari Sunset Proteas and Tree Ferns. I love how the patina on the copper vessel compliments the orange, copper tones of the Proteas.

It was a fun, full day.

Schomp 2010 Denver Polo Classic

Sunday I attended the 2010 Schomp BMW Denver Polo Classic finals. My friend Cindy bought a table and I was fortunate to be included. I got to know Cindy when she joined me on my San Miguel de Allende tour last April. As I mentioned before, meeting new friends through my tours has been an absolute bonus!

The tent seemed to go on for ever. The flowers on the table were beautifully done. All the people volunteering for the event were extremely pleasant and accommodating. Restaurants like Second Home, Lala's, Sullivan's (just to name a few) were serving great food. Each of us at the table bought a raffle ticket for a one week vacation in Montserrat but we didn't win! Rats!!

Here's Sandra, Jo Ann and our hostess, Cindy, all wearing hats for the occasion.

Marge and Gail enjoying a glass of champagne! Gail was also on my April tour.

What a beautiful setting and gorgeous horses. The polo field was huge, it's nine times larger than a football field. I can remember working on this event in its earlier stages. It was started 23 years ago by Perkins Shear and the Denver Art Museum. It certainly has come a long way!

We all had a great time and a lot of money was raised for the Children's Foundation. Thanks Cindy for such a wonderful day!