Wednesday, June 10, 2009

As Doug and I have talked about moving to Peru, so many have wanted to keep in touch and to hear about our journey. Therefore, this blog has been established so you can share this with us. Thanks to so many of you for encouraging us and showing your interest.
I was introduced to Peru first when I took my daughter, Mandy, on a fiber arts tour of Peru as celebration of her graduation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As part of this tour, we were involved in workshops given by local artisans. Workshops included knitting, embroidery, sewing, weaving, gourd carving and braiding. Members of the tour had the opportunity to work with four different artisans during the course of the tour.
The artisan giving the weaving workshop was Maximo Laura, a master weaver in Peru. Many of his works are now showing and selling in many parts of the world. Google him and visit his web site to see some of the most spectacular tapestries! Mandy thoroughly enjoyed Maximo and he saw something in Mandy's work that prompted him to invite her to apprentice with him in his workshop in Lima. She accepted and worked in his studio for about nine months. Maximo and his family were so hospitable to Mandy and she soon was adopted into the family. Being her Mom, who visited on a few occasions during those nine months, I was also adopted into the family.
Over the course of the last two years, I've visited various parts of Peru; Cusco, the jungle, Machu Pichu, the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, southern parts Ica, Nazca Lines, the dunes, Ballesta Islands, and parts in the North around Mancora. The people are all so generous and welcoming. They live a simple life and are so content with what they have. Having been introduced to some of their best artisans, I have been immersed in incredible creativity that they are so willing to share.
As I develop this blog, I will tell some of the stories of our trips to Peru and describe some of the places we've been.

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