Ladies who quilt 
By Janet Avery
October 24, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Remember the old-fashioned quilting bees where groups of ladies “of a certain age” sat around a huge quilt frame doing intricate stitching on mostly pastel hand-pieced quilt tops? Well, forget that. Think bright colors, unusual fabrics and computerized sewing machines. Think art!

What do a former project manager, interior designer, crafts shop owner, librarian, visual artist, office manager, homemaker, writer and municipal court clerk have in common? They’re all retired, living in San Miguel and bonded by their love of producing both artful and functional quilts while giving back to their adopted community. 

The San Miguel Quilters, currently a group of 10 women, began as a rather informal group years ago that made baby quilts by hand for newborns at a local clinic. At least three are still active members, joined by seven newer members within the past two years.

The quilters meet several times a month to show and tell, work on their current project or take turns hosting related workshops and field trips. The group has recently constructed pincushions, patchwork jackets and “happy village” wall hangings just for fun.

Five women went on a recent trip to Mexico City in search of fabric and sewing accessories. In addition to having fun and enjoying the camaraderie, the “ladies who quilt” have a goal of creating at least three quilts for different local charitable organizations each year. Mujeres en Cambio, Jóvenes Adelante and Sociedad Protectora de Animales (SPA) have been the beneficiaries of their efforts this past year, and the current project is a quilt for Hospice. 

The women came to San Miguel from Canada, Mexico, California, Massachusetts and Texas. Some members have been quilting for 30 years, and a few have only recently developed an interest. Their specialties run the gamut from traditional patchwork to custom-designed and embellished quilts.

At least two members still prefer to quilt by hand for the “serenity and meditative qualities” of the tiny, repetitive stitches. There are some very prolific quilters; some accept commissions. In the words of one member, this is a group of “like-minded women who are skilled, patient, knowledgeable and, most importantly, fun to be with.”

Two members are lucky enough to have been introduced to quilting by their sisters, both of whom are master quilters, one in Canada and one in Mexico. One married into an Amish family of quilters and taught quilting to Mexican women through a translator/bible teacher when she arrived in San Miguel five years ago. One member, a working visual artist for the past 20 years, finds the construction process of quilting closely linked to her interest in mixed media. Yet another is attracted to the technical, puzzle-like quality of selecting the right fabrics to enhance the design. 

The group will travel to the world’s largest quilt festival held in Houston, Texas, October 30– November 2. This is a serious deal, with a 70-page book of classes/workshops, an entire convention center dedicated to the exhibitors and a huge display of international award-winning quilts with big prize money.

Enthusiasts from around the globe gather in Houston each year to find out what’s new in the world of quilting. 

The San Miguel Quilters will host their first-ever exhibit/sale at Casa de La Turca B&B on December 12 in conjunction with the Sociedad Protectora de Animales (SPA).

SPA will begin selling raffle tickets soon for their whimsical dog- and cat-themed quilt, which will be on display at the exhibit. The lucky winner of their raffle will be announced that evening.

Janet Avery is a full-time SMA resident. She enjoys quilting, knitting, photo weavings, encaustics, jewelry, and wielding her red pen as she reads Atención galleys.

Magenta remembers
By Rebecca Peterson

Public altar for victims of Morelia violence
Thu, Oct 30, 6–8pm
Magenta Gallery
Mesones 57B

Mexico’s Day of the Dead is a celebration of honor and memory. It’s not just about sugar skulls and skeletons, but about families, friends and others who have passed on. It’s about the mystery of death, and during these days the souls are present and are invited in to visit, rest and have a bit of nourishment. Memories are revived and cherished.

Magenta Gallery invites you to a special altar in memory of those who died in the violent attack in Morelia this Independence Day. By honoring their memory we stand up for peace and remember that we are all one.

With the altar we remember Leticia Tapia Guerrero, María de Pilar Navarro Mendoza, Alfredo Sánchez Torres, Juan Antonio Ríos Pescador, Gloria Álvarez, Martha Quintero Brambilia, Elisa Guerrero García and Ángel Uriel Herrera García.

In honoring those we have loved, or even those we didn’t know but whose passing has affected us deeply, we recognize that we come from a whole history of humankind. We acknowledge those who have lived before us and have gone. We remember them in our hearts because their souls have touched ours.

The Magenta collective invites you to bring a flower, a candle, a sugar skull or other memento to add to the remembrance. The altar will be on display until Monday, November 3. 

Welcome the dead with the Biblioteca Pública

Day of the Dead celebration 
Thu, Oct 30, 5:30pm
Film
Nosferatu, 10pm
Patio
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
Free

The Biblioteca Pública invites the community to a Day of the Dead celebration Thursday, October 30, at 5:30pm at the library, Insurgentes 25.

María Luisa Moreno will present an entertaining and informative program, including a Náhuatl litany; the meaning of the elements on an altar; ancient Mexicans’ views on death; death for writers, doctors and jokesters; and proverbs about death.

Complimentary pan de muertos (bread of the dead) and atole will be served. At 10pm, the F. W. Murnau classic Nosferatu will be shown in the library patio. Admission is free, and a cash bar will be set up.

The Biblioteca Pública needs volunteers to build and set up the Day of the Dead altar in the Jardín on October 31 at 9am. Interested people please confirm at the Biblioteca´s administrative office, 11am–2pm, email gm@bibliotecasma.com or call 152-1210.

If you would like to make a donation, please send it to the Biblioteca’s Banamex account: 04 83 80 07 093. 

For a donation of materials, you may bring veladoras (candles), tissue paper, alfeñiques (traditional candy figures), or other appropriate altar decorations.

Day of the Dead afternoon tea
By Kathleen Devine

Mujeres en Cambio afternoon tea
Day of the Dead lecture
Fri, Oct 30, 4–6pm
Instituto Allende 
Ancha de San Antonio 20
Entry by ticket only; 120 pesos 

Mujeres en Cambio is pleased once again to invite you to attend our annual Day of the Dead afternoon tea. This year we have been invited to have our event at the Instituto Allende.

Owner Jaime Fernández, a former mayor of San Miguel de Allende, will discuss the various symbols and artistic features of the family alters that will be on display, and our volunteers will treat you to delicious tea sandwiches and desserts.

This special event, along with our other monthly luncheons, help meet our financial goal of supplying scholarships to 150 exceptional young women completing their education. Currently, 130 girls are in secondary school and 20 are in college. 

I would like to share the story of one of our wonderful and successful students, Lupita.


She comes from a family of five children ranging in age from 2 to 19. She is fortunate to have both of her parents living at home. Her father works as an albañil on various San Miguel building projects. He was only able to complete third grade, and her mother finished sixth grade. They wanted more for their children.

Lupita became one of our scholarship recipients in her third semester of prepa, or high school. She exemplified everything we look for by graduating with a 9.5 grade point average (out of 10). She moved on to college at the University of León and is in her second year of studying marketing. She also works full-time at a cyber café and believes it will take five years to complete her degree. Lupita is now excited about taking part in an overseas program that would send her to Spain for a month to study. Her goal after graduation is to obtain a marketing position with a multinational company, help support her family and be an inspiration to her younger siblings. In her spare time she has studied English at Warren Hardy School and with the Jóvenes Adelante program.

Lupita wants us all to know how much she appreciates the help she receives from Mujeres en Cambio and Jóvenes Adelante. Without this financial assistance she would not have had this opportunity. 

When you purchase your ticket for our upcoming afternoon tea, remember Lupita’s story. You will be playing a small but important part in another young woman’s life.

Tickets for the tea are now on sale at Casa de Papel, Mesones 57A (China Palace building). Please note that entry to this event is by advance-purchase ticket only. The 75 tickets always sell out quickly.

For more information visit our website, www.mujeresencambio.org , or call Roger at 154-6552 (sorry, no reservations can be taken). 

City remembers Stirling Dickinson 

Mass for Stirling Dickinson
Tue, Oct 28, 6:15pm
La Salud Church, Plaza Cívica
Memorial service
Wed, Oct 29, 11am
Stirling Dickinson commemorative statue
Salida a Celaya opposite Hotel Real de Minas

Stirling Dickinson, one of the city’s most beloved residents and benefactors, arrived in San Miguel in 1936 and bought a house in Santo Domingo, where he lived until his death on October 29, 1998.

A man of many talents and interests, he was an artist and a writer. His favorite sport was baseball, and he even formed and sponsored a local team for many years. Dickinson had the largest collection of orchids in Latin America.

A generous and dedicated philanthropist, Dickinson supported the construction of Fuego Nuevo School and was one of the founders of the Biblioteca Pública, the Lions Club, the General Hospital and the Club de Golf Malanquín. He was the director of Instituto Allende. He also was the founder of Patronato Pro Niños and he personally carried books, clothing, shoes and medicine to 125 schools in rural communities. 

Local policewoman proud to serve

Increasing numbers of women in Mexico are choosing jobs in fields that once were considered male enclaves. Such is the case of the policewomen who patrol San Miguel’s streets alongside their male counterparts.

Currently several women work for the state police department. Among them is 28-year-old officer Marcela Ramírez González, who has celebrated her eighth anniversary of service on the force. 

Ramírez has long had a dream to serve society. As a little girl she wanted to be a nurse, and then her thoughts turned toward military duty. Finally, she decided to be a policewoman. When she started the job she found herself facing several obstacles, not the least of which were the rebukes of the male officers. “Several times I had to remain in the station, and I felt very frustrated,” she recalls. 

Over time this animosity has faded and the environment has become one of cooperation and solidarity. Her male partners are now respectful and recognize the valuable contributions she makes to the force. 

Ramírez says proudly, “I’m a single mother, I have three children: a ten-year-old daughter, my six-year-old daughter and my four-year-old boy.” She admits her mother’s and sister’s support have been essential for her to continue working long shifts. “We work 12 by 24 all week,” she explains. This means that one day she works 12 hours and then, after resting 12 hours, she starts a 24-hour shift. 

Her oldest daughter says she wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a police officer. Marcela says that she will support her children in their decisions even if they want to do the same work she does.

Aware of the risk of death or physical harm implicit in her profession, Ramírez says goodbye every morning to her children, telling them how much she loves them. She encourages them to persevere, because she knows she may not come home. Fortunately, although she has been involved in some extremely dangerous situations, such as gunfire exchanges, she has not been hurt seriously. 

Regarding her future plans, Ramírez says she wants to continue working for the police department to help others and, above all, to continue being a role model for her children. “I can guide them better and teach them that all bad actions have consequences,” she says. Her dream is to become part of the state forces of the Public Security Department in Guanajuato.