Ethical Fabric from Michoacan

We would like to introduce this company from Michoacan, Mexico that produces thread, craft dyes, weaves and sews into cloth. Each element of the cloth is crafted by artisans from the thread to the pedal-loom. They use historic machinery and adapation of Pureprecha (Indigenous people of the area) weaving techniques. The artisans are business partners of the business.

All workers have fair wages, social security, medical care, housing benefits.

Environmental Awareness:
Hand dyeing conserves water
Dye water recycling system
Solar panels cut energy
Sun dry tread
Man powered looms use zero electricy
Onsite vertical integration reduces transportation
Organic cotton

Hand Crafted Quality

Durable
Color fast
Artisan techniques adapted
one of a kind exclusivity

They make kitchen and dining textiles, bedspreads and drapes. Photos attached of a duvet and embroidered pillows.

Mexican Artists

Here are some new paintings done by local artists in Baja. The colors are vibrant and the work is amazing.

If you have any interest, please contact me.

What is Cantera?

We have all heard obout cantera but what is it and why is it popular in deigning fountains, mantles, and wonderful architectural features.

First of all cantera is a sedementary stone that was formed from volanic ash and most of it is found in Southern Mexico. It comes in many different colors and shades and it won't crack or expand due to its physical properties.

It is easy to work with as it is light weight and can be carved into wonderful designs. Here are some examples of fountains and mantles.

Exotic Woods

Here is a list of some of the rare and exotic woods found in Mexico and South American. I hope someday to find the names in English but I doubt that they exist - our only hope is to use the latin names. Roja blanca y negra, parota, caoba chapaneca, encino, sabino, tajibo, lapacho, flor amarillo, pashaco, copal, ojoso colorado, gumuchil and the list goes on!!

These woods have beautiful grains and colors that blend beautifully to create art in wood.

The Story of a Tree

This tree survived a fire in the forests in Mexico high up in the Sierras. It was lovingly cut and stripped of its burned exterior, cut into lumber and tranformed into this handsome armoire.

It now resides happily with a family in the lakes in Northern Ontario, Canada.

The Story of a Tree

This tree was in a forest fire but survived as it is a very hard wood. the photos will tell the story. It was carefully stripped of the outer layer and then cut into rounds and boards and finally made into a handsome piece of furniture.

Panchito Chairs

There are many different woods that are used by furniture makers in Mexico besides Mesquite.

Leather Furniture

Leather is used in many unique ways in making sofas, chairs and bar stools. Many times inferior grades of leather are used and in time they will crack and pull apart. Leather should be thick, soft. Here are a few samples of what can be done by combing different kinds of leather, in different colors and patters. A sofa of this quality is expensive but so much better than "Jerome's" quality.

All of this leather furniture is made in Mexico. You can reach us at: lamisionmuebles@hotmail.com for further information

Mesquite

What does mesquite really look like and how can I know that what I am buying is really mesquite. Many furniture companies claim that the furniture that they have is made of mesquite but it is really easy to tell if it is mesquite. First of all very few places in Mexico are licensed to use mesquite in crafting furniture. If you are one of the lucky people to have found a source for real mesquite furniture you are most fortunate.

One of the ways of identify this wood is by seeing the grain and color of the wood. Many times a dark stain is used to hide and conceal the grain of the wood. In this blog you will see the wood that was used to hand-craft the dining table and then see photos of the colors and grains of the wood. People need to be careful that they are getting real mesquite.

EQUIPALES with upholstery

The order finally arrived and we were all very excited to see how the equipales would look. We ordered a love seat, two chairs and a coffee table for a client with Sunbrella fabric. The result was outstanding. The combination of brick coloured leather and linen sunbrella was beautiful. The set cost $900.00 and will last a long time.

I have posted the photos, but we were so excited that we didn't unwrap the whole love seat but you will get an idea of how they look!

EQUPALES Care and Maintenance

It is good to remember that equipales are made of pigskin and as such should be treated like leather. Every few months they need to be cleaned and conditioned to protect them.

I just discovered a remarkable product that matches a cleaner and conditioner and I have tried them several times and the equipales look even better after this treatment.

Lexol Ph: Summit Industries 1-800-241-6996.

There is a gel cleaner and leather conditioner.

If you look after your equipales they will last a long time.

Copper Top Tables

Just as the base of a Mexican Colonial or Hacienda table can be wood or wrought iron, the tops can vary greatly from wood to marble to copper. We have found some beautiful examples of copper that can used with different bases. Generally it has a lustrous patina finish like the examples in the photos.

More Mexican Alder Furniture

After I looked at the Chinese Furniture that was being repaired I noticed two beautiful new Mexican Colonial pieces carved in alder. One was a small dresser that mesaured about 48 inches wide and was priced at $600.00 and the other was a carved bench that was about 52 inches long for $500.00.

What a contrast. You have to see the difference to believe it!

Photos of the Dresser and Bench!

Mexican Furniture vs Chinese Furniture

Last week I had the occasion to check out some furniture in a shop in Baja and noticed that they were doing some repairs on a bed that was purchased in a furniture store in the US. The rail had come loose where it attached at the column. I was astonished to see that the column was totally hollow and the surrounds were a heavy carboard; however, even more amazing were the beautiful "handcarved" decals which turned out to be heavy plastic. The couple had paid over $3,000.00 for the bed.

The veneer was so thin that you could easily scratch it off.

In Mexico you can purchase a magnificent bed similar constructed of "wood" for less!!

Photos to see!

MEXICAN COLONIAL FURNITURE IN ALDER

After so many years of making Mexican Colonial furniture using mesquite, old pine and rosa morada, skilled artisans are using kiln-dried alder from Canada. Alder is a hard wood but can be easily carved into many beautiful designs. This is a photo of a chair that you will find in a San Francisco store for $3,500.00. We can make this same chair and you can send us the fabric of your choice and it can be made for $600.00. Notice the beautiful details and workmanship. You can choose the stain for the wood and your own fabric to make it really one-of-a-kind.

Wall Art

This type of artwork can be used very effectively with any style of furniture. There are made of papel amate which is the bark from a tree that is soaked, pounded, coloured with natural dyes, and woven into designs. They come with a wood frame set up for adding picture lights in the back or from the top and are sensational in adding warmth and life to any room.

Painted Mermaid Coffee Table

Here is an example of a very ordinary table that has been transformed by the paint brush and imagination of Francisco Merino. So many people love mermaids and ocean lore and you can see here the charm and vision of one great painter!

Mexican Art

Franciso Merino has been painting for years. He has a very strong style of work that captures the flavor or Mexico. Here is an example of a trytic he recently did for some Canadian clients. The three panels can be moved into a variety of configurations to give a different effect of ocean, light and movement.

More Painted Mexican Furniture

At Muebles La Mision we are fortunate to have an excellent artist on hand. Francisco Merino can paint wonderful pictures, and furniture. we recently designed an elegant china cabinet and had him paint the doors with Cala Lillies. These cabinets can be done in any color and you can choose any design for the doors. This is just an idea. The configuration can be changed and the finish can be bright or matte. This type of furniture adds art and purpose to any room.

More on Equipales

I have had so many questions of equipales that I have done some research on them and the different styles. Basically there are about 6 main styles and many different colors but Tobacco and Saddle Brown are the most common. The chairs and sofas can be padded or just have a pigskin seat. The backs of the seats vary from open in the Cancun style to combination of willow and woven pigskin. They can be used in the house or outside. I do not recommend that they be left in direct sunlight 24 hours per day but they are durable and can withstand changes in weather.

I have attached a photos of the most ocmmon style which is the traditional equipale in the two most common colors. If you have any questions, leave me a comment in the blog.