This week we have the gorgeous Madeleine Stamer on the Guest Blog! Maddi has been a long time favourite of both Lucy and I and we are so excited that she is here to share her love for Mexican culture and arts by focusing on Día de los Muertos celebrations (aka Day of the Dead). It’s going to be a truly fantastic week- be sure to visit Maddi’s website for more of her amazing work here. – Jenny x
Hola, hello I’m super excited to be guest blogging on The Design Files and I’m looking forward to sharing with you my passion for all things Mexicana throughout this week of Día de los Muertos celebrations.
For the uninitiated, Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a Mexican indigenous tradition tweaked with Catholicism beliefs. Dia de los Angelitos is commemorated on November 1 coinciding with All Saint’s Day when the souls of children return to visit their familes. Dia de los Muertos falls on November 2 (All Souls’ Day) when los muertos grandes, the adults temporarily return and join the celebrations.
Illustration by José Guadalupe Posada
Dealing with the intricacies of death is tricky in anyone’s language. I’m certainly no authority on the subject but like others I too have experienced the death of someone near and dear. I have utmost respect for Mexican sensibilities and their celebratory grieving process. A lot of imagery in my art derives from Mexican folklore and I’m very grateful for the endless source of visual delight that has helped me deal with the fragility of life and death.
To the Western eye explosive visions of rainbow coloured sugar skulls and cheeky skeletons engaged in ritualistic play may appear slightly irreverent and a little hard to digest. What may appear surreal and seemingly morbid to some is a deeply spiritual and cathartic process for others. Don’t get it confused with the modern day horror of Halloween people, The Day of the Dead is a vibrant and joyous occasion, injected with gentle humour and friendly expression in honour of our dearly departed and ancestors. Spice up the grieving pot with a pinch of colour, laughter, singing, eating and dancing!
The beautiful Frida Kahlo
If I had a handful of wishes I’d opt to travel back in time and celebrate Día de los Muertos in the heart of Mexico with my lady friend Frida, we would have a great time with flowers in our hair.
Let the celebrations begin!
- Madeleine x
238 Comments
Wow I am the first one and hopefully lucky. That print is to die for and Mamasita is on my must do list.
I love the Day of the Dead celebrations. I think it’s lovely to rejoice in our loved ones still being near us in spirit, and making those marzipan skulls is great fun with the kids.
Ah Frida!
Viva la Mexicano and Madeleine!
Caray! That is a colourful start to the week. Thanks Madeleine. Keep it coming.
The detail on those skulls is amazing. Interesting to contrast the meaning and substance of Mexico’s Day of the Dead with its neighbour’s commercialised Halloween celebrations.
Wow. Am loving all things Mexican at the moment. Thanks!
Very cool blog idea. Posada is one of my favourite artists and several of his amazing sketches adorn our walls. Viva la mexico!
love it! Keep the colour, pattern coming!
love those pics of Frida Kahlo, beautiful!
Mamasita Mexican – yes please!
Hola Chica , I’ve always liked the idea of the Day of the dead festival. Hoping to head to Mexico next year!
Muy muy mamasita bonita!
Mamasita is on the must do list asap!!
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to treat my boyfriend to this one….
Thanks TDF…..
I’d love to go to Mexico one day, but one of the giveaways would be lovely until then!
Get me to Mexico!! Until then Mamasita… x
Madeline…I’m really looking forward to your posts this week. I’m particularly interested in this notion of celebratory grieving process. I’ve recently done a bit of reading on mourning & am keen to read your colourful take on things.
Ok, I have serous goosebumps after seeing that mindblowing print. Because it was meant for me!!!
And this week of guest posts are meant for me too.
Maybe I should start up a Maddi Stamer/ Frida Kahlo appreciation society as both their work fights for wall space in my bedroom……So looking forward to the rest of the week.Estoy emocionado!
Absolutely love your gorgeous work! Stunning!
What a beautiful print! & I love Mamasita!
love your work madeleine! x
just beautiful :)
Just superb!
Grascias to you & TDF for bringing us a real celebration.
(rather than more garish girls & jockeys, don’t get me wrong the horses are
Pretty…) So glad to see I’m not alone & others appreciate this festival too.
Dia del Los muertos is a lovely holiday time,
A time to refelect & celebrate, with Beautiful art work in the mix.
Kudos on the awesome work, looking forward to seeing what’s up next.
xx
OMG – I love her work and follow her blog – this print would just spruce my house up beautifully!
golly gosh how lovely. I have JUST the place for it!
and what an ace festival. I adore.
Love it! Can’t wait to read your posts this week!
Important to keep celebrating every country’s tradition, as they’re dwindling by the year.. I’d love to join the party with flowers in my hair!
Hola! Thank you for sharing your beautiful work, Madeleine, as well as an insight into the festive and colourful world of Mexico! Dia de los Angelitos is such a lovely, lovely way to remember lost loved ones.
I love the colours!
The colours, sigh, they are just beautiful. Can’t wait for this week’s guest blog!
Frida – amazing. And those colours would brighten anyone’s gloomy day! Love.
I woud love to hang with Frida as well! Ahh for a time machine!
I’ve been to Mexico and i feel you’ve captured the music and lifestyle so well.
Incidentally i also love the name Frida.
Thanks for the colourful post.
A beautiful explosion of colour.
Stunning Frida, would’ve been lovely to sip Sangria in the sun with her.
beautiful, amazing colours!
Oh Madeline – you’ve got my week off to a good start… but now I am lusting after that superb print to hang on my brand-new upholstery workshop wall.
So lovely and bright! The colours are full of life!
a fantastic monday start! gorgeous designs abnd colour, thanks
What a colourful start to the week! Looking forward to your next post!
Oh so beautiful and oh so delicious!
Just love that print ! x
Such a beautiful prize, oh I hope its me ……. xx
Thanks as always for the inspiration! Making my world a more beautiful one to live in
so bright and happy
I have always been intrigued by Day of the Dead
Hola! The print is devine.. colours GORGEOUS Maddi! Looking forward to settling in to this weeks blog! x
Love, love, love that print! And Día de los Muertos is SO much more fun than the races…
Was fortunate enough to be In Mexico in 2008 for The Day of the Dead. In her words and artwork above Madeline has captured the idiosyncrasies and complexity of this delightful cultural practice.
vibrant and spirited- love it
I’m a fan of Ms Kahlo too.
If you haven’t already you might like to read Barbara Kingsolver’s novel “The Lacuna” which does in fact take you back to a time when the Kahlos were young and vibrant.
You’ve inspired me to add some flowers to my hair today,
Felicity x
How appropriate, and so much thought with The day of the dead festival approaching! Thanks Madeline love your work!
Yes please! Can’t wait for the rest of the week’s blogs!
so much colour! colour brings summer! i can’t wait for sunshine!!!!!
Wow, that is a BEAU-tiful print, and well since it is my birthday today… in all seriousness, I love everything about mexico and can’t wait to read more this week, thanks for celebrating the day of the dead with me!
Love how colourful day of the dead celebrations are. Also hoping to win mamasita voucher!
so colourful and dark
love Mamasita’s …yes please
All I want to say is I have a 4 year old daughter called Frida, after Ms. Kahlo…and I have a son called Elvis who was born on Halloween (today in fact)…Mexico and it’s celebration of spirits has grown on me…
Amazing art pieces and food – what a giveaway! Love Frida Kahlo’s works too, she was an amazing artist.
Love your work!
It’s wonderful to get a glimpse of how other cultures approach their death and mourning rituals. Particularly the bold and celebratory nature of Mexico. We could learn a thing or 5.
Me encanta!
I love love love all things Mexican, and love Madeline’s gorgeous colourful prints, esp bright on a grey old Melbourne day….. and mama mia! Mamasita!!!! Goodness gracious me, yes please!
thanks TDF. xxxx
Have always been drawn to Day of the Dead imagery…great to have some history and culture entwined with my design fix.
Yes, bring on the colour. And the food.
Feliz dia de los muertos todos! X
Dia de los meurtos seems to be popping up everywhere lately! My favourite Halloween outfit, and such a gorgeous concept – finding beauty in something usually so gruesome!
And Frida Kahlo? I die… she is so amazing.
I’m sure the fabulous Ms Kahlo would love to have your company on All Souls Day! Thanks for enlightening me about this very interesting Mexican tradition.
VIVA LA MEXICO!!!!!!!!!
I eat Hallepinos breakfast lunch and dinner! (it’s true,you can get addicted to chilli’s…it’s become quite a problem)
Plus I did a high school art project on Frida-and i’m growing a moustache in her honor.
Beautiful!!!
The print is so vibrant and beautiful… just the way I like to remember the people close to me that have gone before me!
I think it is a sign of a progressive culture when death can be honored in a joyous manner. Looking forward to learning more about Mexico in upcoming posts.
Felzi dia Madeleine!
i am such a big fan of Frida!!I even wear my hair like her!
and yours,too!
your lovely angel print that we got with Valeria reminds me and makes me Melbourne a little every day!
Mmmmmm enchiladas…
Surely I have died and gone to giveaway heaven I’ve been lusting after one of Madeleine’s prints for ages!! Muchos grascias!
Would love some tacos!
What a truly gorgeous print
I dreamed last light of a funeral that went for hours and hours.
We had to pack our own food.
But it wasn’t a celebration. It was an obligation and it was hard …
Bring on celebrating death, I say … colour, cheek and (please) Frida inspired colour!
Yum!
Lots of lovely colour to brighten my day
Mmmm Mamasita!
Love the Mexican relationship with skulls and skeletons. To express death is such a vibrant way is something that fascinates me and I always love seeing peoples take on this. Your work is amazing :)
love the colours and the fridas :)
A wonderful colourful start to a dreary Monday.
Beautiful, vibrant work Madeleine!
And Mamasita is one of my fave restaurants! Your work should be displayed there!
x C
We’ve just got home from 12 days driving around Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and I’m in love with all things Mexican! This beautiful print is simply gorgeous!
Inspired me to have quesadillas for dinner tonight yum yum
When I was growing up, All Souls was always dark and sombre, but Madeleine injects so much colour and life!
winning either of these prizes fantastic prizes would console me greatly… my bestest friend has just arrived in mexico… without me! one day i will experience día de los muertos…
Great guest blog today, I must say I have always been fascinated by the day of the dead celebrations, not to mention having a super parchant for any kind of taco! Go Mamasita!
I used to work in a Mexican restaurant so Mexican design, and a love of tequila, has seeped into my pores – love it!
I visited Mexico last year, what a brilliant country full of colour and life! I need a Mamasita fix!
What a perfect way to brighten up the Spring!
I love your work! The Day of the Dead celebrations to me are such a healthy way for a community to celebrate and express themselves re loved ones lost. The person to win your print will be very lucky indeed!!!
I have been to Mexico but unfortunately had to leave before the Day of the Dead celebrations. They certainly know how to do colour!
Frida, Mamasita and Design Files, three things that never cease to inspire me!
Awesome Mexicana week!
I predict this is going to be an excellent week full of beautiful images!
I’ve always been a little bit fascinated by ‘Day of the Dead’. Thanks for enlightening us.
Hola Madeleine, love your work and thanks for bringing a great celebration to out attention.
Viva viva viva. The colour, the music, the fun. Simply Gorgeous.
Fabulous – fun, food, colour and of course teqila!!
Even though the sun is not shining this week this blog is!
love frida and would love to eat at Mamasita :)
MEximadnesssss! light some candles for all souls day and get your dream catchers out. FLOWERS in her hair.
what a gorgeous celebration of colour in the print, haven’t eaten at mamasita’s either so that could be lovely too.
amazing mexicanness! yes please, i am loving the colour and the patterns. x
Beautiful Mexican colours!
Mamasita is the exact reason to pop down to Melbourne for a week … or two!!! I’ll be extstatic if I’m the lucky, lucky one for the gorgeous giveaway :)
A riot of colors…divine!
fabulous print, fabulous food!
love love anything mexican! was lucky enough to be in mexico over this festival two years ago – was incredible!
I’ve had an interest in this for a long time, so this week is going to be great!
Hola! it makes me miss Mexico we do have beautiful traditions and Mamacitas menu sounds just delicious give away! love Madeleine’s work!
Love the bold beautiful colour of these! And that food .. mmmmm
whoa, beautiful prints + + + !!! I think http://textileandterrain.wordpress.com/ would love you
I will celebrate with a margarita and look forward to this week’s posts!
I’ve seen a lot of images popping up on pinterest re the Day of the Dead recently and I’d been wanting to know more about it so your guest blog is perfect!
Hola! Great blog post. Inspiring me to decorate my room with colour :)
mmm…gorgeous print and gorgeous food!! :)
The colours! The patterns! What an inspiring start to the week…can’t wait to see more of Madeleine’s work.
love love love
cup… what cup? much rather be celebrating this!
That print makes my heart sklp a beat! Love it!!
now I have stopped crying and pulled myself together, ( the whole soles of lost children visiting their parents is such a beautiful idea) I just want to say how much I am loving your blog.
Dia de los Angelitos is such a beautiful joyous way to remember loved ones. Thank you for sharing your colorful illustrations! ”Sweet Calavera” looks stunning!!
love your work Maddi
Te quiero ”Sweet Calavera”
Lovely work.
Hola!
I love your work!
absolutamente maravilloso
So nice and bright on such a dull day. Thanks.
yes please! so lovely!
Madeleine is a local favourite. Big colour with big strokes. Divine
I fell in love with all things Mexican a while ago – love the colour and symbolism. Your work is amazing too! Looking forward to reading more on the guest blog this week
What incredibly beautiful designs – I can’t wait to see more of your work!
Super inspired by this review! Im starting with mexican for dinner!
I love your style! :) xo
‘Dia de los muertos’, making us forget all the cup madness since 500 BC.
Amazing print! Loving the mexicana flavour TDF.
Love your work Maddi! Gorgeous colours
Oh. I would love to win one of those lovely prizes!
Beautiful work!
Day of the Dead is so fascinating. I love how it connects so visually.
The print is so cheerful!
Love Mexico! Such exciting visuals, best guest blog ever!
What an exciting giveaway! yet again..
Love your Work!!
I can’t wait to follow Madeleine’s blog over this week. Already the colours, images and adorable designs posted have me hooked.
Who doesn’t love all that fantastic colour!
Have always been intrigued by Day of the Dead. Looking forward to learning more…
Love a bit of international flavour – and those prints are very impressive.
OMG!!! This is the best artwork!!! Thanks to Madeleine…. as a mexican lady living in Melbourne… this make me feel like home!!! Love ittt!!!!
Such beauty in life and death and in these pieces. I never understood this until my nearest and dearest past. I travelled to south america off the back of it. Everything was connected and meant something,….and I started to understand impermanence…. These pieces make me feel joy and love….gorgeous work I’d be proud to have in my home…..certainly lift the spirits and reminder of this concept – beauty and life in everything.. PS. I love the idea of all souls day…..v cool. love this guest blog…
Came across these Ginger Dead Men today – quite appropriate for Día de los Muertos
http://ignaciopilotto.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/ginger/
thanks for the explanation. I always wondered!
Those skulls look delicious! As does a voucher to Mamasita… hint hint….
very exciting to have you as guest blogger – i love Spain !!!!
Love all the Frida Kahlo images. So inspirational!
What beautiful artwork!! And I have been DYING to visit Mamasita (it’s on my shortlist for my upcoming 30th birthday dinner)!! We recently travelled to Mexico, and were blown away by the culture and food. Thanks for the great Guest Blog!!
Madeleine, being from Mexico I know how you feel, el Dia de Muertos is super special. Reading your post has inspired me to put up a little ofrenda tomorrow and I might even make Pan de Muertos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_de_muerto) to share this lovely tradition with aussie friends :)
LOVE a little cultural education, beautiful artwork and awesome food- thanks!!!
Oh yer! This is going to be one colour filled week!!!
Wonderful colours. Take me away.
Me too – love the country, love the language, love the coulour, love the food, love Frida!! And i especially love the celebration of those we have loved who have left us.
Beautiful colours – thanks for the inspiration.
just amazing! I love it!
SO excited to be in the running for that wonderful poster or a mexican meal! Lovely article as well. THanks!
Colours, chilli and culture, it’s all declicious.
Frida!!
I find this such a fascinating tradition, it’s like nothing else, isn’t it.
I Love Frida and I adore Mexican food!
Ahh! I’m so into Mexicana right now! Must be the upcoming summer. I am knitting a bright mexican inspired sarong out of gorgeous organic cotton for the beach and also knitting a set of mexican food (corn, lime, jalapeno etc) for my friend’s young children to play with! Yay! I would LOVE either of these prizes to further inspire my current inspiration!
Maragaritas and tequila!
Oh, that monobrow… possibly my favourite ‘dress up party’ person. So simple, but so effective.
The colours that you use in your work are amazing Madeleine. So vibrant and warm.
OH MY GOODNESS. I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really REALLY would love to win Maddi’s print. IT IS SOOO beyond awesome! And it totally made me gasp when I saw it.. Ahhhhh….
Pick me! I love the print too.
YAY! A week with Madeleine, now THAT is cool! can’t wait!
That giclee print is amazing! Can’t wait to see what else pops up on the guest blog this week!
Isn’t Frida just stunning? What a gorgeous giveaway :D
This print is just amazing. I wish death & grieving wasn’t such a taboo topic in our society
Oh, I’m looking forward to this weeks guest blog. Love all the colour and gorgeous pics of Frida.
Mamasita is one of the best restaurants in Melbourne! That chilli parmesan corn…heaven!
Wow Dia de Los Muertos looks so much better than Melbourne Cup and Halloween combined, and I just love looking at pictures of Frida any day. x
I love your artworks and will be reading your blog from now on. Beautiful.
a stunning print and love all your work
wishing I could go to Mexico
The Mexicans really got it right, great food and art plus gotta love siesta time!
As a Buddhist I believe it is really important to be comfortable with death. It can come at any time. WE must accept it as an integral part of life, something that is part of our continuous journey, not something to be feared. So the Mexican celebrations sound fantastic! Life is a celebration!
so beautiful, Madeleine’s print and all things Mexican!
Colour, celebration, love – the good things in life. Thanks for sharing your mexican madness!
It’s really cool and colorful! Happy Day of the Dead!
what a lovely celebration! and a lovely print to celebrate the celebration!
Beautifully scary!
the skulls are amazing
Beautiful. Love the images of Frida, too.
Brilliant! fingers crossed :)
scarily beautiful
I love the details and colour work on the print. Madeleine’s passion really shows, thank you for putting a smile on my face!
Amazingly beautiful – love it all
LOVE the colours so beautiful
What incredible work!
I love the imagery too…was just thinking today how I wish we could celebrate the day of the dead Mexican style instead of the US’s version of Halloween which seems to be creeping I’m. Looking forward to the guest blog this week :)
Mamasita yeah! Any excuse to get to Melbourne! Love your work Madeleine!
visual and sensory art-I want them both!
Vibrant!
Have been in love with all things Mexican since studying on exchange there some time ago, but wasn’t there for Dia de los muertos. Just means I’ll have to go back for it one day! In the meantime looking forward to following this guest blog!
Divine…would look amazing in my daughters bedroom. Fingers crossed!
I have been looking for a good Mexican restaurant in Melbourne. I will have to go and try this one.
I love Frida! Great inspiration of colour!
Oh, I love that work of art, an explosion of colour, what love and passion went into that gorgeous creation! And I love FRIDA !!!!!!!!!! I own two books about her life, have her DVD and loved her art as well. I am happy to follow your blogg as I love all things Mexican!! Thank you :-)
Can I travel back in time to meet Frida too?! Perhaps winning that gorgeous print would be close enough!
Maddie, your new artwork is amazing. I want it now. pick me pick me!
Spectacular artistry xx
Fab idea for a guest blog, maddi’s art is so joyous and dia de Los muertos such an inspiration, what a healthy and happy way to celebrate lost loved ones.
love this! Why shouldn’t death be celebrated with the same passion and colour as life?! And life lived with flowers in your hair?!
a celebration of death, love, mourning, family and community and memory with joyful vibrant colours and patterns! resonates with me mucho.
a stunning print i’d love to grace my wall!
por favor por favor me me me…………….
Viva Dia de Los Muertos y Mexico!
gracias
WOW, love that you’re a guest blogger here Madeleine, it’s going to be a fabulously fun colourful inspiring week I’m sooo looking forward to it now! xxx
How fabulous! So talented!
Perhaps there’s an element of celebrating a life rather than mounring a death which puts joy into what can be so devastating.
Amazing colours on that print! I have the perfect place for it !!
What wonderful a wonderful way to celebrate a life and spirit in death.
The colours evoke so much energy! Mexico me gusta! We have a lot to learn.
Thanks for bringing back great memories.
Thanks for writing about Day of the Dead! I am preparing a small meal in memory of my loved ones. I am a big fan of the calavera and Mexican folklore and traditions. Don’t forget the elements of air, wind, fire and water in your shrines. The spirits of those passed are a special and deserve a happy remembrance. Eat more tacos!
Tacos and a print…wow!
So much inspiration – enough to encourage me to join my friends in Mexico!
Love Madeleine’s print (and Mexican food)! I would be so excited to win one of these-thanks for the chance!
My birthday today and I am surrounded by the leftovers of a beautiful Día de los Muertos party on the weekend…homemade sugar skulls all over the house, the remnants of the altar (fruit, flowers pictures of all my friend’s loved ones) and masses of marigolds in the backyard. My hubbie planted them weeks ago and the surged up and were beautiful for the party…hope all of our loved ones saw us remembering them. I loved this blog – thank you so much Design Files and Madeleine x
just gorgeous!
colours are absolutely amazing! i heart so much!
Love … just love… I think the idea of using shrines to celebrate, to mourn, to show gratitude is just beautiful and under utilised in our culture. Thanks Madeleine. I would make a shrine with all my favourite coloured food packages.
Let’s celebrate!
Amazing print!
inspired. Thank you.
Wonderful work and guest blog this week! Thanks
I would love that beautiful print, por favor! Viva Mexico! Viva Madeleine!
what an amazing way to celebrate life! (and I love the print!)
For all those keen followers of all things Mexican may I recommend the book I’m currently reading … The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver … I’m enjoying it enormously, and as a visual artist I thoroughly enjoyed the visual feast here.
fingers and toes crossed!!!!!
this is one of the best guest blogs yet! i am totally biased as my major love is mexico, frida and all things ott and fantastic…thanks design files for another amazing week, every day has been an inspiration! xxxx