The Design Files Daily

Día de los Muertos – Get Yo Mex On!

As part of Madeleine’s Día de los Muertos Guest Blog there are amazingly TWO giveaways this week! Firstly, one of Madeleine Stamer’s limited edition ‘Sweet Calavera’ Prints, measuring 56 x 76cm an valued at $330. Mamasita, one of Melbourne’s most delicious Mexican restaurants, have kindly offered a $100 gift voucher as well!  All you need to do is leave a comment on any of Maddi’s posts this week – the winners will be drawn at random and announced on Monday.  Check out all the details here.  – Jenny x

Melbourne is a treasure trove for locally crafted Mexican and Día de los Muertos delights. There’s also a bunch of clever interstate contenders who are getting into the Mexican groove too. Artists, crafters, designers, tattooists and the like are increasingly dedicating a better part of their work to skullery goodness and skeleton mayhem inspired by traditional Día de los Muertos imagery. They’re not all strictly Mexican inspired but each piece has it’s personal folk connections and definitely worth a mention.

clockwise from top left: re-sew-cool sugar skull bag-tag kits, Crocheted Skull by Shara Lambeth, Jubly-Upph Day Of The Dead Lady Brooch and Betty Jo handmade Day of The Dead Skull Brooch and other skull goodies

clockwise from top left: Just Like Honey Skull by Irene Grishin Selzer, Made by White Skull Girl Brooch,  stabs via STABSYSTABS and Love Hate illustration by Rik Lee

Etsy is a bottomless pit when it comes to Day of The Dead odds and ends. My head was throbbing after I entered a basic search for ‘Day of The Dead’ but I persevered and compiled a treasury list just for you!

Día de los Muertos ceramic figures. Image courtesy of Market Import

Otomi fabric. Image courtesy of Market Import

A local retail fav who has its roots steeped in traditional Mexican homewares is the much loved Market Import, Armadale. Market Import is largely responsible for my initial Mexicana love crush, we go way back.

Market Import locations: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide.

Images courtesy of Amor Y Locura

My newest Mexicana love lust belongs to Amor Y Locura (Love & Madness). I recently serendipitously stumbled across the doorsteps of Amor Y Locura although I had received muchas recommendations to go visit. It’s pure Mexicana paradise. I was fortunate to meet owner Mandy Paton who bowled me over with her passion, zest and splendid sense of humour. It’s a definite one-stop shop full of Mexicana enchantment.

Amor Y Locura
77 Gertrude St. Fitzroy, Melbourne.
+61 3 9486 0270

-Madeleine xo

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35 Comments

  1. mish said
    November 2, 2011. 8:46 am

    Something about that gold skull stamped with hearts is so enticing.


  2. miss murray said
    November 2, 2011. 8:52 am

    Get me to Mexico Immediately!! We named our standard poodle ‘Frida’ after Frida Kahlo. Mexican folk art continues to inspire through colour, symbols and pattern. All beautiful things. Will be showing my Vis Comm students :)


  3. Emily Miller said
    November 2, 2011. 9:05 am

    It would never have occurred to me that some of the above would be visually representative of Día de los Muertos, but it makes way more sense now! Thanks!.

    Emily


  4. November 2, 2011. 9:12 am

    All to beautiful! Can’t it please be Day of the Dead all year ’round? :^D I have a Betty Jo sugar skull on my lapel today and I’m out the door – adios! Mucho Gracias, Madeleine!


  5. Marina said
    November 2, 2011. 9:16 am

    Love it! Somehow skulls seem to have become one of those timeless motifs.Thank you Madeleine for confirming my need to travel to Mexico one day.


  6. Jo said
    November 2, 2011. 9:48 am

    love that otomi fabric, just gorgeous!


  7. Giselle said
    November 2, 2011. 10:08 am

    WOW! Some of the imagery reminds me of Angelique Houtkamp’s (dutch tattoo artist) work, now I see where she got the inspiration.


  8. Emma O'Dell said
    November 2, 2011. 10:42 am

    Jubly Umph has turned me on to your blog, I love Mexican culture and art, it is so colourful, emphatic and inspiring! Feliz Dia de los meurtos!


  9. Abby Roberts said
    November 2, 2011. 10:44 am

    Off to visit Amor Y Locura immediately! I saw a bank in Perth once called Day of the Dead – from memory their music fits these images perfectly. Very cool!


  10. Karly said
    November 2, 2011. 10:47 am

    I’d so love to display Day of the Dead art/decoratives items in the house but I’d hate to freak the kids out.


  11. Clare said
    November 2, 2011. 11:28 am

    I was in Melbs a couple of weeks ago and had a good time poking around Amor Y Locura.


  12. Lizzy said
    November 2, 2011. 11:28 am

    ohhh! love that shop too. love all those tin bits and that fabric is gorgeous! really enjoying your blogs this week Madeleine. x


  13. Amanda said
    November 2, 2011. 11:47 am

    great shop – its great to see lots of bold colours


  14. juan said
    November 2, 2011. 12:10 pm

    Amor Y Locura is my favorite shop. Would love to give that print to my wife or try Mamasita!


  15. Jamie Bishop said
    November 2, 2011. 12:23 pm

    I’m getting on the tram this week . I’m pining for chetumal right now .


  16. Gabriela said
    November 2, 2011. 12:51 pm

    Day of the dead here I come!


  17. nina said
    November 2, 2011. 12:58 pm

    wowzers! how awesome!


  18. Meg said
    November 2, 2011. 1:51 pm

    Love the colours and patterns.


  19. November 2, 2011. 2:33 pm

    So many great Mexican shops in Australia. Definitely visiting Amor Y Locura when in Melbourne next! And heading to Market Imports in Adelaide ASAP!

    PS – would love to win that giveaway! Fab! X


  20. Emmell said
    November 2, 2011. 2:41 pm

    All that colour! They’re like giant skies and dusty sidewalks and flowers that are so bright they vibrate in the hot sun.


  21. Christina said
    November 2, 2011. 3:19 pm

    Amazing. It’s now on my ‘must visit’ list! Love the fabric and colours.


  22. Julianne said
    November 2, 2011. 3:24 pm

    Feliz Dia de los meurtos! At our house it’s Day of the Dead all year round – day of the dead fabric cushions, skull garlands, skull cookie cutters (from Aldi! Yay!) and papal picado…. Because it’s too much fun for just a few days of the year. Great Post Madeleine!


  23. Mel said
    November 2, 2011. 3:52 pm

    Love this post! Thanks for blogging about all the crafted wonders of this amazing culture. I have only just hung a collection of flaming winged love hearts and mexican skeletons in my home – they look fab!


  24. Mummageorge said
    November 2, 2011. 5:09 pm

    Quite a timely blog, with All Hallows (halloween) having been my households obsession this week! I am a bit hungry just thinking about Mamasita…


  25. Rouge Noir said
    November 2, 2011. 6:53 pm

    thanks for this post of fabulous things.. I found you via Jubly Umph a particular favourite of mine, i actually own and love the piece you featured


  26. Maureen said
    November 2, 2011. 8:30 pm

    Hot!


  27. Christina said
    November 2, 2011. 9:58 pm

    Amazing! Definitely need to go check out the shop ASAP!


  28. Jo said
    November 2, 2011. 10:17 pm

    Lots of Mexican things popping up in Melb recently don’t you think – I mean this as a good thing. Love and want all the prints.


  29. Jo-jo said
    November 3, 2011. 12:06 am

    I heart Stabs.


  30. Anna Walker said
    November 3, 2011. 11:54 am

    Love all this stuff…major Mexicana envy!


  31. jess said
    November 3, 2011. 1:53 pm

    oh market import. such a delight.


  32. Aaron Faulkner said
    November 3, 2011. 6:33 pm

    Definately need to make a trip to Melbourne soon


  33. Naomi said
    November 3, 2011. 10:50 pm

    i gave my boyfriend to day of the dead skulls for his birthday. beautiful bits of art!


  34. November 3, 2011. 11:21 pm

    Love, love, love all of this. Another great reminder that I must check out Amor Y Locura.


  35. Roisin said
    November 4, 2011. 4:19 pm

    I work just around the corner from Amor Y Locura and frequently LUST after the many amazing finds there… I love the day of the dead figurines. Bought some recently and my parents nearly had a heart attack upon finding them! Would love to see what would happen if I kept filling my house more so in the same vein… Might have to call an ambulance next time.