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