It’s here!!! Sam messaged me Saturday night to say that my Tree of Life tapete was finished. So, my trusty blogger buddy Chris (he had an ulterior motive) and I drove out to Teotitlán del Valle to pick it up.
This very unique Tree of Life was designed by Sam Bautista Lazo (above on the left) and I had been immediately drawn to the use of a corn stalk, instead of a tree. After all, this is the valley where corn was thought to be first cultivated. Sam’s father, Mario Bautista Martínez chose the colors and, as I recounted in my Yagshī for my Tree of Life blog post, Sam’s mother Leonor Lazo González (above, second from right) dyed the wool.
The plan had been for Sam’s father to weave the rug, but farm work was taking the bulk of his time, so he turned it over to Jacinto (above left), a weaver in the village who specializes in the Tree of Life. Sam was incredulous that Jacinto didn’t draw the design on the warp and, instead, just did it “free hand” — weaving from a photo of the larger rug Sam had provided. And, if you are wondering, it took 72 hours to complete.
Here it is, up close. As you know, the moss/celery green color came from the yagshī plant. The brown was made from dried granada (pomegranate) skins and the yellow came from bejuco (dodder), a parasitic plant that can be seen draping itself over the branches of the Piru tree in Teotitlán. Añil (indigo) supplied the blue and the reds came from cochinilla (cochineal). While the other dyes can be gathered in the village, these latter two must be purchased and can be quite expensive.
Here it is, hanging in its new home at Casita Colibrí. I am SO grateful to Sam, Leonor, Mario, and Jacinto for their creativity, talent, and hard work in bringing my tapete to fruition and to Mother Nature for the resources she provides Teotitlán del Valle. It takes a village to make a Tree of Life!!!
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 
It’s absolutely stunning! Congratulations on the latest addition to your lovely home.
Muchisimas gracias. It seems to like its new home and makes me smile every time I look at it!
Gorgeous!
Thanks and can’t wait for you and David to see it up close and personal!
Beautiful! It looks wonderful in your house!
Thanks, Sandi! I’m loving it. 🙂
Truly wonderful!
Thank you. Hanging on the brick wall in my dining area, it looks even better than I imagined!
The process and the product are impressive. Thank you for sharing it. The colors are luscious and vivid.
Following and albeit briefly participating in the process, along with the people who created my tapete make it even more special.
It’s just wonderful. The people who create these are unsung artists, it seems. You’ve got a family heirloom there, I do believe.
Sam’s mother is so tiny!
Indeed, they are artists! And, the Bautista Lazo family are so warm and welcoming. Yes, I’m short and feel like a giant next to Leonor, but she is a mighty woman!!!
It’s absolutely gorgeous!!
Thank you! I think so, too. 😉
WOW……fabulous colors,cute little birds,and I love the corn stalk!
72 hours seems quick!
It looks great on the wall.
Looking forward to seeing it in person
Measuring 100 x 150 cm, it’s not big, but even still, I was stunned that Jacinto wove it so quickly. Looking forward to showing it to you and Steve!
[…] and, having been away for a month, I savored the scene my Oaxaca home presented. There was my new Tree of Life tapete hanging on the wall of my dining area looking like it had always been there; on the floor, […]
More precious by far for knowing the artisans and even the very animal and plant life of the area that made the warp and the woof of this unique Tree of Life. Kay
Yes! I met Sam on my first visit to Oaxaca and Teotitlán in 2007 and then met his family on my next visit 5 months later.