Blog post by Tina Winterlik © 2012
tina_winterlik@yahoo.com
http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/#!/zipolita @zipolita
http://gplus.to/zipolita Google+
Here's the first of 3 videos. I have a slow connection so it may take me a few days to get them all up. Right now it's on the second one and say 164 minutes remaining :( We've had a fabulous time here in Oaxaca.
 |
Photo by Mindi Garandara- Edited in PhotoShop by Tina Winterlik © 2012 |
I have been dreaming about this day for 2 years. Ever since I saw
Sylvia Ji's painting of a Catrina, I dreamed of going to Oaxaca and
getting my face painted and celebrating Dia de Los Muertos. Yesterday my
dream came true.
 |
Photo by Mindi Garandara- Edited in PhotoShop by Tina Winterlik © 2012 |
I had wanted to buy new Mexican
clothes - a skirt and blouse for both Angel and I but my budget is
really small and so I had to make due with what I had. I went to the
material store and got 2 metres of beautiful material for $50 pesos
each. Then I got 2 metres of this black mesh with sparkles on it for
veils. I bought thread and a little elastic and needles. The total was
less than $150 pesos so less than $15 Cdn.
I went to work and
started sewing
...by hand. I think they turned out awesome. I folded the
top 3 times and them stitched it. Then wrapped it around and figured
where buttons should go. Since I didn't buy buttons I had to make them. I
used the elastic, I rolled it into a ball and then wrapped the material
around it. I had bought transparent thread and its really strong, so I
liked that. I made button holes and well it all just came together, with a little gather here and tuck there.
I shortened the dresses by gathering the
material up into a little rose on the side, this created little gathers
and gave a nice effect. In the end I wore black tights under my dress
and Angel wore dark jeans. This is because it was cold and also because
my dress had a slit on the side down the leg. I did actually sew the
dresses onto us in the end. LOL! I know Angel thought that was very
funny. "Please Mom, no, please don't so it onto me!" But to really
gather it tight and make it hang nice I did sew it tight on the hip/leg.
Later I just snipped that to get the dresses off and who knows maybe we
will use them again.
 |
Photo by Mindi Garandara- Edited in PhotoShop by Tina Winterlik © 2012 |
We got our faces painted in the
Zocalo. I went the day before to ask the girl when she would come, she
said 3pm. So I did my hair...oh I bought gardenias the day before, 2
bunches for $30 pesos. WOW!! They smell so BEAUTIFUL!! I just love
gardenias. Anyways I put my hair up and put the flowers in...I had used
fishing line and attached them to some big bobby pins I bought. So I
went to the Zocalo but she wasn't there. Luckily she'd given me a card
and a girl with a cell was kind enough to send a text and she said she
was on her way.
In the meantime I bought a globo,
(balloon) for Angel to chase and bounce...they are special here in Oaxaca, I'll put a pic up later and show you. So the girl finally
arrived and painted both our faces. $100 pesos for mine and $50 pesos
for Angel. I was a little disappointed as she didn't have the colors I
wanted. I also thought the brush she used was to thick and was hoping
she'd put more detail in it. It only took her about 30 minutes to do
both Angel and I. I think she may have been rushing as it was starting
to sprinkle. I was worried too. That would have been so sad to get our
faces painted and then have to go home in the rain.
Luckily
it didn't rain...then. We went home, had something to eat...which is a
little tricky and got dressed. I put up Angel's hair and put in the
flowers. I put on our veils. Oh I made a purse from the veil material as
mine did not match and I didn't want to carry much that evening. I
also took a Q-tip and smudged the makeup a bit and filled in little
spots that had been missed and on my eyes in the lid where it was
separating. I also put on mascara. I really wish we'd had fake eye
lashes but good ones are expensive and like I said our budget is small.
Then
it RAINED!! But the cool thing about Oaxaca, it pours and then stops.
So we waited a bit. Mindi, someone we met at the hotel, took photos of us
and then when it started to dry up we went out.
It
was pretty chilly and I was worried about Angel, she has no meat on her.
But as we walked we warmed up. As soon as we got to the Zocalo, people
started stopping us and asking to take our photos. WOW! I was surprised
and flattered.
 |
Photos by Tina Winterlik © 2012 |
We made our way up to Santa Domingo and on the way saw lots of people dressed up and lots of great musicians and events. Watch the videos and you will see.
Unfortunately
Angel was not into having a lot of photos. Which was sad as this is
maybe a once in life time, or at least she will only be this age this
time. But I did manage to get a few really great shots and I hope to
paint them one day!! ** That is when I get some canvas :( Still didn't
get any. Was going to when I was here, but no money in the budget for it
right now :(
 |
Photos by Tina Winterlik © 2012 |
Anyways, soon, I just know it will all come together..I'm
praying and projecting more work comes my way. It's just tough because I
don't have papers to work in Mexico so that means I have to bring it in
from outside of Mexico. And normally my work comes by word of mouth and
face to face encounters. I haven't been in Canada for 2 months so
things are getting tight, but I've got a plan. :D
 |
Photos by Tina Winterlik © 2012 |
 |
Photos by Tina Winterlik © 2012 |
 |
Photos by Tina Winterlik © 2012 _ After we'd taken off our makeup. Looking at the photos I can see I missed a spot. Oops! |
Anyways we had a fabulous night. Here are a few photos and I will load my next video in the next blogpost as soon as it's up. Buenos Noches. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.