Mexican Tiles in Needlepoint

Returning to one of my favorite sources for needlepoint design - the Tiles of Mexico, including the beautiful Spanish Talavera, which are manufactured in Puebla. (Uriarte)

Going through my rolls of painted canvases hidden away in boxes and on closet shelves (painting models for a number of years), I found this one that I had actually intended to stitch. I usually do just one square, as they are pretty enough alone - quick to do, and make great little pillow insets or purse patches. (at 5" square) This one I could see as a long, rectangular inset, and rather interesting.

I have loved Mexican pottery since I was a child - but oddly, when I was living in Mexico City long ago, I was apparently interested in other things, and didn't even realize that gorgeous Spanish Uriarte Talavera was in Puebla close by - just over the mountains. I went there often, and never even saw the ceramics.

These tiles I'm showing were in a book on old tiles from San Miguel de Allende (another of my haunts, but I was doing papier mache' back then, and the Jeanne Valentine factory was there)

Anyway, these lovely works of art can stand on their own as a single piece for needlepoint, or in arrangements of multiples. Four is great for a pillow, and the look; as with Patchwork patterns, is different according to how they are put together.




















I had to make copies of color scans of the original canvases, as those are long gone, and then cut them up - soooo they don't quite fit, as you can see. You get the idea.

The second design is one of my very favorites, and I have stitched the single square for myself - but have no idea where it is. May have to do this one again for myself, but as the full four-square pillow that is 10 1/2" square. I have made the tiles all 5" square, but like the effect of leaving two threads between them to give the effect of grout.

I prefer the arrangment of the dark elements in the center, but changing them is certainly an interesting effect.












The last photo (the paper squares don't fit) is really pretty as just a single tile - but also interesting in this format. I tried putting the bright flowers in the center, but somehow it didn't look quite right.

I'm preparing a "tutorial" right now (Drawing on Canvas 202) that I hope to have finished by this evening on drawing a tile on canvas - I've chosen to use the first illustration, as it's simple to do, and will lay the foundation for your doing your own. Also remember that the same technique applies to putting together patchwork squares to form different effects!

If it isn't up tonight, do see it tomorrow (Friday) on Freebies, etc.

ADDENDUM: Due to an internet problem, I only finished putting the "how to draw your own" instructions for the Mexican tile (illustrated at the top) on Freebies, etc. It's ready now!!