Los Dias de los Muertos is the Day of the Dead in Mexico. I just found out about it through CraftyPod interview with Crafty Chica Kathy Cano Murillo talking about Dia de los Muertos, a crafty holiday!
I think it sounds so much nicer than the totally commercialized and candy crazy Halloween that came from the US and invaded us a couple of years ago. Not my cup of tea, even though I’ve made some Halloween stuff. But probably all holidays are bound to be a commercial success sooner or later? You just have to stick with your own believes and please don’t fall for the idea that you are a bad person if you don’t buy all the right accessories for your family/kids at the holidays! Take the time to do what you enjoy and forget about the rest. If you have to have a decorated tree and all the food and, well everything, then you might have to. But enjoy the process of making it and if you hate it, forget it!
Anyway, Mrs Murillo says that Los Dias de los Muertos is about honoring the dead by thinking of them, crafting for them and being happy. Lots of people make their own sugar skulls, for the sweet in life (sugar) and death (skulls). I didn’t have time to craft a skeleton (!) like I wanted to, since I just listened to the interview today, but made a spread in my art journal. Maybe next year I will make some calacas?
In Sweden we celebrate the Christian holidays of All Saints Day next weekend. Then people will visit their local churchyard to light candles and bring flowers to their loved ones. Since it gets dark around four five in the afternoon now, it is an amazing view to go to a churchyard on this day, Alla Helgons, to see all the candles, thousands of them, glowing in the dark, reminding us of people who have passed away. It is not a crafty time in Sweden, but I’m now letting a Mexican Holiday influence me and my day, at least in my Art Journal!
I’ve been thinking about my few lost ones today. I might do separate spreads in my Art Journal later about my grandfathers, dad’s father (farfar) and my mothers father (morfar) who are both passed away. I want to bring everyone to my Art Journal now, because this weekend all the fun in art journaling came back in a rush!
Have you ever fallen in love with a notebook? Just needed to buy it, got craving for its pages? This happens to me all the time. Most recently I fell in love with this Beatles Notebook. Yum!
External inspiration
- Link to article called Handmade decorations for Día de los Muertos – and what it is all about, list with tips on what to make!
- I’ve also found a new and very nice podcast called I Should Be Writing! Check it out while you Art journal tonight!
Great post, Hanna! I love your art journal spread– cute skeletons (can skeletons be cute?! hee!) I’m off to check out some of the links now– thanks!
Haha! I say, sometimes I think there are “spooky” things going on when I am clicking through my favorite sites. Tonight I have been procrastinating a big project – writing the school newsletter. Then I come to the bottom of your post where it says “I should be writing” and think, Yes! I should be! So, while I won’t be art journaling, I am off now to finish my project :)
Oh wow, hanna! I LOVE your colage! It is sooo beautiful! The contrast between the colorful roses and the darkeness and greys is beautiful!
I’m not sure about Halloween either I must admit. I might just scare the kiddies off with my cute golden Maya dog, hahah…she only looks cute but she is darn dangerous aaaAArrrrRRrr!!!
:-D
i love that spread in your art journal. gotta be honest, when i look at your artwork, it makes me want to go to the store and buy paint and paper and begin on my own!
which i’ve tried before, always to horrible results …
but you are an AMAZING artist! i’d like to talk to you via e-mail about an art venture …
Hanna – I just made an entry with lots of lovely Dia de Los Muertes links you might enjoy exploring too.
Your journal looks great : )
Thanks for your cyber visit earlier, too. xxx
^ That’s ‘Dia de Los Muertos’ – with an ‘o’…. !!! : )