Merry Elizabeth Foss Estate Sale

Merry Elizabeth Foss: Designs

Merry Elizabeth Foss Designs

To view the garments and jewelry, click on the link to the desired product.

Poblana: 

The inspiration for our glass beaded, 100% cotton top, originated with the traditional China Poblana fiesta garment, highly prized in Mexico. It is meticulously hand-beaded & carefully pieced together by machine, with subtle hand-tucking below the beaded yoke on both front and back. A delicate hand-crocheted & beaded edging enhances the border of the yoke. A drawstring at the neckline allows for that sexy, off-the-shoulder look. Long sleeves, with crocheted drawstring & beaded detail above the wrist, give full sun protection. Rolling the sleeves up gives a casual look. Available in XS, S, M, L & XL sizes.

Vaquera: 


 A lively, playful cowgirl shirt with meticulous hand-beaded yoke & delicate crocheted, beaded edging surrounds the yoke. This shirt is feminine and fitted, with darts front & back with pearl-colored metal snap closures on front and cuffs. It comes in assorted color and design combos. Available in S, M, L, XL sizes.

Huipil: 

A finely hand-embroidered blouse of 100% cotton, based on the traditional Oaxaxa indigenous garment. Essentially all the pieces are rectangles, which originated with the use of, and limitations of, the back-strap loom. It drapes beautifully; is airey and comfortable. This blouse wears well on all body shapes and sizes. It can be made longer for maternity wear. Comes in the brighter fiesta colors of Mexico, or in the muted, soft earthy pallet. Available in S, M, L & XL sizes.

Orquilla: 

The hand crocheted, scoop-necked top is made of light, airy l00%cotton. It features a wide, luxurious, ultra-feminine neckline. Again, drawstring detail on the yoke allows for varying degrees of openness. The sleeves, designed to fall just above the elbow, are a flattering length on a woman of any age or build. The delicate open-work is cool & elegant & also comes with short sleeves. Available in XS, S, M, L & XL sizes.


Silver Bracelets:

These bracelets are faithful reproductions of my personal vintage Mexican collection.  Day & night they are worn & rarely removed.  Over the years I couldn't help but notice just how often people walked up to me wanting to purchase them.  Hence the idea to have them copied.

Their contemporary, bold look originated during the important & prolific modernist period of Mexican jewelry design, circa 1930-1950.  The repousse, hollow construction makes them surprisingly light and comfortable to wear.   The patinaed background simply pops  the dots.

All four are hand crafted in .925 Sterling Silver.  The bangles are available in three widths, the cuff being the widest of all four bracelets.   Worn individually, or grouped together, they are a striking addition to any outfit.

Palazzo Pants:

My perfect dream pants are what you see.  Palazzo-style, comfy & fun to wear, flattering to all figures.   The roomy pockets feature bold exterior zipper closures.  The comfortable drop waist has a back zipper that is not only a snappy design element, but gives the front of the pants an attractive, smooth line.  They are great for travel & the lower pocket makes a convenient carry-all for credit cards, a little cash & passport.  The upper pocket is a handy place to store a cell phone.

Available in black or blue denim with 3%lycra stretch.  You can personalize your dream pants by choosing a fabric of your own choice; perhaps a playful print or an elegant linen?


For information on how to purchase there extraordinary items, contact:  Merry Elizabeth Foss

The women of Xochitlan, Mexico & Our Co-op

The women of Xochitlan, Mexico have been hand beading, embroidering & embellishing both skirts & blouses in the Poblana tradition since the 1800's. The intricacies of their handwork continues today in many gorgeous garment designs, as well as other useful home & fashion items. It is to be noted that the sale of just one blouse directly enriches the lives of each of these women, their extended families & the community at large.

In 2009 I drove through numerous nahuatl mountain villages of Mexico with production patterns in hand for a beaded peasant-style blouse.  With much coming & going & sharing of ideas over the last few years, Huitziki Co-op (flower of the coffee plant} has boldly taken shape.  Today a select & dedicated group of women & most recently two men, create quality & uniquely-crafted garments.  We appeal to a clientele who appreciate our attention to excellence, detail & style.
   
We hold firmly a common goal; that of developing a consistent & fair income for all involved using design & craft as a tool for revenue generation & social progress amongst our members.  We are a Fair Trade co-operative.


Huitziki Co-op is located in the indigenous & isolated traditional mountain village of Xochitlan, Mexico where rampant alcoholism  & lack of job opportunity amongst the male members of the area often leave the women as primary income earners.  Their lives are labor intensive, filled with an endless array of daily chores.  Domesticity begins at an early age, often with babies born to girls who are but children themselves.  It is unfortunately all too common for young fathers to deny responsibility for the care of their offspring.  Extended families live together, pooling their energy & resources in order to thrive.

Xothitlan is a walking culture, vehicles being a luxury few can afford.  An early morning market occurs a few days weekly with much bartering of fresh produce, in particular.  Sunday has a more colorful, extensive market.  Most children attend the village schools until ages 12 to 18.  The cost & distance traveled to advance education facilities makes attendance difficult.  More often than not young people are needed at home to attend to chores that keep the family functioning smoothly.  The men work in the fields & at local trades that support the community at large.

Catholicism plays an important role in the villagers' lives.  Religious holidays & boisterous fiestas provide occasional respite.  Women gain relaxation, companionship & much-needed moments of stillness through their  craft.  They are highly-motivated & take pride in their handwork, giving it as much attention as time allows.  Members self-critique one another's' work, striving to maintain excellence & new members must meet  rigorous standards.  We have tremendous potential for increased production ahead involving more  of the community.

Each garment completed provides multiple gains.  Perhaps another month of public school fees, window panes to finally fill that unprotected gap or constant repairs to leaky roofs during rainy season.  As well, there are the many daily needs for healthcare, eyeglasses, bus fare, clothing, food & an occasional luxury to be enjoyed.  The demands are often immediate & always endless.  Within Huitziki Co-op a lively sense of pride, laughter & comaraderie flourishes as together we work, learn & contribute meaningfully to each others' lives.

For more information on the Co-Op: [Click on the link below]
Huitziki Cooperative

Who is Merry Elizabeth Foss?!

I arrived in Santa Fe in 1988 from Canada to study massage therapy, practicing as a therapist until the mid-1990's. In 1992 I trekked in the high Andes, impressed by the indigenous Quechua peoples' traditional hand-woven textiles & clothing.

 The intrigue of these people & their traditional life was a powerful experience, with much staying power for me. The locals were mesmerized by my high-tech gear & campsite. I was equally taken with their striking garments & curious objects, of which by the end of my travels I had amassed an extensive collection of ethnographic pieces.

Upon returning to Santa Fe friends suggested they were quite saleable. I spent weekends at the then flourishing nearby outdoor flea market. Surprisingly quickly my pieces strode off in the hands of discerning collectors. I immediately planned my return to South America.

In the years that followed I took boundless pleasure in my adventures, friendships & the broadness of my experiences. Back & forth I went to Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador & Mexico yearly. My import business grew. I developed an eye for the intriguing & unusual. My world as an ethnographic dealer prospered. While always focusing my interest on older objects, I did realize I contributed little to the livelihoods of the contemporary craftspeople who would carry on the traditions I admired.

The tremendous talent & ingenuity of these living artisans did certainly interest me. However, it was not until I moved part time to Mexico that their work began to captivate & inspire me in a new creative direction. I was being nudged gently towards change in my life. My beaded Poblana peasant blouse with our Huitziki Co-op was our first step, but we envision more decorative, functional & wearable items to come.

My goal is to provide for others in a meaningful, productive way, while exploring my own creativity & financial well-being. Each piece we create is attentive to detail & steeped in the artistry of handmade traditions. Each & every seamstress proudly embroiders her name tag onto her blouse upon completion, offering a lovely & lasting connection between the artisan & the end user. A warm thanks for your interest. 

To contact: Merry Elizabeth Foss