A Conversation with La Chapina
Etsian La Chapina has lived in Guatemala for a little under two years. I recently asked her about her life in Guatemala, the inspiration the country offers, and how she brought this inspiration to her Etsy shop. Her enthusiasm for her surroundings is a bit contagious. It’s a great reminder to take more advantage of the places we travel and to use it in our own crafts. Additionally, Erin provided us with so much valuable information for things to do, see, buy and discover when we make our own trips to Guatemala. This is definitely a resource to bookmark before you plan your next trip!
Before reading what Erin says about her personal experiences, please keep in mind that she will be leaving Guatemala soon. Please take a moment to peruse her shop to find bright and colorful Guatemalan supplies and inspired crafts.
Where are you from originally and what brought you to Guatemala?
My husband and I live in Memphis, TN, but have been in Guatemala for the last year and nine months, caring for our daughter while waiting for her adoption to go through. After nearly 2 1/2 years in process, she is finally legally ours! We expect to be back in the US by the end of 2008.
How did you first get involved with etsy? Have you always been interested in arts and crafts?
I have loved doing arts and crafts since I was a very little girl. What got me started making things from used Guatemalan textiles was finding scraps of huipiles (traditional hand-woven blouses worn by indigenous women in Guatemala) in a local shop. I bought some of these scraps and made Christmas ornaments for some family members. I posted a photo of them on my personal blog, not with the intent to sell them, but just for something to post about. Right away, however, I started getting requests from people wanting to buy some. So I sold ornaments — and later, other items made from the huipiles — via my personal blog and then via my crafts blog . I did really well selling my crafts to the online community of adoptive families of Guatemalan children, but I wanted to expand to other audiences and be able to better organize what I was offering for sale. I joined Etsy in May 2008 and soon after began offering Guatemalan craft supplies in addition to the items I was making myself.
What are some of your favorite aspects of living in Guatemala?
There are a lot of great things about living here. Being in the city of La Antigua (usually referred to as simply “Antigua”), we can walk everywhere: to the central park, to the grocery store, to restaurants, pharmacies, shops, etc. Physically, it’s a beautiful place, with Antigua being full of flowers and with views of colonial ruins and volcanoes. The weather is wonderful here as well; Guatemala is nicknamed “land of eternal spring”, although on the coasts it’s much warmer. The people have been very welcoming and patient with our flawed Spanish. It’s very inexpensive to eat great food, too: There’s a place we often go that offers a lunch of beef or chicken (or black beans for vegetarians), vegetables, rice, tortillas, unlimited rosa de jamaica (a cold tea made from hibiscus leaves and mixed with sugar and cinnamon), and a slice of cake, all for Q25 (approximately US $3.50).
I would recommend that Antigua be one of a tourist’s first stops in Guatemala, for the reasons I’ve mentioned above. There are wonderful ruins to visit, lovely restaurants, and great shops. My two favorite places to shop for crafts here are the Artisans’ Market and a large store called Nim Po’t, right near the famous yellow arch on 5a Avenida. Also very well-known for its crafts is the market in Chichicastenango. As for photography spots: Lake Atitlan, with its three surrounding volcanoes, is a sure bet, as are the many colonial ruins in Antigua. That being said, Guatemala is absolutely full of places for interesting photos, many of them being off the beaten path. I’ve taken some great shots of colorful cemetaries in different villages, for example.
What inspires you?
Walking through the local markets and seeing all the colors and patterns is what inspires me. It gives me ideas for future projects and gets me re-energized to use the textiles and beads I already have (although I never make it out of there without spending more money!)
What are some things people should buy when they’re visiting Guatemala?
I’m not a coffee drinker, but my family members who are really love the coffee we bring them from here. La Azotea is a great brand and I’ve toured their plantation and museum in Jocotenango several times. Guatemala is also famous for its jade, and the jewelry made from the local jade is really beautiful. Weaving is also a big part of life for many Guatemalan women and men, and the textiles here are amazing. Huipiles are woven by women on the backstrap loom, and larger pieces of material are woven by men using a foot loom. You can find anything from placemats to bedspreads to fabric by the yard, all woven by Guatemalan people.
Thank you so much Erin for all of the wonderful information about Guatemala. I want to see it all and I want to try Guatemalan food. The rosa de jamaica sounds delicious!
If you want to read more about Erin’s experiences in Guatemala, please check out her blog!
Thanks so much for featuring me! I appreciate the opportunity.
I first tried hibiscus tea in a spa in india and fell for the flavour. Once I learned about medical benefits, I became extremely encouraged to purchase some. Couldn’t locate it at all in any local shops but purchased online. I’ve been consuming about three or more cups daily (cold) for around 25 days currently and the most current blood pressure reading was the most impressive it has been in Several years! I highly recommend.