I need to get some class samples done for a Mola class I am leading next month: You can follow along while I create the horse: Molas consist of layers... Authentic Molas use the reverse appliqué method... In this 3 hour class we will use the fusible appliqué method This technique involves filling all the available space The horse shape is filled in... now to fill in the background area I am working with pre-fused fabrics and placing them on black felt I decided to use up the scrap fabrics all over the table for the background fill All the leftover snippets filled in the background nicely Giddyup I also had time to get this monkey mola done Mola Class Samples: I had fellow instructors over for Mola play days. I will post about that soon! I left the Thread Shed tonight and walked over to the house... The flowers in front of the house are putting on a show tonight as the sun sets... Calla Lilies at sunset... Magic happens when they are backlit from the setting sun CLICK HERE: to see My Quilts May Your Bobbin Always Be Full, LuAnn Kessi
This vintage framed bird mola art is a cotton stitch art piece in red and white. It originated from Costa Rica. This unique artwork would be a perfect addition to your collection or a thoughtful gift for someone who appreciates cultural and textile art. With its intricate stitching and vibrant colors, this vintage bird mola art adds artistic expression and cultural significance to any space. Whether you collect textile art or want to surprise someone with a meaningful gift, owning this vintage mola art allows you to appreciate the craftsmanship and cultural heritage of Costa Rica. Measurements: 21"H x 28"W x 1" / art 18"H x 14"L Weight: 7 lb Origin: Costa Rica Age: Late 20th C. Please see photos and description. All vintage items have some minor evidence of use or wear which is part of their charm, and is why we love them more than new items. The history and the soul of the piece are in its handmade nature, or by the years of love and use by previous owners. less
Made by hand, this clothing staple is an important piece of the country's rich culture
Molas are cloth panels that form part of a blouse for the Kuna women of Panama. This lesson teaches children how to create paper cut molas with only a few
Students will explore elements of design within the traditional Panamanian Mola and create their own interpretation via collage.
Molas are a form of reverse applique using many layers of fabric. In a later lesson we will sew simple molas out of layers of felt. In the mean time let's make one out of construction paper so that we can better understand the reverse applique process. First, choose an image that inspires you. Choose a design with simple colorful shapes. Flowers, birds, fish and suns all work well as mola designs. Next create a simple line drawing. Notice how wide the feet are? You will need to cut out your design so make sure to compose it of bold simple shapes that you can easily cut. Create a simple cut out pattern without any detail. When you are done cutting flip the pattern over. Does it look like a recognizable image or just a blob? If it isn't immediately recognizable you need to go back and do a more precise job cutting. Here are the layers of my mola design: The top layer is yellow with a bird shaped hole cut out of the middle. Whenever I need to cut a hole out from the middle of a paper, I pinch the paper and make a tiny cut on the fold. Then I open the paper, stick the scissors in the hole and continue cutting. Pointy scissors can fit into smaller holes than blunt tipped scissors, allowing for more precise cutting. Now lets begin to put the design together: Layer 1 layer 1 and 2 layer 1, 2 and 3 All four layers together Have some fun with your mola by adding some pattern cut outs to layers 2 and 3. For more extensive information on molas visit http://www.molaartandcraft.com/ Learn about the Kuna people of Panama by clicking here. Learn more about this art form by clicking here The most common mola motifs are; birds, fish, animals and flowers. I have created some simplified patterns based on common images from real molas. Feel free to download or print them or use them as inspiration for your own ideas. Start with a simple design of three layers. You can always increase the complexity and detail of a paper mola design by adding more layers of color. Paper molas make beautiful cards and framed pictures. You can sew or glue simple molas using felt. Felt is a good material for children to use because you do not have to worry about the edges fraying. Kuna women use light weight cotton fabric to make molas. They cut a fringe along the fabric opening and tuck the edges of material underneath to create a clean design. The hallmark of good mola craftsmanship is that you appreciate the image before you notice the materials used to create it. This is true no mater what media you use. Sloppy stitching, visible glue, loose threads or ripped paper all detract from the quality of the design. Nancy Walkup, the editor of School Arts Magazine, writes about using Mola designs as a vehicle to teach big ideas to children: http://www.slideshare.net/mobile/nwalkup/teaching-with-big-ideas
The mola is a multilayered textile art form and metaphor for the story of the Kuna, indigenous people of Panama. With over 890 images covering more than a century of molas, this book provides insights into design sources and influences for molas, perspectives on the aesthetic practices of women creating them, and hints for collecting and preserving this colorful textile art form. The hand-appliquéd art panels tell the tale of the Kuna women and are symbolic of their artistry, observation, and beliefs. Their lush tropical paradise, cultural cosmology, sense of humor, and exposure to foreign elements are represented in these fascinating fabric designs. A brief history of Panama and its rich tradition of indigenous arts place the mola in context.
Mola betyder bluse eller beklædning. Kuna indianerne, som lever i mellemamerika (Panama), er kendt for at brodere de mest fantastiske og farverige mønstre, som er en del af kvindernes smukke dragter. Kuna indianerne er ikke kun en lille befolkning, men også et lille folkefærd - faktisk er det kun pygmæerne, der er mindre end dem. Men når det så er sagt, synes jeg, at deres smukke udsmykning af beklædning er helt vidunderlig. Jeg vil gerne, at mine elever får kendskab Mola mønstre, og det er grunden til, at dette forløb blev sat i søen. Temaet er: Kan man lave mola mønstre på farvet karton? En kort beskrivelse af mit undervisningsforløbet: I Fælles Mål står der blandt andet, at eleverne skal kunne: genkende enkle stilarter og formsprog fra forskellige historiske perioder og kulturer. Dette mål vil jeg have for øje i denne undervisning. Idéoplæg til arbejdsproces på mit hold: Jeg laver et oplæg om Kuna indianerne og deres mola-beklædning for eleverne. Her vil jeg komme ind på mønstrene, farverne og broderiet. Jeg vil i fællesskab med eleverne lave billedsamtale om et par eksemplariske mola-beklædninger. Herefter vil jeg introducere eleverne til opgaven og processen, som de skal i gang med, og til slut vil jeg vise dem mine egne mola-billeder. Min billedfremstilling - Proces og produkt: Som altid finder jeg inspiration til min egen billedfremstilling. Denne gang har jeg valgt at gøre brug af internettet. Når jeg har set tilpas mange billeder, går jeg i gang med det praktiske billedarbejde, og jeg begynder med at finde materialer frem. Herefter tegner jeg min grundfigur op på karton med blyant. I dette tilfælde har jeg valgt at tegne en skildpadde. Når grundfiguren er tegnet giver jeg konturerne farve, og jeg optegner mønstre i selve grundfiguren. Næste led i processen er, at jeg tegner mønstrene omkring min grundfigur, og der har jeg naturligvis fokus på farvevalget. Når jeg er færdig med mønstrene, broderer jeg omkring udvalgte mønstre med farverig broderigarn. Her har jeg zoomet ind på broderingen. Her er resultatet af det færdige billede. Og jeg indrømmer, at jeg blev grebet af arbejdet, så her er endnu et billede. Grundmotivet er fisk. Anvendte materialer: Billeder af mola beklædning til inspiration Farvet karton (A4 eller A3) Caran D' Ache farver Broderigarn i klare farver Jeg glæder mig til at lave mola mønstre med mine elever, og jeg er sikker på, at de også vil synes, at det er sjovt. Se mine elevers billedfremstillinger her: Farverige mola mønstre lavet af 5. årgang
Several factors are used to determine the quality of a mola. The points outlined below are not scientific by any means – if there is in fact a scientific way to measure the quality of a mola.…
First, Molas are hand appliqued images made by the San Blas people of Panama. I did a small one in class once and have loved the art form ever since. I purchased the central fish image in the Panama airport when returning home after a trip abroad. I already had the smaller pieces and decide to put them all together in a quilted wall hanging. To avoid taking focus away from the beautiful colored Molas, I made all the borders and sashing in black and white, using Mola techniques to complete them. I even echoed the embroidery stitching on the fish in the border circles. The multicolored striped piping finishes the edge perfectly.
The deadline for the Mola Challenge is November 15. This was a challenge by Pat Pauly to our RAFA group. We all own numerous molas which we have purchased from Priscilla Kibbee. We were to pick one of our favorites and make a quilt inspired by some aspect of the mola. Pat actually found someone from outside who will act as a judge. The prize will be a mola!! A dinner (which I can't attend) will follow up to celebrate the completion. I figure everyone is pretty much finished by now so letting the cat out of the bag will be okay! We have to turn them in next week at quilt club and I certainly hope everyone gets up for show and tell! This quilt is about 45 inches x 60 inches. One of the criteria was that it had to be larger than 24 x 24. I have used all of my own hand dyed fabrics for this and designed all the blocks using EQ (Electric Quilt). It looks pretty simple but trust me it wasn't!! The strips on the triangles were two different sizes so they would elongate and those spirals -- you won't believe how many times I pieced some of those as it would look right for two rounds and you would reach an impasse -- also the reversing -- not pretty. I also drafted the leaves for the paper piecing (which I hate to do by the way but thought it would be faster -- not sure it was!!). Don't know whether this is the quilted picture or not as who sees quilting on black!! It is minimally quilted (stitch in the ditch and some background) as well as heavily on the leaves. I always do fairly representational but think I was mainly inspired by the composition itself and all the colors. So I really wanted to convey the colorfulness and the base composition of the mola. Molas are almost universally "landscape" but I preferred the portrait orientation for this one. This is the mola that was my inspiration! Check out Priscilla Kibbee's blog as she almost always has some for sale there and her prices and quality are both excellent. There were not as many pieces as usual at RAFA today as many were still working on their challenge pieces or pieces for the DeCadence exhibit we are having at the Arts Council in January. I am submitting my birds of paradise piece for that show. The next two pieces were by a very prolific Caris Burton who does absolutely awesome work. Not only is she an expert appliquer and piecer but she does all sorts of surface design and lots of it! This piece was just a little study but I think she had four of those here today! This was a One Block Wonder quilt top done by Mary Rankin. I have such a weakness for hexagons and stack and whacks and do like this format! This was the piece that will be part of the DeCadence exhibit. Sarah Terry modelled her new outfit made totally from her hand dyes and in a class with Sandra Betzina that she took out in San Francisco a few weeks ago. She got all sorts of fantastic fitting instructions and loved the class. This was the piece Linda Bachman did as a result of the Mary Diamond class she took in October. She is another prolific art quilter! Anne Fischer has been dabbling again in surface design using up some of her old paints. Beautiful piece and I am sure it will be well used in a composition at some point! It was also announced that Pat Faulkner got one of her quilts in the new Lark publication on 500 Art Quilts. Another RAFA member, Nancy Murty, has her quilt on the COVER!! It won a major prize at Houston a couple of years back and is an awesome piece!
- Set of coasters in papermolas designs (20 designs to choose from) - Size: 3.75" x 3.75" x 0.125" - Material: Printed on transfer paper and heat-pressed on MDF with a high-gloss finish with cork backing - Made to order with a quick turnaround time. Shipping is included (U.S. only) A printed set of a few of my handmade paper mola artwork inspired by molas, a textile art form from the Guna Indians from Panama and Colombia. You have the choice to buy individual coasters or as sets. Please see the drop-down menu for quantities offered. Once you choose the quantity, please write the number that matches the designs you would like to order. Please see the last 3 pictures for reference. Designs offered: ★ (1) Toucan (8"x8" and 12"x12" prints available here: https://etsy.me/2oBmJoF) ★ (2) Red Rooster (8"x8" and 12"x12" prints available here: https://etsy.me/31ftVcz) ★ (3) Yellow Rooster (8"x8" and 12"x12" prints available here: https://etsy.me/31ftVcz) ★ (4) Brown Chicken ★ (5) Black Chicken ★ (6) Chameleon (8"x8" and 12"x12" prints available here: https://etsy.me/2MMBvb3) ★ (7) Turtle (8"x8" and 12"x12" prints available here: https://etsy.me/2IjUdR0) ★ (8) Sea Horse (8"x8" and 12"x12" prints available here: https://etsy.me/2NDULUf) ★ (9) Swordfish (8"x8" and 12"x12" prints available here: https://etsy.me/2Wwc2aI) ★ (10) Fox (prints coming soon) ★ (11) Green Frog (8"x10" prints available here: https://etsy.me/2TsYuah) ★ (12) Yellow Frog (8"x10" prints available here: https://etsy.me/2FctWF3) ★ (13) Cat - Teal & Red (8"x8" and 12"x12" prints in different colors available here: https://etsy.me/2UfFLzj) ★ (14) Cat - Orange & Light Blue ★ (15) Cat - Green & Orange ★ (16) Cat - Yellow & Lilac ★ (17) Cat - Light Blue & Red ★ (18) Hummingbird - Pink (8"x10" prints available here: https://etsy.me/2UVchXn) ★ (19) Hummingbird - Teal (8"x10" prints available here: https://etsy.me/2wuGEN7) ★ (20) Hummingbird - Yellow (8"x10" prints available here: https://etsy.me/2G1TbHd) These coasters (as a set or individually) would make a unique gift for someone who loves animals and nature. It would also be a great gift for a housewarming party or for newly weds. It will definitely brighten up any space with splashes of bold colors. I've tested the coasters using hot and cold drinks and they hold up fine with normal usage. To clean, simply use a damp cloth. DO NOT put in the dishwasher or submerge in water. Please keep in mind that due to different resolutions on digital screens, actual print colors may differ slightly. Thank you for supporting my artwork and I hope you enjoy my designs as much as I do making them. To read more about how I make my original paper molas, please visit my About page. Gracias. (All artwork is the property of Miriam Lim and Papermolas and is subject to copyright protection laws. This image may not be duplicated without written consent of the artist. Sales of artwork do not transfer copyright to the buyer.)
Low supply art project! In this lesson plan, students will be introduced to the world of paper molas, a traditional textile art form originating from the indigenous Guna people of Panama and Colombia. To teach students basic techniques of paper cutting and layering to create their own mola-inspired...
Explore pj0321's 231 photos on Flickr!
Learn about molas from the Kuna people in Panama with this molas lesson with information, discussion questions, resources, and lesson ideas.
Wow these paper molas really extended my students. After showing the students real molas we practised making small ones based on traditional designs of the Kuna culture with the influences of the modern world. Mola art developed when Kuna women of the San Blas Islands in Panama had access to bright colour fabrics. How to make. Colored card Use primary and secondary to create Complementary colour schemes. Glue sticks, Images of traditional designs. Scissors. Step one students draw or trace around templates of animals etc using a primary colour. I made about 15 animal -bird , fish shapes - but more capable students could create their own,. Once traced - cut out and glue onto an A5 size piece of paper . Students can choose its complementary colour as the background. Students then trimmed leaving about 4-5mm or around 1/4 inch. Glue the animal shape onto a rectangle of black paper A4 size. Stduents then decorated the the animal and filled in the background with small rectangles, paper punched dots as required. etc
LuAnn Kessi
Save to Favorites 19 Favorites X Save to Favorites Please Login or Register to save content. Grade Level 9-10 Duration 10 classes, 45 minutes Materials Exacto knife, extra blades, scissors, stapler, fade resistant construction paper of a variety of colors (enough black for each student), glue (I prefer Elmer’s used sparingly) white color pencils, paper […]
Hand stitched Kuna Mola Art (approx. 17.5” x 13”). Burgundy primary color with colorful geometric designs. One of a kind piece of art. Each one is unique. These are authentic Kuna Molas from western Colombia. The Kuna tribe, one of the largest remaining indigenous tribes in South America, are from the San Blas islands of Panama. Some also live in small villages in western Colombia. The native Kuna women hand stitch these beautiful Molas. Using a reverse appliqué technique, multiple cotton layers are sewn together with cutouts and different colored thread to create their ancestral traditional indigenous designs. These are traditionally sewn into blouses. They also look great as a table centerpiece, framed as wall art, or sewn into pillows.
This 20 slide Power Point presentation opens the world of molas to your student. It begins with a 5 slide geography lesson on the location of the San Blas islands where the Kuna Indians live and create their art. We then learn about life as a mola artist and see examples of their art. As we explore ...
Molas are a form of reverse applique using many layers of fabric. In a later lesson we will sew simple molas out of layers of felt. In the mean time let's make one out of construction paper so that we can better understand the reverse applique process. First, choose an image that inspires you. Choose a design with simple colorful shapes. Flowers, birds, fish and suns all work well as mola designs. Next create a simple line drawing. Notice how wide the feet are? You will need to cut out your design so make sure to compose it of bold simple shapes that you can easily cut. Create a simple cut out pattern without any detail. When you are done cutting flip the pattern over. Does it look like a recognizable image or just a blob? If it isn't immediately recognizable you need to go back and do a more precise job cutting. Here are the layers of my mola design: The top layer is yellow with a bird shaped hole cut out of the middle. Whenever I need to cut a hole out from the middle of a paper, I pinch the paper and make a tiny cut on the fold. Then I open the paper, stick the scissors in the hole and continue cutting. Pointy scissors can fit into smaller holes than blunt tipped scissors, allowing for more precise cutting. Now lets begin to put the design together: Layer 1 layer 1 and 2 layer 1, 2 and 3 All four layers together Have some fun with your mola by adding some pattern cut outs to layers 2 and 3. For more extensive information on molas visit http://www.molaartandcraft.com/ Learn about the Kuna people of Panama by clicking here. Learn more about this art form by clicking here The most common mola motifs are; birds, fish, animals and flowers. I have created some simplified patterns based on common images from real molas. Feel free to download or print them or use them as inspiration for your own ideas. Start with a simple design of three layers. You can always increase the complexity and detail of a paper mola design by adding more layers of color. Paper molas make beautiful cards and framed pictures. You can sew or glue simple molas using felt. Felt is a good material for children to use because you do not have to worry about the edges fraying. Kuna women use light weight cotton fabric to make molas. They cut a fringe along the fabric opening and tuck the edges of material underneath to create a clean design. The hallmark of good mola craftsmanship is that you appreciate the image before you notice the materials used to create it. This is true no mater what media you use. Sloppy stitching, visible glue, loose threads or ripped paper all detract from the quality of the design. Nancy Walkup, the editor of School Arts Magazine, writes about using Mola designs as a vehicle to teach big ideas to children: http://www.slideshare.net/mobile/nwalkup/teaching-with-big-ideas
Inspiring "little people" through art!
Kindergarten artists used a mola technique of stacking shapes from small to large to practice their cutting skills. A mola is a textile art from Panama that involves sewing layers of fabric in this way, as seen here from molamama : Some classes used photos of themselves in their designs and added extra shapes, keeping to the spring theme.
The Kuna Indians create their own clothes and artwork and call them Molas. A Mola is a piece of cotton with different patterns on stitched on it.
A hugely popular quilt show held every January at Tokyo Dome. For more information visit www.lemfugitt.com.
La production artisanale la plus connue des Indiens Kuna qui peuplent ce magnifique archipel des San Blas le long de la côte Caraïbes de Panama, c’est le Mola. Réalisé entièrement à la main p…
The mola is a multilayered textile art form and metaphor for the story of the Kuna, indigenous people of Panama. With over 890 images covering more than a century of molas, this book provides insights into design sources and influences for molas, perspectives on the aesthetic practices of women creating them, and hints for collecting and preserving this colorful textile art form. The hand-appliquéd art panels tell the tale of the Kuna women and are symbolic of their artistry, observation, and beliefs. Their lush tropical paradise, cultural cosmology, sense of humor, and exposure to foreign elements are represented in these fascinating fabric designs. A brief history of Panama and its rich tradition of indigenous arts place the mola in context.
mola authentic from Panama original handmade Handmade mola unique quilt Mola on front - hand made by Kunas in San Blas - Panama -Washable by hand and cold water. we do combine shipping. Beautiful handmade with the art of molas, richly decorated by intricate needlework , traditional of the Kuna people. Molas are the famous textile-art that forms part of the traditional women's clothing of the Guna people from Panama and parts of Colombia. Although it has its origin in body painting, after the European colonization molas were transferred to fabric using the reverse-appliqué. Beautiful hand made face mask from Panama, The Mola, or Molas, is a hand-made textile that forms part of the traditional women's clothing of the Kuna people from Panama, Central America Each its unique one of a kind once its gone its gone.
