Aquilina Smareglia

I was born in Italy and lived in several other countries. In India (New Delhi), with my mother, I visited the Mega-Bazaars, brimming with the incredible scents of the spices and Indian food, and mountains of handicrafts and beautiful fabrics. I was 9 years old and I started to love colors and the magic of the Sari and cotton textiles.

Later, in Guatemala, I could visit stunning markets of handcrafts and hand-woven and handmade embroideries and fabrics (like Chichicastenango, which are colorfully embroidered Guatemalan textiles). For over 25 years, I was a naïf painter and displayed my paintings in parts of Europe, Mexico, and the United States.

I then switched to fabrics. The materials I use are Bolivian ponchos, Argentinian hand-woven textiles, cotton from Africa and other countries, embellished with antique handmade, colorful embroideries from Hungary and Transylvania (today Romania). I also use Scapulars from Mexico and Guatemala, and various Catholic medals (to give love and protection).

I make cats and tote bags, and my stitches are not accurate and far from perfection. Maybe a paw is shorter than the others or an ear bigger. I just want to show that my work is handcrafted and not a product coming out of a factory.