YOLOTLI

Still, We
Still, we care.
Still, we gather.
Still, we love.
Still, we act.

While living and working in Mexico City for several years, I fell in love with the tradition of milagros. Milagros, which translates to “miracles,” are small devotional charms carrying hope, gratitude, prayer, or protection. They are handmade by local artisans in different materials and can be found in many places. I often encountered them in sacred spaces such as churches and pilgrimage sites, at artisan markets and pueblos mágicos, in restaurants, in the homes of friends, and even in local peseros and taxis.

My new storefront installation at was inspired by these small, powerful charms and the hope they offer. I handcrafted a collection of oversized milagros, individually cutting and shaping tin foil into each piece. The collage centers on a flaming heart encircled by five large roses, with swallows in flight above and around it.

The heart symbolizes devotion and courage; the roses speak to love, beauty, and resilience; and the swallow, a migratory bird, represents freedom, loyalty, stability, and enduring connection. Here, the birds carry a banner and a small heart toward the central flame, as if delivering a collective intention.

The banner bears words like peace, freedom, dignity, mercy, compassion, solidarity, agency, harmony, kinship, and community — offerings in themselves that encourage us to return to the basics of human connection.

This piece could not have found a better home than , a space deeply rooted in community and care. As I try to make sense of the pain and suffering currently unfolding within our communities, this work has become my personal gesture of quiet resistance. It is offered in the hope of a small miracle and as a reminder that even small acts can matter.

STUDIO NEWS \\ SASHIKO workshop at Juniper Station - https://mailchi.mp/296637216c72/yolotli_studio_news-9429480

STUDIO NEWS \\ This Weekend - St. Helena Winter Market https://mailchi.mp/07ece55846cd/yolotli_studio_news-9419108

Studio News \\ New Work + Winter Markets - https://mailchi.mp/28151cdd517b/yolotli_studio_news

My work has taken so many turns over the past four years and I haven't posted much here. If you are interested in seeing what's new check out the wonderful article Napa Valley Register published on my work. Thank you to Kathleen Reynolds for the interesting conversation and to Nick Otto for the great photos! And thank you to everyone who is still following along!

Yolotli of Napa Valley makes handmade art and apparel, with heart This Napa artist makes both textile and fabric art and apparel. Check out the work of Nicole Kelly of Yolotli.

YOLOTLI A Letter From the Heart \\ What's New - https://mailchi.mp/e06cad047e0c/yolotlinapamakes2019-9335520

Just a little reminder that I’ll be at the Mini Makers Market at the beautiful tomorrow - Saturday, December 12 from 11am - 5pm.

Come by 🤍
say hi 👋🏼
have fun 🤩
do your Holiday shopping all at once 🎄🎁
and don’t forget to bring your masks! 😷