Embroidery of La Palma

Before I came to live on La Palma, I had no idea that the island was famous for its embroidery. Well OK, I didn't know that La Palma actually existed but that's another story ...

In fact, La Palma has a tradition of many handicrafts including not just embroidery but also silk production (going back to the 16th century), basket making and cigars (which Winston Churchill smoked and highly rated).  And they are all still hand made today. Out of all the crafts though embroidery has always been an important source of income for many families. But it wasn't just an income, it was a way to add the personal touch to traditional dress or tablecloths and even church vestments.

Nowadays, you can find all sorts of embroidered items from bookmarks, to drink mats, mobile phone holders and of course wonderful pieces to hang on the wall.

I am lucky though in that I live next door to a master craftswoman - an instructor of embroidery. Every time I pop in to see Carmen I can almost guarantee she'll be sat working away at her embroidery. From small items to a huge tablecloth, she never tires of it. 'I just love it!' she tells me.

So how much does it cost?
The embroidered roses above will cost around 30€ to 50€ - the frames are extra and normally you would go to a framing specialist who will stretch the cloth so there are no unsightly creases. But for a small item, you can buy nice pieces for just a few Euros.
The great thing is that they make an ideal present to take home from your holiday as they won't break, they don't take up any room and they are actually from La Palma. Beware of buying machine-made imitations though. Of course they are cheaper but they certainly aren't anything to do with the tradition of La Palma and it really is worth going for the real deal.

Also, they are machine washable. Just remember to iron on the reverse.
Carmen's embroidery shop isn't open any more as she's retired although she does make special pieces to order. But if you are in the area of Mazo, do pop in to the Casa Roja (Red House) museum and have a look at their intricate embroideries. It's right in the village centre and the opening hours are Mon-Fri 10:00-14:00/15:00-18:00 and Sat 11:00-18:00 and Sun 10:00-14:00.
You will also find embroidery to buy in some of the 'Artesenia' (Handicraft) shops or souvenir shops and when there is a local craft market too.