Stitching a Dream

Stitching a Dream from Tracey Eaton on Vimeo.

How to dance Salsa?? Learning from a real Pro

Today I want to share with you this video that I made last summer when I was visiting my family in Cuba. 
Here is my nephew dancing at a restaurant in Old Havana. His name is Alejandro but everyone in his neighborhood knows him as Tato. He is a very restless child, but likeable and very affectionate with everyone. He likes dancing, playing video games and goofing off with friends.
I hope you like it! :)

The person behind Chuletin Designs

Today I want to share an interview that I did for a blog a few days ago.


Tell us about your story:  

I'm from Cuba and came to the USA in 2005, following the love of my life. I consider myself very fortunate because I have a very special husband. Without him today I would not be doing what most excites me in life, to create. He supports me, encourages me and is my No. 1 fan, although, according to him, he knows nothing about fashion. :) 
I've never taken classes on sewing or design. I learn by doing.

-How did you get started creating your work? 

Ever since I can remember, my mom made clothes for me and my two sisters. I loved watching her sew us dresses. When I was a teenager, my mom bought me fabric for a pair of pants, then she went to work. When she came back I had already made the pants and they turned out super. Since that time she did not sew anything for me anymore because she knew I could do it. But she always gave me advice on how to sew and we were a creative team. 

-Please describe your process for your work: How to get ideas, when, materials, etc. 

The way I look at it, my brain is like a creative studio where many ideas circulate all the time. My inspiration comes from everywhere. I've been learning in stages. I've been evolving. Every time I make something, I learn and I try to improve each piece of clothing I make, making my designs increasingly complex and beautiful. Sometimes an idea comes when I see a piece of fabric in the store. At that moment, an idea is born. Other times I'll get ideas when reading the forum in Etsy, or when seeing something in a magazine. My ideas come from everywhere, at any anytime. 

-What is your favorite piece of work? 

For me it is very difficult to pick a favorite piece. The last piece I make often becomes my favorite, but that doesn't last long. I try to improve my techniques all the time. That makes me happier and more satisfied with the final creation. 

-Share your top 5 favorite books, magazines, songs and websites

My Favorites 
Magazines: Fashion magazines 
Book: Sewing Techniques (my current favorite) 
Websites: Etsy and Mylifetime (Project Runway) 
Music: I like listening to music while I working. I plug in my Ipod and listen to a little bit of everything - Cuban music, American, Brazilian, classical and jazz. 

-What advice would you give to new artist?

It is difficult for me to give advice to someone. I also need advise. I believe that following your heart and having a positive attitude in life can help make your dreams come true. At least that's how I try to lead my daily life. 

-What do you think you would be in 10 years? 

In 10 years I hope to be very successful and have my own boutique to sell my creations. 

More info about me
I have 3 Etsy stores
- www.chuletindesigns.etsy.com
- www.muapurses.etsy.com
- www.patternparadise.etsy.com

Have a very creative day!
Maira

Old Pictures And Fashion Tradition

Love for fashion has been in my family for years. This summer when I returned to visit my family in Cuba (after being in USA for almost 4 years) I spent some time looking at old photos of the family. Many of the photos have not survived because we've been in several floods by the hurricanes and we have lost many of them. Despite of that some still exist. Here are some that are very valuable to me. This is a picture of my grandmother when she was about 20 years of age. It looks very elegant in her white dress and high heel shoes. The shoes look like they have two tones. She looks super chic and confident. She always made her own clothes. 

This other picture is my mom in a dress made by herself. She has a model figure and her hair very well done. At that time she lived in a small town on the outskirts of the city. But she always followed  the fashion trend.

These others are my sisters and I when we were kids.

My oldest sister Elizabeth

My middle sister Mariela

Me! I'm the youngest!

I like to keep those photos because they are of great value to me. Now they are like a treasury to me because I separate from my family.

 I'm passing them to digital format to enjoy them for many years to come. 

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!

I found some pics of my dogs wearing cute costume for a photo shoot. I want to share with you to wish you a very happy Halloween Day!

Happy Halloween!!!

An incredible Summer!

It's been a wonderful summer for me. First my husband and I went to see her parents to Aberdeen, SD for 8 days. We had a great time, the boys went to a fishing trip and the girl stayed at home making craft projects, my favorite past time! I also learned how to make hand felted hats. Here is one of them.

Then we spent 25 days in Cuba. Was lovely see my parents, my sister, my nephew and all my friends again. It was extremely beautiful and incredible to be back in my country. The only bad thing was that my doggy-son Pirata passed away last January, but his sister Rosita was there and she was so excited to see me again. Now my mom has a new member and his name is Golfito. He is a great dog, super smart and funny.

My mom was very happy I bought for her craft supplies to make doll and she was in heaven, like a kid with a new toy. Also we did some remodelations in her backyard to make it prettier and we bought new furniture for her living room. Here is my dad watching tv

When we returned from Cuba I went to Houston to visit my friends. My flamenco Cuban friend Irma and my Brazilian friend Mirela. I have a great time, but something wonderful happened when I was in Houston! my Brazilian friend invited me to go with her to New York! can you believe that! For me is a dream come true NY has been on my list of places that I want to visit.

I returned to my home and like 10 day later I meet them in New York. We stayed in a hotel very close to The garment District, we walked a lot and visited a lot of places and a lot of fabric stores!

I took about 1500 pictures in my whole visit and we drove home visiting 3 different beaches and 7 states. This trip will be unforgettable for me and of course I want to go again!

Now I'm at home working on new projects which I adding to my Esty store almost every day, from dresses, jackets, blouses, even hair accessories. I have so many ideas and things that I want to do I hope nothing escape of my brain.

Yes we can!!!!!!

Yes we can!

For more that 50 years, my little island, Cuba and the U.S. haven't had good relations. These tensions affect the daily lives of millions of Cubans. It is time to end this chapter forever. We can do something to change the future of millions of human beings. That is why we ask you through this blog to sign the petition for Michelle Obama visit to Cuba, and change forever the fate of the island. She can do a lot, just with going. She has all the power to do so and if she want to, no one should stopped her . If this happens, I'm sure that will change forever the destiny and mark a new future for Cuba and Cubans.

Do the right thing, your help is important now! To sign the petition here.

You also can do it here

Glamorous Look Vintage Style

Super Funky Patchwork Long Skirt

Raising money to bring my dog from Cuba

I made more fabulous headpieces to raise money to bring my doggy from Cuba.

You can find them in my Etsy store;

www.chuletindesigns.etsy.com

Pirata will be forever in my heart.

This is the story of a mixed breed Cuban dog named Pirata, or Pirate.
He was born on March 21, 2003, along with five other beautiful dogs. His parents were Blanquita and Negrito, two street dogs who lived in our neighborhood in Tarara, east of Havana. They enjoyed the kindness of those who lived and worked there. They ate good food (for Cuban dogs) and slept on the porches of the houses occupied by foreigners.
Blanquita was nicest, most friendly and most cheerful of all the members of the dog clan. The expression on her face always looked like a smile and she’d wag her tail, telling you she was happy to see you. When we noticed that she was pregnant, we tried to keep her at home to look after her, but all was in vain. Even with her big belly and just days from giving birth to puppies, her free spirit didn’t hold her back and she jumped our fence and escaped.
When she finally decided to have her dogs, she found a hiding place in our yard. We didn’t know where she was. After searching all day throughout the neighborhood, we heard some sounds coming from the bushes in the yard. What a surprise! They were Blanquita’s new pups. The six puppies were beautiful, so tiny !!!!!!

We took the dogs into our house so nothing would happen to them outside, and Blanquita later joined them. They grew into beautiful and healthy dogs. Soon many people approached us to ask about the dogs and we gave away four of them to friends. We were left Pirata and a second dog we called Rosita.
Pirata became a beautiful and big dog, weighing 55 pounds. Rosita was a bit smaller, but she was beautiful, too.

Pirata was the boss of the pair and whenever someone came to the house he had to go and say hello and he always wanted to get all the attention. Rosita is a smart and sweet dog. The two dogs were very playful and always together. They shared thousands of moments of joy together. They gave me so much joy and unforgettable moments. In 2005 I moved to the U.S. and left them temporarily with my parents, hoping that some day we could be together. My plan was about to become reality, that was my goal.
A few days ago, Pirata suddenly died. Knowing this has caused me deep pain. He was like a child to me, and so was Rosita. My plan remains the same, but now only Rosita will be coming to live with me and my husband.
To achieve this dream, all the money from the sales at my three shops will be assigned to a fund to pay travel and other expenses for Rosita.

Here are my stores:

http://www.chuletindesigns.etsy.com/

http://www.muapurses.etsy.com/

http://www.patternparadise.etsy.com/

Esta es la historia de un perro sato cubano, llamado Pirata.
Nacio un dia 21 de marzo del 2003 junto con otros 5 bellos perritos. Sus padres Negrito y Blanquita, perros de la calle, que vivian en nuestro vecindario (Tarara, al este de la Habana), gozaban de la bondad de los que vivian y trabajaban ahi. Comian buenas comidas (para ser perros cubanos) y dormian en los portales de las casas habitadas por extranjeros.
Blanquita era la perra mas simpatica, amistosa y alegre de todo el clan perruno. Tenia la exprsion de estar siempre sonriendo y con solo ver su cola sabias que estaba feliz de verte. Cuando notamos que estba embarazada tatamos de retenerla en la casa para cuidarla, pero todo fue en vano, incluso con la barriga grande y casi al parir su espiritu de perra libre la hacia saltar la cerca para escapar.
Cuando ella decidio tener sus perritos busco un lugar apropiado y escondido en nuestro jardin. Despues de buscarla por todo el dia por el barrio, oimos unos sonidos que venia del jardin. Que sorpresa!!!! Eran los nuevos cachorros que habian nacido. Eran 6 hermosos cachorritos, tan chiquitos!!!!!!
En un descuido de Blanquita mudamos los perritos para dentro de la casa y ella mas tarde se les unio. Desde muy pequenitos estabamos al tanto de su salud y crecieron unos bellos y saludables perritos. Pronto mucha gente se nos acerco para pedirnos los perritos y asi fue como los fuimos regalando a amigos y nos quedamos solo con Pirata y Rosita.
Pirata se convirtio en un perro hermoso y grande que llego a pesar 55lb y Rosita un poco mas pequena.
Pirata de los dos se creia el jefe y siempre que venia alguien a la casa tenia que ir a saludar y siempre queria recibir toda la atencion. Rosita es una perra mas inteligente y dulce. Los dos eran perros muy juguetones y siempre estan juntos. Compartieron miles de experiencias y alegrias juntos. Me dieron tantas alegrias y momentos inolvidables. En 2005 yo me mude para E.U y los deje a ellos temporalmente con mis padres, esperando que algun dia pudieramos estar juntos. Mi plan de traerlos estaba casi haciendose realidad, ese era mi objetivo.
Hace unos dias Pirata de repente murio, saberlo me ha causado un profundo dolor, el era para mi como un hijo, al igual que Rosita. Mi plan sigue en pie, solo que ahora vendra solo Rosita.
Para lograr mi objetivo todo el dinero de las ventas de mis tres tiendas sera destinado a un fondo para pagar los gastos para poder hacer realidad este sueno.

Aqui estan mis tiendas:

www.chuletindesigns.etsy.com

www.muapurses.etsy.com

www.patternparadise.etsy.com

Isabela's Boutique

She is a Cuban who arrived from Cuba more than 40 years ago. She is very creative, bold, innovative, their designs reflect their character and their fantasies. His creations range from romantic, modern, until very funkys. She takes special care to detail and their customers once they buy something from her, can not resist and have to go back for more. Many of her pieces have been on catwalks in New York and other major cities, as well as renowned personalities have been fascinated by them. For several years, she has a boutique in the heart of the oldest city in the U.S., St. Augustine, Florida. If you are close to her do not forget to visit it, is a very unusual store that has her sewing machine in the center and perhaps you can find her making some fabulous dress.

This is her address: 19 Cuna St. Saint Augustine, FL 32137

Also you can find her online store here.

Ella es una Cubana que llego de Cuba hace mas de 40 anos. Creativa, audaz, renovadora, sus disenos expresan su caracter y sus fantasias. Sus creaciones van desde romanticas, modernas, hasta muy funkys. tiene un especial cuidado al detalle y sus clientes una vez que compran algo de ella, no pueden resistir y tienen que regresar por mas. Muchas de sus piezas han estados en pasarelas en Nueva York y otras importantes ciudades, asi como renombradas personalidades se han sentido fascinados por ellas. Desde hace varios anos tiene una boutique en el corazon de la ciudad mas antigua de E.U, Saint Augustine, Florida.Si estas cerca no dejes de visitarla, es una tienda muy peculiar por que tiene en el mismo centro su estudio creativo y tal vez llegues y la encuentres cosiendo algun fabuloso vestido. Esta es su direccion:19 Cuna St.Saint Augustine, FL 32084

tambien puedes encontrar su tienda online aqui.