Berta is a natural-born storyteller, but her tales are stitched in cloth, not woven in words. She uses backstitch, single and double cross-stitch, and chain stitch to outline the drawn figures, scenes and landscapes that depict the stories, celebrations and daily life of the Purépecha indigenous community in the west-central state of Michoacán, Mexico. The current president of the Vasco de Quiroga Cooperative, Berta leads the women of her village of Tzintzuntzan to produce the exquisitely embroidered  story pieces – including rebozos, bed covers, shawls, tablecloths and runners – that they sell from local stands and at local and national crafts fairs throughout Mexico and the United States.

Using cotton and yarn, Berta embroiders brightly-colored scenes of cooking and fishing around Lake Pátzcuaro, local festivals and rituals such as weddings, as well as stories from ancient Purépechan mythology. The majority of women still speak their native tongue and adhere to many of their ancient customs, embroidering in the evenings after their chores are finished for the day. The first collective of embroiderers, all women, was organized almost 30 years ago to preserve the traditions of the Purépecha people. Although this year will be Berta’s first year at the Market, her sister, Teofila, is a Market favorite.