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Luzmila Garcia

"When I was a girl, I liked sewing but today I love it even more. I first became interested in arpillería, or appliqué in Pamplona Alta when I'd watch my neighbors work. When I made my first wall hanging, I thought it was ugly. Even so, someone saw it and liked it so much that she bought it from me. What great motivation!

"I'm Luzmila García Huaman. I was born in Lima on February 4, 1958, but grew up in Piura, in a village named Lalaquiz situated in the mountains. It was one of the poorest districts in the land of cacao, coffee and sugar. My parents were farmers and my mother became the town's seamstress.

"I've practiced this craft since 1998 and my love for it flows from my hands to every scrap of cloth, the needles and thread that are a part of my life. Each day I ask God to continue enlightening me to be more creative.

"Appliqué is a kind of therapy for me – it relaxes me and my designs are born from my own creativity. When people admire my work, this inspires me and I enjoy sharing the customs and landscapes of our Andean Peru. One day, I hope to have a little shop of my own to help my family more."