Molas For Sale

I personally selected all these molas on the San Blas Islands off Panama, the home of the Kuna Indians who are famous for them. Almost all of them are from blouses, which meant the maker took extra special care as she was making it for herself. All prices are plus $4.50 postage. You can enlarge the photos by clicking on them. If you would like more photos or additional information please contact me at: pkibbee@aol.com.




Two squash. Beautiful double layer applique and tiny stitch embroidered trim. $37

The flowers are triple applique with holes punched in the black layer which are then all appliqued down! Beautiful workmanship. $34

Two happy angels playing marimbas. Great applique and exquisite tiny stitch embroidery on this piece. $44

Whimsical teapots which I assume are crabs. Beautiful tiny embroidery details. $44

Two fat cats. Exquisite tiny embroidery stitches trim this one. $29

Two birds with a clock. I have never seen a clock before on a mola. The double applique wings are all trimmed with an exquisite feather stitch in tiny embroidery. $39

Traditional style mola. Double applique X's and ric rack like applique. $37

Binoculars in beautiful double applique with rick rack style trim. $37

Vibrant flowers on this beautifully embroidered piece. $34

Parrots are a common theme of the Kuna, but usually on the smaller appliques, This one has beautiful tiny stitches trimming the faces and flowers. $27
SOLD

Two doves in beautiful double applique with tiny embroidered trim. $21 SOLD

Four leaves. Beautiful double applique, rick rack type trim and tiny embroidery stitches. $39

I am assuming these two graceful birds are swans. The usual beautiful applique and tiny embroidery stitches on the birds faces. $29

I have never seen pipes used as a design for a mola before. $29

Semi traditional mola with a beautifully embroidered duck in the center. $19

Beautiful fish with two tiny fish in the corners. Lovely double appliques and tiny embroidery stitches. $27

Molas for Sale

A really nice mola of a bird and I assume two squirrels. The long lines of applique are called dun dun .

The two color dun dun is particularly nice. $29 plus $4 postage.

An excellent orange mola. The rick rack style applique is called aba aba. I can't imagine doing it with any sort of competence myself.

$34 plus $4 postage.

I am not quite sure why these fish have sort of loops.

The yellow/red applique is very intricate looking. $24 plus $4 postage.

If you are interested in any of these email me at pkibbee@aol.com

Panama and Molas

This is the Airport building in Carti. No "newfangled" stuff such as electricity or control tower. The "waiting" area is a couple of benches under the roof on the left where the man is standing. That is where the barefoot airport manager with his little orange vest checks you in with his clipboard, listing your name, age, weight, nationality and passport number. (You worry that some of this might be so that they can notify your Embassy if there is a crash. Actually there was one a few years ago near one of the Islands with all hands lost) . The manager gives you tickets for your bags but no boarding pass so you are pretty much on your own till the plane comes. This also appears to be the waiting room for the Overland route through the jungle to the main road to Panama City. A group had gathered for this and one pulled up ( a very sturdy four wheel drive with a huge baggage carrier on top) which people piled on for the jarring trip. When we heard the "plane wasn't coming" it was very tempting to take it. The sort of restaurant was in the right hand door but didn't appear to be open. The "new" trend in Molas. Using a print for the base and then embellishing it. I found this on a number of molas around various islands. Usually it was an abstract print, such as the one below, with just one of two areas containing fabric appliqued over the design. They were easy to spot even from a distance. The one below fooled me. I didn't realize it was a print until I began taking the blouse apart. On the other hand the work on this is absolutely expert. A piece of orange fabric was overlaid on the print and then cut away over the design. And the other colors were added. The only "print" showing is the black and white. Click on the photo to enlarge it. While this one is wonderful I see it as a disturbing trend.