Amate paper is hand-made by the tomi Indians using a technique that. predates the arrival of the Spaniards. This paper comes from the bark of the Amate or Jonote plant. The Amate bark is boiled in a water and lime juice solution in huge caldrons for several hours. When the bark becomes soft and pliable, the solution is drained and the bark rinsed. The fiber is laid out in strips forming a mesh on flat surfaces and then beaten with a stone called "muinto" or "aplanador" until the desired surface texture is obtained. Finally the borders are worked so they are aligned and the sheets of paper are dried in the sun. The Otomi Indians and other local indigenous people use the Amate paper in various rituals to obtain a good harvest or to drive away evil spirits. The Otomi, or Nah-ñu, people who live in the mountains of the Sierra Madre Oriental where the states of Veracruz; Hidalgo, and Puebla meet.
Tule Art Work, employs a similar method of constriction to Amate Paper. The Artisan cooks the tule, then from the sturdy sheets, do the embroidery work. These hand Made panels are beautiful pieces of folk
