News — artesania

Returning to Zipiajo!

June 17, 2021 • artesania • authentic • blouses • clay • crafts • embroidery • folk art • handmade • Michoacan • textiles • traditional

We met Elvia Silva Bartolo in 2004 while Doug and I were shooting our documentary. She’s in Zipiajo, a Purepecha village way off the beaten track where a few artisans make unpainted terracotta clay pots and gorgeous embroidered blouses.We didn’t know about the embroidery at the time, and until we were in Elvia’s workshop we had no idea that she had an incredible talent for sculpting clay animal figures. We bought a few small ones that day, and later purchased some that won prizes in Michoacán state fairs. She has a piece in the prestigious Museo del Arte Popular in...

Adios 2020!

December 27, 2020 • artesania • authentic • crafts • folk art • handmade • Mexican

This year, during a global pandemic when so many holiday gifts were delayed because the post office and FedEx are so overwhelmed-- I enjoyed being one of Santa's elves. Well, I didn't totally enjoy it, because I actually worried and stressed a lot about our customers getting their packages in time for Christmas.

Beautiful pottery—but is it food-safe?

June 07, 2020 • artesania • ceramics • clay • crafts • handmade • lead-free • Mexican • pottery • traditional

Mexico By Hand is committed to working with potters in Mexico who use sustainable methods for producing food safe pottery. We buy lead-free pottery from the artisans because it is important to us to protect the health of the artisans, their families, and you-- the consumer.

Shipping News! SUMMER 2019

October 04, 2019 • artesania • authentic • buying artesania • catrina • crafts • folk art • handmade • Mexican • Michoacan • Ocumicho • traditional

Most often when I take the time to sit down to write about my business, it’s a rant or sad description of the latest calamity or indignity I’ve either witnessed or personally suffered. Some of you might know that I’ve been (slowly) writing a “memoir” with the working title “Why Importing Crafts from Mexico is Not for Wimps”. I also think that “Are you F**cking Kidding Me?” could work as a title also. But I just realized that I need to share good news too! In the summer of 2019, while the U.S. was continuing to be destroyed by a...

Always Handmade and Authentic

June 15, 2019 • artesania • authentic • blouses • crafts • cultural appropriation • handmade • Mexican • textiles • traditional

There are a lot of tongues wagging, and rightfully so, about the cultural appropriation (ripping off) of traditional textile designs created by indigenous artisans in Mexico. I am angry and concerned, and you will most likely hear more from me about this subject. I'm also alarmed by what's happening in the Mexican crafts world in general, due to globalization and the power of commercial interests who could give a flying you-know-what about preserving or respecting anyone's cultural identity. While you as a customer can find more and more online shops professing to carry items "handmade in Mexico", beware that there is no...