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Another Michoacán Great Master

Antonio Anita Mejia artesania authentic bateas folk art Michoacan Quiroga traditional

I am very sad to share the news that we recently lost another great Mexican folk artist--Antonio Anita Mejia of Michoacán. I have known Antonio since 2003 and Mexico By Hand has bought and sold dozens of his beautiful pieces over the years. As a matter of fact, I have many right now waiting to be shipped from Mexico to California. I first noticed Antonio in front of his colorfully painted bateas and trasteritos at the Dia de los Muertos market in Patzcuaro, and took this photo. He was sitting just outside of the official artisans booth area at the...

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Returning to Zipiajo!

artesania authentic blouses clay crafts embroidery folk art handmade Michoacan textiles traditional

Returning to Zipiajo!

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...

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Traditional Copper Cazos and the Covid Crisis

authentic cazo copper handmade Mexican pot Santa Clara del Cobre traditional

Traditional Copper Cazos and the Covid Crisis

Mexico By Hand has sold a lot of hammered copper cazos this past year. Ever since the pandemic began we've had so many orders I honestly have lost count. Sales of cazos have helped to sustain us through these tough times of cancelled events and retail closures, and our customers as they are sheltering at home seem to appreciate our efforts to supply them. I suspected that the artisans in Santa Clara del Cobre are really hurting now due to lack of tourism and the cancellation of major sales opportunities for artisans like Semana Santa and Dia de los Muertos, and I hoped that...

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Adios 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.

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Beautiful pottery—but is it food-safe?

artesania ceramics clay crafts handmade lead-free Mexican pottery traditional

Beautiful pottery—but is it food-safe?

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.

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