It gives me great pleasure to share these new images of Fatima's rugs, made in Northern Portugal. If her work was framable, they would certainly belong in a frame:)

This past winter, I ventured to northern Portugal alongside one of the partners I represent. We journeyed to the far north of the country to hand-select new vintage pieces and explore the area’s production capabilities for wool, linen, and basketry. 

This week, I am really excited to share one of my favorite finds from this year with you. It's a new partner of mine from Portugal who offers an extremely vibrant and soulful line of ceramics. This collection is extremely special. It evolved from the work of four Portuguese illustrators who were invited to work in Alentejo with a family of master potters. The limited-edition terracotta line they created together merges traditional techniques and motifs with more modern designs. The playful collection includes alguidares, wall dishes, anthropomorphic pots and small utilitarian dishes.

It's quite inspiring to see young artists work with the masters to create a line available for the export market. It’s an example of something that can truly help sustain this craft. Traditional know-how is celebrated, yet there is ample room for innovation and an opening for new market opportunities. It’s a wonderful multi-generational cultural investigation that’s resulted in a beautiful series of work.

This week, I am excited to continue my promotion of talented enterprises exhibiting at the New World Crafts online fair, a wonderful sourcing opportunity for those interested in working with artists from Guatemala and throughout Central America. The work of these two vendors – La Casa Cotzal and Topis Ceramica – really stands out to me so I wanted to share a bit more about each of them.

This past winter I ventured to Morocco alongside my sourcing partner and friend, Frederic Alcantara. We had an incredible journey exploring the craftsmanship of southern Morocco together. The trip is one I will hold near to my heart as Frederic recently and unexpectedly passed away. I feel honored to have spent as much time as I did with him, to see him in action doing what he loves. For those who knew him, Frederic was a special soul. He had a kind heart and a true passion for the artisan sector. He put his all into opening opportunities for artists in Morocco and beyond.

This week I am delighted to share some beautiful finds from my partner in Mexico (Fundación Haciendas del Mundo Maya), who has been working hard to create employment opportunities for master craftsmen and women impacted by the pandemic. In partnership with enterprises around Mexico and guidance from Igenris and the United Nations Development Program, they have created a non-profit to promote the production activity of artisans in Mexico who have been affected by the uncertainty caused by social distancing measures. The non-profit guarantees fair income to families and communities with a mission to help preserve the heritage and cultural identity of Mexico.