Looks Do Deceive – How I Learned to Respect Zimbabwe’s Mbira

When we unpacked our first shipment of Zimbabwe wood carvings in 2003, we found that the empty spaces in the box were filled with blocks of wood with rusty pieces of metal attached.  Each one weighed just under a pound.  We’d shipped the order by EMS, which is international priority mail, and paid dearly for[…]

Art Camp Artisans – Tradition Builds a Community

The artisans of Tecalpulco, Mexico have long been known for their silver and stone jewelry.   Art Camp, short for Artesanas Campesinas (or rural female artisans), is a women-owned cooperative that continues this tradition.  The group constantly introduces new methods, materials, and machinery to compete in the highly competitive jewelry market, even surviving a collapse in[…]