Pompom and Tassel Cotton Garland - Spread the Joy in Poppy Red

Artisan Organization: Martha Lopez

Country: Mexico

"I'm Martha Lopez from a small town in the mountains of Chiapas.

"For as long as I can remember, my family has crafted décor accents with cotton threads. We do this because this is a custom in the region and because it’s a source of income that characterizes my community.

"When I was a little girl, my mother would ask me to help her. No one in the family has had a lot of schooling.

"To make a living, we decided to work with our own hands and do what we like best, which is combining colors.

"The lesson from my mother that most marked me was when she told me to imagine the colors in each design before I'd begin. If I liked it, she told me I must transmit this love to every one of my shoppers.

"This is how all my work became more delicate and beautiful.

"One of the things I like most about my work is precisely the combinations of colors. I believe that we Mexicans have an innate love of colors so we should always delight our shoppers with the hues we choose.

"My work is entirely crafted by hand, and each member of my family is involved in every aspect. In this way, we all contribute to the family finances.

"I plan to continue creating these decor items that bring happiness to a space because color is the source of joy. It's a pleasure to share a bit of myself with you.""