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Description
Coiling natural fibers, Omaira Manrique crafts a petite covered basket in the style of Guacamayas. Two shades of blue evoke the lakes in this part of Colombia. They find a rich contrast in brilliant orange. Product Features: Dimension: 7.0" L x 6.25" W Weight: 0.99 Color: Multicolor Material: Cabuya fibers, reed grass fibers Made in Colombia Story Behind the art: I'm an artisan and, mainly, a person who loves community work - to give my hand and heart to people. My father was very skillful. He learned the basic technique of coiled baskets in school and essentially taught himself the rest. He began inviting others in our town to learn this craft and keep the tradition alive. On the other hand, my mother and grandparents crafted Spanish espadrille sandals with soles of fique fiber, similar to that of the maguey. They also wove fabric for wool bags on a vertical loom. So I received an important artisan legacy and have a wonderful connection with textile techniques. Because I grew up in a town with very few businesses, work opportunities were limited. The only way to make a living was selling arts and crafts locally. So I first worked with my cousin. We'd sit under a tree and talk about our lives while we wove placemats that were very popular at that time because of their colors and patterns. Over the years, I had to become more experienced, and this constant search for innovation has been very gratifying. When I was a community director, every Monday we'd go out to the rural areas and teach budding artisans how to organize materials, dyeing techniques for the natural fibers they use, and how to calculate costs. We worked for six or seven years in producing six basic products crafted by some 1,700 village residents. During the first years of our cooperative, when we called ourselves the Casa del Telar de Arco, we began with only five families. Today we have more than 400 members working together. This has been a marvelous process. I've always enjoyed teaching. The initiative of organizing communities for the common good is something that simply arises within me and it's become a mission in my life. The driving force behind my mission is a desire to work as a team. There are a lot of people who didn't believe in our cooperative. They hoped to earn a lot of money in a very short time. But our mission is much larger â the cooperative was created to improve the artisans' quality of life. I've learned to be perseverant, and to always listen to that little voice inside that encourages us to continue working to build a better future. The path isn't easy but, today, the results we've had fill me with joy. What I really love is to involve myself in absolutely all the processes in this craft. We're always in movement â creating new designs and color combinations, and seeking new strategic alliances. Since 1992, we've offered our basketry in craft fairs such as Expo ArtesanÃas. It's been a long road. We have more than 35 years of experience and, thanks to this, we've been recognized by the Chamber of Commerce. The handmade touch of artisan skill creates variations in color, size and design. If buying two of the same item, slight differences should be expected. Note: Color discrepancies may occur between this product and your computer screen. Imported
