The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, or Mother Mary from the Christian religion, is featured in this necklace. She is flanked by petite natural flowers captured in resin, adding color to the necklace by Emerson Zarate. The pendant poses on a sterling silver chain for everyday inspiration.
"My father saw handicrafts using pressed dehydrated natural flowers suspended in resin. He decided to use our fresh flowers and add sterling silver to create original jewelry designs."
"Mexico is a privileged place with spectacular landscapes and wonderful weather. We have flowers blooming all year long....
"When traveling in 1982, my father saw some unusual handicrafts using pressed dehydrated natural flowers that were suspended in resin. He decided to use our fresh tropical flowers and add sterling silver to create original jewelry designs.
"Although I was born in Mexico City, I've lived in rural areas all my life. We were surrounded by cool rivers, verdant fiends, mountains and all kinds of wildflowers. Today, I continue my father's jewelry tradition.
"The art suits me. I'm a creative person, devoted, passionate and perfectionist in everything I do. When I enjoy an activity, I dedicate time to learning or training. I studied photography, which gave me the necessary tools to achieve fine visual details in my jewelry. I enjoy overcoming challenges and adversities as they arise.
"We found that by dehydrating the flowers, instead of pressing them, let them maintain their shape. This allows us to use flowers that are unsuitable for pressing, like a rose bud, for example. We developed a technique that preserves the natural colors.
"Thanks to a spring-like weather, we're able to grow our own flowers year round. After much trial and error, we were able to achieve jewelry with the quality and aesthetic we sought. We began showing it to family members and close friends, and were surprised at how much they liked it. They immediately began asking for new designs and more flower varieties.
"Soon after, my father began selling our designs at a bazaar in Mexico City. He set up a small table to exhibit them. What started as way to earn money in his free time led my father to leave his job and focus on this art form. Our jewelry has reached people in Mexico and many other parts of the world.
"Without a doubt, the biggest cost in our jewelry is silver. It also has a complicated artisanal metallurgic process. We use a resin that quickly crystallizes and we have only a brief period to cover the flowers one by one and manually remove air bubbles with a needle.
"I've grown up with this craft my whole life. I've seen it evolve and have implemented new techniques, materials, designs, flowers and more. We've improved, learned and adapted the processes.
"We went through a rough period when the price of silver nearly doubled and costs rose excessively as well. We decided to process our own silver, so my brother took intensive training in metallurgy in Taxco. He taught me everything he learned and it took us almost two years to perfect our process for the quality we wanted,
"My jewelry has allowed me to participate in international expositions. Once, my father, brother, and I attended the crafts fair in Peru and had the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu. This was one of the most impactful experiences of my life — it was a magical place and full of power.
"But the real adventure began when we made our return. We were on the edge of Wayna Picchu, the highest forest of Machu Picchu and I remembered that an aunt I loved very much asked me to bring her some rocks from the ancient Inca fortress. I put a couple in my backpack. From then on, a successful trip turned into an ordeal. When we got to Machu Picchu's exit, we missed the bus to the town where we'd catch the train to Cuzco. We waited for the next bus, but there was little time to catch the last train of the day.
"When we made it to town, my dad yelled, 'Run to the train!' and we all ran in different directions. It turned out that no one knew where it was. A woman who lived there must have seen our frustration and yelled at us to follow her. So, we followed her as she dodged people, animals and market stalls with her baby in a rebozo on her back until we reached the station. But we couldn't board because they'd closed the train and it was about to leave.
"The next train was to leave the following day and we'd miss the noon light from Cuzco to Lima, and we'd lose the connecting flight from Lima to Mexico City and then to Guatemala for another exposition. We did everything possible, talking to the guards and anyone else so that we could board. We explained our situation, but we couldn't get aboard.
"Fortunately, the guards understood our plight and told us about another train just for people from the area. The conductor understood our extreme urgency and made an exception. When I pulled our papers from my backpack, a security guard saw the rocks and asked me about them. I told him the story and he asked if I knew the legend that Machu Picchu rocks were 'cursed' and should be returned to a sacred place. I took it as a joke and kept them.
"Luckily, we made it Cuzco that same day and the next day, my dad went to see a client in a plaza while I took my backpack in a taxi to shoot some photos around the city. When we returned to the plaza to meet up with my dad and my brother, I had to look for them in three stores and I asked the driver to wait. Because he'd been friendly and polite, I trusted him and left my backpack in the cab. But when I returned, the taxi was gone with my backpack, camera, souvenirs, film, passports, airplane tickets and the rocks. We had to stay Peru for a week while we got new passports and my mother, who was Mexico, attended the exhibit in Guatemala.
"I guess it was a good thing that the rocks stayed in Cuzco, and I don't doubt that they found their way back.
"I consider myself a spiritual person, and practice yoga and meditation. I enjoy traveling, seeing new places, people, food, traditions and mindsets. In all of my travels, however, the main purpose is the journey within, because I've been able to learn more about myself."
Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.
We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
We pack, ship, certify and 100% guarantee the quality of this item. Watch this video to see how.
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BUST
35 - 36
37 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
WAIST
27 - 28
29 - 30
31 - 33
34 - 36
38 - 40
HIPS
37 - 38
39 - 40
42 - 43
45 - 46
49 - 50
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
CHEST
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
50 - 52
WAIST
30 - 32
32 - 34
35 - 37
38 - 41
43 - 45
NECK
14 - 14.5
15 - 15.5
16 - 16.5
17 - 17.5
18 - 18.5
SLEEVE
32.5
33.5
34.5
35.5
36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE
Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.
BUST / CHEST
Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.
WAIST
Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.
LOW WAIST
Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.
HIPS
Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.
NECK
Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.
SLEEVE
Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.
INSEAM
Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.
Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.
For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.
For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.
See buckle/tie belt size standards below.
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
inches
26 - 30
28 - 32
31 - 35
34 - 38
38 - 42
cm
76 - 86
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
inches
30 - 34
32 - 36
35 - 39
39 - 43
43 - 47
cm
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
109 - 119
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
Sash tie length
Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.
Belt with buckle
Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.
Belt without buckle
Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
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