OWP
Teal Soapstone Heart w/ Etched Lotus
Teal Soapstone Heart w/ Etched Lotus
Couldn't load pickup availability
Help the Haitian People by purchasing these beautiful hearts. They are hand-carved by the Haitian Artisans, working very hard carving and sanding to get the perfect designs. Soapstone is found in Haiti where the people wander, searching for the rock in which to surface. Our hearts come in three sizes; small, medium, and large. Right now we have five designs of flowers. This featured design is the Lotus flower. All other flower designs are sold separately.
- Small Measures - 1 1/8'' high x 1 1/8'' wide x 1 1/4'' deep
- Medium Measures - 2 3/4'' high x 2 5/8'' wide x 1 1/2'' deep
- Large Measures - 3 3/4'' high x 3 3/8'' wide x 1 1/2'' deep
- Size and Coloring may vary
Handmade in Haiti and fair trade imported.
Haiti is often considered the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Haitian artisans live in a country where the political climate and hardships imposed by economic embargos and sanctions in the 1990s have contributed to poverty and accelerated environmental degradation. Health care and education are unobtainable dreams for the impoverished 75-80% majority. The average income is $55. per month. Only 40% of the population has access to potable drinking water and 25% have access to sanitary sewage systems. Infant mortality is over 7%, malnutrition is a common ailment, and almost half of the population is illiterate.
Despite all hurdles to overcome there is hope. The Artisan Business Network (ABN) empowers Haitians with entrepreneurial tools, design input, and market access. The ABN is making essential improvements in the earnings for artisans, helping them to provide for their families and community well-being through commerce based on Haiti's profound artisanal culture.
To read the full story, click below on About the Artisans.
Â
About the Artisans
About the Artisans
Ceramica Quinua, an artisan cooperative known for its social and environmental responsibility, offers steady work to six workshops and 36 families in Ayachucho, Peru. Ceramica Quinua is dedicated to decreasing the use of firewood to reduce deforestation, and as such, works primarily with clay, which is extracted from the land in a controlled manner to avoid erosion.
The artisans shape and fire their pieces in home-based workshops during their nine-hour workday. Children often sit in on the workshops during their free time in so they may learn the trade that's been passed from ancestor to ancestor. The organization also takes pride in offering health care for its craftsmen, and for sharing its environmental knowledge and conservation techniques with students at public schools.
The Quinua district is characterized by the eucalyptus and alder-scented atmosphere of its mountain and forest landscapes. The name Quinua is derived from the Qenwal plant, said to be comparable in beauty only to the Quinuin women. The unique flora and fauna that inhabit the territory are fast becoming a major tourist attraction. Unfortunately, deforestation and pollution from paint chemicals are threatening their existence.
