Travel with us
Nadine (Topanien Gift's Owner) Peru Trip
Fair Trade in South Africa
Artist in Peru
Mexican Jewelry Business
Alebrijes, Oaxaca
Nadine in Mexico
Wall Hangings, Kashmir, India
Posada in Huajuapan
New York City
Ghana
Artisans of Mexico
San Bartolo
Cambodia
Exchange Student in Ecuador
Rajasthan, India
Haiti
Vendors, Artisans & their Families - Mexico
Running a small business like Topanien Gifts is truly about the people: the customers interested in Fair Trade & multicultural home decor, the artisans creating the folkart with their kids running around and extended families involved and, the small business owner along with her staff making international and local connections every day. Day of the Dead Artist
Walking through a folkart market in Taxco after a long day shopping for jewelry for Topanien Gifts, Nadine, the owner, happened upon Rofina and her daughter. "They were crafting the most exquisite little Day of the Dead Boxes," says Nadine. "All I wanted to do was to go back to my room and put my tired feet up." But, Rofina was engaging and so obviously loved her artwork that she had Nadine snatching up miniature box after miniature box exclaiming at the tiny Day of the Dead Motifs on Ceramic Boxes of friendship and love.
Walking through a folkart market in Taxco after a long day shopping for jewelry for Topanien Gifts, Nadine, the owner, happened upon Rofina and her daughter. "They were crafting the most exquisite little Day of the Dead Boxes," says Nadine. "All I wanted to do was to go back to my room and put my tired feet up." But, Rofina was engaging and so obviously loved her artwork that she had Nadine snatching up miniature box after miniature box exclaiming at the tiny Day of the Dead Motifs on Ceramic Boxes of friendship and love.
Working in MX Always Involves Kids Navidad's children hang out in the Artisan Market after school. Topanien Gifts owner, Nadine, with vendor's son. Navidad's daughter, (left), often hustles Nadine between related artisans.
Navidad (right) with her son and
co-worker at the Mercado de Artesanias. Folkart is often created in homes and then brought to the Mercado de Artesanias by a head artist who operates a booth packed with vibrant Mexican Folkart.
Tianguis is the place to buy and sell silver jewelry in Mexico. Every Saturday from dawn til dush, the lower half of Taxco, streets down below the bus stations, bulge and overflow with jewelry vendors. 
Nazaria -has been sharing her wonderful jewelry with Topanien Gifts for the last three years. 
Street Vendors set up and share not only their folkart but also their skills. The artisans work on their craft while tending their make shift booths. The colors entice even the wary tourist. 
The larger the business, the more family members and neighbors involved. Above, Joaquin and Laura Of Oaxaca, are a husband wife team. They run their Alebrije business from a showroom and workshop at the front of their home. As I buy for Topanien Gifts I greet their children returning from school and am introduced to different neighbors dropping off folkart solicited by Laura and Joaquin. Sergio and Diana live in Taxco and their specialty is silver jewelry. They are known for their consistently good quality and fair prices. Both of these husband & wife teams have been supplying Topanien Gifts for years. The Brothers
The Margarito Santos Brothers are on a roll. They've been making their pressed flowers jewelry for just over three years and we've been buying from them that long exactly. "Every year they have new designs showing off Taxco's most plentiful and rich flowers. This year they've given me flowers in sun pendants and moon pendants along with a wide array of pressed flower earrings." -Nadine, owner of Topanien Gifts The base of all Taxco jewelry is the silver - 92.5%!
The Margarito Santos Brothers are on a roll. They've been making their pressed flowers jewelry for just over three years and we've been buying from them that long exactly. "Every year they have new designs showing off Taxco's most plentiful and rich flowers. This year they've given me flowers in sun pendants and moon pendants along with a wide array of pressed flower earrings." -Nadine, owner of Topanien Gifts The base of all Taxco jewelry is the silver - 92.5%!
Jewelry coming to the Topanien Gifts website soon. Photographing jewelry & developing the web pages.