An ancient and powerful symbol, the Egyptian ankh was considered the magical key to eternity and a symbol for life. It is thought to represent the sun, earth and sky. Mexico's Fabiola Martinez crafts the piece by hand, recycling deep blue, brown and yellow glass in a dazzling mosaic.
Made in Mexico
Glass, MDF, cement
Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
"I wasted a lot of materials and I cut my fingers more than once, but I learned to give free reign to my imagination every single minute I am at work."
"I'm always smiling and it's very difficult for me not be laughing, that's just who I am. I consider myself to be a... creative, hard-working and determined person. Hi, I'm Fabiola, from Jalisco!
"I believe we have all had to face challenging times at one point in our lives, and for me the most difficult time was when my niece Itzel, who was like a daughter to me, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma when she was only 12 years old. The family life we treasured was forever changed when after four years of battling cancer, it took Itzel's life.
"That was around 2008, and this experience taught me that I am a very strong woman. I don't know if I always had this inner strength or if it's something I acquired gradually, just like the saying 'you never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only option.'
"Now when I look back I am amazed to have pulled through the situations that life has put me in. Fortunately I've never been alone and I have always counted with my family's support – they are my strength and the driving force to continue striving forward.
"I had a solitary childhood since my mother and siblings would be at work, and my creativity awoke during those moments. My artistic vein became present even though no one in my family has one. I would be constantly drawing on any piece of paper I could get my hands on, and I would combine pencils, pens, colored pencils – anything as long as it was useful.
"I studied at El Refugio cultural center, and that's where I began to practice. I wasted a lot of materials and I cut my fingers more than once, but I learned to give free reign to my imagination every single minute I am at work.
"Starting on my own has been quite difficult: crafting comes easy to me, but it's the administrative chores and selling my products that complicates things. I depend a lot on exhibitions or special events in order to sell, and when one of my pieces is taken to another city, I know there is now a piece of me over there.
"To craft my pieces I work with practically all kinds of materials as long as they are quite solid such as wood, glass containers, plant pots, vases, ceramic crosses, furniture and glass. I also upcycle furniture that others deem too old and ugly to use, and I transform them to reclaim the beauty they once possessed.
"This is such a versatile technique that I believe I can create anything I want in any size, color and style be it elegant or rustic, antique or modern, conventional or unconventional. I can renovate furniture, or I can start from zero.
"I design and look after quality control, my daughters do the filling-in, paint, clean and finish the pieces. I love the fact that the sky is the limit regarding imagination.
"Since 2012 I've been exhibiting my work in national and international art fairs including Tlaquepaque, Mexico City, Nayarit and Guadalajara in Mexico, and in Lynwood California. What I like most about my work is that it allows me to express myself, so it gives me a great sense of satisfaction to know that people appreciate what I do, and are surprised to see it is a woman who is crafting these pieces. This fills me with happiness and wonder.
"The dream I am currently working on and where I am concentrating all my energy is to strive in my work so that I can have a larger workshop and be a source of employment to other women in my community who want to get ahead in life.
"I want to set an example of self-fulfillment to my daughters, and I would love to hear people say, without seeing my signature, 'surely this is a Fabiola Martínez piece.'"
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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WIN # 1 You Save!
Handmade goods from developing nations usually pass through a series of intermediaries before being purchased by retail consumers. Each of these intermediaries adds cost to the product, and that cost is passed on to the customer. UNICEF USA partnered with NOVICA, who works directly with artists through their regional offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America, allowing purchases from UNICEF Market to go directly from the artisans to fulfilling customer orders. By skipping steps in the traditional supply chain, you can buy high quality items for less than the regular retail prices.
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Each item purchased from UNICEF Market will benefit UNICEF's programs that provide lifesaving nutrition, medicine, education, clean water, emergency relief and more to children in need.
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