Bring a colorful and distinctive presence at your next dinner party with this bright pitcher, expertly hand-blown from recycled glass and adorned with vibrant lemon green pigments. Salime Cruces' remarkable creation draws inspiration from nature's textures, colors and shapes. Committed to environmental stewardship, the Mexican artisan not only works with recycled glass but relies on sustainable energy sources, including solar panels, recycled cooking oil and more, for kiln firing.
Made in Mexico
Recycled glass
Free of lead and toxins
This hand blown item may vary slightly in color, size and shape
Dishwasher: use top rack only. Hand wash recommended.
"Blown glass is more attractive, more hygienic than plastic... and the crafting process is better for the environment."
"I work in blown glass. I'm an industrial engineer from Oaxaca. Originally, I planned to craft hand-blown bottles for... our excellent mezcal. But the excitement of creative work was an experience that transformed me.
"I decided to focus on blown glass art, using recycled glass and creating job opportunities for others. In Mexico, there aren't any schools that teach hand-blown glass techniques. I had to take classes in New York. Thanks to a scholarship, I was able to stay for a year, of which I took advantage to learn different glass making techniques. I learned to be confident about molding and blowing a molten semi-liquid material. You have to work fast because, as the temperature drops, the elasticity of the molten glass lessens and it's not as easy to shape.
"After returning to Mexico in 2002, I decided to set up my own workshop. My family helped fund the construction of the kilns and pay for the initial materials. I also received financial assistance from the government.
"I am attracted to glass because it's transparent like water, but it's solid at the same time. It's transparent like ice when the sun shines through it, but doesn't melt. This quality makes it beautiful, whether in a drinking glass, as an architectural element, or as a work of art. It's a symbol of purity. Nature is my greatest source of inspiration — tree bark and flowers, with the textures, colors and shapes I'd like to express in glass.
"What I like the most about this art is watching people's reactions when they see how something once thrown away as garbage has been transformed into a beautiful and useful object. We purchase the glass from garbage collectors and sometimes people donate discarded glass for recycling. In addition, we rely on a renewable energy source. The cost of the gas that powers our kilns had gotten so high I was afraid I'd have to close the workshop. But we developed a way to recycle cooking oil, collected from local restaurants, to fire the kilns.
"I like knowing we are making a statement. I feel good knowing that each of our designs carries a message of sustainable art. It's satisfying to know that my work helps generate an income for my assistants, as well as for the people who bring me glass and for those who supply the used cooking oil. And it's great knowing that this oil is no longer ending up in city drainpipes!
"My greatest challenge is helping people understand the price of hand-blown recycled glass, the people and processes involved in each finished piece. It's so important to keep my ego from getting in the way. I am part of a team, and this knowledge helps us continue learning and growing in harmony.
"I'm fortunate to have a wonderful, close-knit team. Everyone is responsible and talented. They've learned a lot about glass, kilns and contributing ideas. Since 2007, I've been teaching courses in glass blowing and fusion. Some of the people I've taught help me teach classes, and this generates more income for them.
"If I could simplify what blown glass means to me, I'd say it's 'sustainable beauty.' People who buy our designs can enjoy their colors and transparency, but also the benefit of reusing unwanted glass and cooking oil as sustainable energy.
"Now that we've begun teaching others to recycle used cooking oil as a sustainable energy source, I hope people once again choose blown glass over plastic. It can be recycled again and again, it is more attractive, more hygienic, it benefits more people, and the crafting process is better for the environment."
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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UNICEF Market's artisan-direct prices are made possible through our partnership with NOVICA, a leading fair trade organization that works directly with artisans in remote regions around the world in many of the same communities where UNICEF has missions. NOVICA’s ten global Artisan Empowerment Hubs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America provide interest-free microcredit loans to artisans and help them bring their handmade creations directly to you.
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