Hand-Painted Axolotl-Themed Wood Keychain and Bag Charm 'Aquatic Friend' Item ID: 2671807681

“I already have thirteen years of experience in this wonderful realm that is Mexican crafts. It was precisely during these years that I learned several techniques that allowed me to further expand my dreams.

“I met Novica at the Enart fair in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco; it is an exhibition held twice a year. I love connecting with people and expressing my passion for the traditions of our beautiful country.

“Little by little, we had the great opportunity to form this project with more than ten people, all brave women and talented artisans. Each of us with different needs, but with this great passion for color, tradition and magic.

“We have had only a little time to work in alliance with Novica; we have grown gradually. The greatest challenge is to continue creating our pieces, but with a more detailed approach to quality. Novica has given us a vision of sharing this beautiful work in other nations and latitudes as we never imagined. Not only that, but we have been given hope and reaffirmation that the culture of this country is rich and unique.

“We are currently growing our production line, to give our customers products that preserve innovation and functionality and reflect Mexico.

“In this year we managed to expand our workshop, which will allow us to grow our production. With a lot of love each piece is painted by hand, and we strive to create a piece that, if not perfect, is of high quality. And with that in mind, we know that we give a grain of sand to feed the dreams of these talented artisans who support us.

“I really like Novica's commitment to artisans; the alliance so deep that it achieves the preservation of traditions. Each piece is full of artistic value; full of authenticity. That is the greatest teaching to future generations.”

Original Artisan Story

"During my career as a graphic designer, I've had a lot of jobs, including sewing, sculpture and architecture. I'm Alejandra Gallardo from Guanajuato.

"I owe this beautiful passion for Mexican art to each member of my family, especially my mother and my grandmother. They taught me the every one of the techniques I use today.

"For my ornaments and decor accents, I usually use recycled wood as well as eco-friendly paints. I like to convey the happiness of my Mexican culture, which is rich in colors.

"And it's precisely this magic that inspires me all the time. I love what I see around me, the music and the food of my beloved town.

"To believe in my own ability, I try to be attentive to the things I learned from my family. They taught me to never limit my dreams and what I could achieve with my designs.

"I believe my main objective is to inspire more artisans with my work so that, together, we can all share the beauty of this rich culture. I plan to create new collections and hope to see our Mexican hot pink appear more each day in other latitudes."