Handblown Recycled Glass Hummingbird Ornament in Green 'Green Paradise Hummingbird' Item ID: 2669931914

“Hello, we are Katia and Ivan, originally from Jalisco, and we are dedicated to the production of recycled glass pieces.

“Craftsmanship has always been part of our lives. For my part, my grandfather always dedicated himself to ceramics, so since I was little I had the opportunity to witness the process of each one of his pieces. My mom and I have always been together, so I grew up with her and my grandfather, watching him work with clay every day. I watched as he made each part with his hands, no matter how small, and how he lovingly detailed and joined each of the pieces. I always felt great admiration for his work, and that is why now I am very happy and proud of what I do.

“A few years ago I met my husband. In his case, his father was the one who was dedicated to glass and had a small workshop where they made decorative figures and pipes of all kinds. His family has always worked with glass and it is the art that has been inherited over the years in the family. I started working with my husband in the store they had in the center of Guadalajara, and that's how little by little I got involved in the business. My husband managed to make the business independent and set up his own store. It was somewhat difficult since you have to learn to fend for yourself and not give up, but he did it and together we began to grow. A few years later we had our daughter. We moved out of my mom's house, and we were able to go to our own house. Right there, in our house, we set up a small workshop, and today that's how we keep our store stocked.

“Working with glass is somewhat complicated; you have to be very careful because it is a very fragile product. Also, if it is not handled well, there may be work accidents such as burns or injuries. Despite this, we have always really liked our work because we are inspired by our parents, by how they achieved their goals through the art of glass and clay.

“Our store is not only focused on glass, since, in addition to continuing with my husband's family tradition, we were also able to maintain my own family tradition, and we decided not only to sell our glass pieces but also my grandfather's pieces. . A few years ago my grandfather, who is like my father, managed to make some incredible designs out of pieces made of clay and resin: dragons, witches, feathered serpents, jaguars... all kinds of animals and incredible beings. He, along with my mother, began to make these types of figures in his workshop and we also began to sell them in the store. They had an extraordinary acceptance and success! Now both they and we have managed to grow in a way we never imagined.

“We are very happy with everything we have achieved through the art of glass, and we are grateful to know that through this art we get ahead day by day together with our family, who always support us unconditionally. Currently, our store has a wide variety of products that follow and unite the tradition inherited from both families: glass and clay. My husband is more dedicated to the workshop and to creating new and beautiful designs that he can make with freedom of expression, to the taste and imagination of the client. I dedicate myself more to the administrative and marketing areas.

“One of our goals is to have our dream home and move our family forward, give our children the best education and have a healthy life. I want my children to know that I love them and that I work hard to be a better person and a good example for them, as good as my mother was for me. I am sure that we will achieve our dreams through our work. We wish to continue sharing the taste for art, with which we also honor and preserve two family traditions with commitment and love.”