"Award winning nested ceramic pot by the Fabian family"

Famous black pottery characterizes the small village of San Bartolo Coyotepec. Many skilled artists, such as Felipe Fabian, open their homes and workshops to tourist groups. Famous for his Cuaches, two nested pots, Don Felipe proudly told us about his newly created piece, one with three nested pots that had just won the coveted first prize at the national arts and crafts competition. He toured us around his small workshop showing his completed pieces, his molds, and his wood-burning oven. His weathered hands show his long work hours carving designs on pots with household items. However, the Fabian's business is no exception to those that have suffered the economic crisis in Oaxaca. He has had trouble maintaining his family of five. With high shipping costs, he finds it hard to sell his pieces outside of Oaxaca. Nevertheless he has spent the last few months, traveling around the country offering a few pieces at a time and entering his pottery in art shows and displaying them in several shows in Mexico City.

With the help of a microloan, the Fabians could afford to travel and ship more of their beautiful pieces outside of Oaxaca. They could change the ovens to be more efficient and environmentally friendly and visit the far state of Monterrey where their pottery is highly appreciated.