"Ana Santiz L. grew up beside her cousin, Alberto, both sharing a passion for craftsmanship, developing a project of their own. She lives with her uncle and, although they have gone through rough times, they have become a very close family who supports each other's dreams. Ana loves spending her time crafting traditional garments called "huipiles"; she has a knack for selling them too.
"The first time I saw the looms I was surprised, they caught my attention; I was 8 years old. Then, when I was older, a relative invited me to come and work here in the workshop, and I accepted the job to be able to continue with my studies. Besides, my mother likes that I am learning to weave. I also like to weave because being a craftsman is protecting traditions. My main goal is to graduate from my degrees, Languages and Psychology. I would also like to learn Mandarin Chinese. I love learning different languages. Right now I am learning Italian and French. I also know how to speak English.
"For me, being an artisan is a gift, a privilege, not many have that patience or that delicacy. I personally like it when I put my imagination in it and I create unique pieces. Putting work aside, I am a big fan of cars. Before the workshop, I used to work driving large vehicles such as pipes and trucks; that's where I liked them. I would like to buy a large truck to go to the mountains, because my parents are from there and I visit them often. In fact, I try to support them a lot. Sometimes in the afternoon I go for a drive with my family, I enjoy that a lot, it relaxes me. When my 2-year-old son hears the sound of the car he gets on. For me, the most important thing is my family’s health and having the strength to work so I can be able to move forward.
"Some of her most perfect days come when the sun is out, as it lifts her spirits while working.
"She doesn't have any plans to get married. Instead, she's a creative woman who always seeks to think of innovative designs and interesting colors for her products. Maintaining her high quality and beautiful designs throughout. An empowered and independent woman, she's always on the look for new business opportunities.
"From where she enjoys some of the most breathtaking sunsets you will ever see. Although commuting between her house and town is a very different story, she enjoys a strong physique that she puts on display during the months of harvest.
"She has learned to thoroughly organize every aspect of her life so her daughters can have a stable upbringing. She's always excited when new orders from Someone Somewhere arrive, as she loves embroidery and sees it as a hobby more than a job. She's in love with her country.
"My father always instilled work in me and my brothers through commerce. Since we were children, we went to church to sell our products. I am passionate about my work, I can be in this all day, until midnight. I would not change it for anything, it is a very noble inheritance that our parents and grandparents left us. I am very good at selling, it is my greatest quality. Many times, talent is in your blood, but you also need to be passionate about what you do. I feel fortunate that we live in this time when the work of artisans is recognized a little more. We are in the stage of the artisan revolution, seeking to create new products and looking for new opportunities. I like everything about Pátzcuaro, its gastronomy, its squares, its landscapes and its people. Here we are still very noble.
