Beach Cottage Instruments

"I am a Nicaraguan ceramist who loves art, colors, and all means of expression. I'm not that old – I was born in 1954 and I grew up in a loving family surrounded by nature, lots of sun and warm weather.

"I come from an indigenous community in San Juan de Oriente who has inherited this artistic tradition. Ceramics is part of our village – it is something we are born with. You don't learn ceramic art, you live it.

"We've always been poor and experienced many hardships for lack of money. I was a sickly child, which put a strain on the family finances as my parents struggled to make ends meet. I never went to school, but I learned to read and write because I wanted to. I even developed an acceptable calligraphy, and that makes me very happy. It means I can communicate, tell the time, and all those things one takes for granted when you already know them.

"I always wanted to succeed at something, so I'd spend a lot of time with my mother as she worked with ceramics. I got to know her secrets so that one day I could use them in my work.

"Eventually I started crafting my own pieces, decorate them and start selling them. Now we've made a little space at home where we work and share as a family. We all contribute to the family finances.

"I've become very interested in crafting ocarinas. Today's ceramists seem to have forgotten all about them but I love them. The sounds of the ocarina make me think of my childhood, the sounds of the forest, the birds, the wind and the water.

"That's why I hope you like them too! Gracias!"