Throughout the 2023 Season we will be introducing you to some of our “Mermaids” (what we call our artists & vendors). We hope that you enjoy meeting them here. Then, stop by the Mermaid’s Market and discover their Treasures!
~ Russ and Naomi Black
Isabel Torres @ Isabel’s Shop
Participating at the Mermaid’s Market: 6 years or more
Why do you like the Mermaid’s Market? You can spend a pleasant day with the family because there is always a healthy environment.
Do you create/make everything that you sell? Not everything.
If not, who makes them and where are the items made? I make all kinds of bracelets and necklaces and I paint hats. Some products are made in Oaxaca like palm hats, blankets, hand-embroidered bags, jackets and more.
How long have you lived in Puerto Peñasco? 24 years. My second daughter and my youngest daughter were born here.
What is something you like about living here? I like it because the people are nice. Also, the weather… and the shrimp!
Tell us something “interesting” about yourself: I have been a salesperson for most all my life; I started when I was a child. Even my daughters are in the family business; they are already the fourth generation! But that does not exclude them from continuing to study; they are both good students. One of them also has a craft stall in the Mermaid’s Market; her name is Leticia. She sells embroidered blouses, tables that she paints herself and other things. Sandra, my youngest daughter helps me [at my space] and she makes bracelets and necklaces, too.
Do you have any other business locations? Yes. My place is on Calle 13, passing the train tracks.
Tony Ballesteros @ Timeless Treasures
Participating at the Mermaid’s Market: 11 years
Why do you like the Mermaid’s Market? I enjoy showing people my photographs, my seashell Christmas trees, and arts & crafts. And meeting people from all over the world as well as seeing my old friends.
Do you create/make everything that you sell? No
If not, who makes them and where are the items made? I buy items from all over the world! Some pieces are from the South Seas. The amethyst geodes are from Brazil and Uruguay.
How long have you lived in Puerto Peñasco? 18 years
What is something you like about living here? I love the Sea of Cortez! I love the sunrises and sunsets. And of course, the people that enjoy Nature’s Beauty. I love capturing beauty through my camera and sharing it with people through social media and through printed photographs.
Tell us something “interesting” about yourself: My motto is: “Every day is a holiday, and every meal is a banquet.”
Do you have any other businesses? I also own Tony’s Mystic Whale Tours. There’s my true passion! I guide and teach people about the California gray whales. There are about 1,200 whale and babies that migrate over 10,000 miles from the Bering Sea to Baja California every year. They winter in “Ojo de Liebre” from January until April.
Do you sell online? No. It’s way too much work.
Linda & Javier @ Tamales Meche
Participating at the Mermaid’s Market: 3 years
Why do you like the Mermaid’s Market? Really enjoy having a variety of vendors such as food, desserts, clothing, jewelry, and art. We always end up walking and meeting new people every time.
Do you create/make everything that you sell? Yes! Everything we sell we make ourselves!
How long have you lived in Puerto Peñasco? Almost 15 years
What is something you like about living here? Enjoy that is still a small town not so crowded – except holidays. And definitely not sooo much traffic.
Tell us something “interesting” about yourself: Both of us are professional boxers. We worked in the bar business for more than 10 years. We didn’t really achieve much in our personal life – too much partying and going out – and most of the time away from our kids. One day out of the blue… [we] decided to quit. With no plans and no cash in the bank…we started our tamale business! Now, we have a stable job and are 100% full-time with our kids! It’s a family business and our kids are our employees. And, they get paid as regular employees – plus some extra benefits, too!
Do you have any other business locations? A stand at San Luis and Revolución. And, we also do deliveries.
Do you sell online? Yes. We sell through Facebook (Tamales Meche).
Cornelia Rauth Felix @ SiJors Creations
Participating at the Mermaid’s Market: off and on for several years.
Why do you like the Mermaid’s Market? I enjoy and appreciate seeing and admiring all the different art we have. I enjoy watching people, the ambiance, the music and food – and the break from everyday routine.
Do you create/make everything that you sell? Yes.
How long have you lived in Puerto Peñasco? Over 28 years
What is something you like about living here? I love the culture, people & food and the slower pace of life. The cost of living here is much easier to handle.
Tell us something “interesting” about yourself: I have been making & creating things since I was a young girl. I started sewing barbie clothes at about age 9. I also learned to embroider, knit, crochet, card and spin wool. We lived on a farm, so my mother taught us cooking, baking, and preserving food. We even helped gather wild berries and Chantelle mushrooms from the woods. I had a well-rounded childhood which helped me love creating things!
Do you have any other businesses? I am also a certified caregiver and a Beauty Society Advisor.
Do you sell online? I do not sell online. However, you can contact me on Facebook or Instagram. (SiJors Creations)
Mario Cornejo Cuevas &Emi Nava Nava @ Metsti Kajfen
Participating at the Mermaid’s Market: Since last year
Why do you like the Mermaid’s Market? Since we arrived in Peñasco we have sold coffee in different places: on the streets, in markets and at festivals, but we really enjoy Mermaid’s Market because we feel that we are surrounded by very nice people. . . People that over time we have learned to call friends. We meet new people from all over and our daughter learns a new language by watching us practice English.
Do you create/make everything that you sell? No.
If not, who makes them and where are the items made? We bring coffee from the Sierra Norte de Puebla. We worked as anthropologists for a year there. We made friends who are now our partners – they send us our coffee beans. Part of our work [in the Sierra] was to document the coffee growing process; so we can assure that its production obeys 100% organic standards – with traditional methods of cultivation, respectful with the environment.
How long have you lived in Puerto Peñasco? 10 months.
What is something you like about living here? I like living near the beach. There are very friendly people from other places that we can live with.
Tell us something “interesting” about yourself: Formally my wife and I are cultural anthropologists. I am an art teacher at a university and at a local high school. I am also a chess instructor. We worked for about a year in a Nahua indigenous community until I received my Ph.D. in anthropology last June. My wife and I have published three books, two of which are available on Amazon in five different languages.
Do you have any other business locations? Not at the moment.
Do you sell online? Yes. www.facebook.com/metstikajfen
