formal decor

Guatemala's jaspe fabrics are varied and beautiful. A type of ikat weaving, the threads are tie-dyed before they are placed on the floor loom. Members of the Women Artisans of Santa Cruz cooperative place 15 jaspe flags in assorted colours and patterns on a decorative garland. "These represent Tibetan prayer flags," the artisans say. "Their colours have meanings of their own — blue is a symbol of water, red is for fire, green for air and yellow for the earth. The cloth is woven by hand with much love. Many Maya hands have touched each textile, and we're proud to use recycled fabric. For us, recycling is another form of promoting peace and prosperity for ourselves and for our Mother Earth. Please remember that your attitude when installing these prayer banners is very important, and we ask that you take a moment to wish for peace for people everywhere so they can receive the benefits of our blessings. We want everyone to be free and at peace."

"This is an imaginative composition that shows how close some of our communities are. This batik composition shows the unity of people coming together after war," Samuel Ashong explains. He is referring to people who have been displaced from their villages in times of war, and built their homes close to each other in new locations for protection. Ashong details people coming together forming a new community, the close-knit rooftops a symbol of their hope for peace and safety. Includes a card paper mat board.

Peace-bearing doves bestow love and friendship as they flutter through the blue skies, representing the duality of feminine and masculine energies as they form a bond between the brain and heart. Floral hues and calming doves symbolize the mutual harmony of nature as it exists in the absence of human disturbance.

Andean artisan Asunta Pelaez creates 'Sky Doves' at her Lima workshop, mastering the centuries-old reverse painted glass technique, a style that has become her lifelong passion.

Pelaez paints her multicolour design on the reverse side of a pane of glass that she places in a white-painted wooden frame. Inspired by the colours of the sky, Pelaez paints in blue and white to evoke a sensation of calm and guardianship.

Swaying and dancing to a hypnotic tune, Kokopelli abandons himself to the rhythms of his music. His long hair blows in the breeze as he pipes a plaintive melody on his flute. J. Blas sculpts the legendary deity in elaborate detail. He first cuts metal sheets and hammers them into three-dimensional shape. Welded together, they are adorned with airy cut-out work and finished with lead-free paint.

Kokopelli dates back to pre-historic times; regarded as a deity, he is usually depicted with a humped back, playing a flute. Ancient legends suggest Kokopelli was a Toltec trader who traveled from central Mexico to the United States' southwestern deserts and mountains, where he is featured in the form of rock art dating thousands of years. Kokopelli played his flute to announce his arrival and according to Pueblo legends, he carried seeds, babies and blankets in his hump which he offered to the maidens he seduced.

To the Hopi, Kokopelli plays his flute to draw heat from the Earth and thus make the seeds grow. His name derives from Koko ("wood") and pilau ("hump"). Kokopelli is believed to be present whenever life comes forth from seed – plant or animal.

Crafted by hand of natural fique fiber and painted with wings and tails in blue, green, orange, brown, yellow, and red, this set of six dove ornaments will make a delightful addition to your tree this holiday season. Costa Rican artisan Blanca Padilla crafts this set. Glass beads form the doves' eyes.

Bali's glory comes to your home in the form of a precious set by Jaya Nugraha. Putting all his talent into each item, the artist crafts this set of two ornaments from cardboard, accented with the word "peace" in an elegant font. With golden and silver-toned polyester fabrics adorning each piece, Jaya adds a traditional pattern complemented with plastic beads and vibrant pompoms in purple and red hues. On top of that, each comes with a convenient cord for hanging anywhere.