green gifts

Gift these cute macrame bracelets to friends and loved ones to celebrate summer with colour. Each bracelet comes in an attractive pastel hue including pink, purple, yellow, orange and aqua green. Guatemalan artisan Carmina Giron, who specializes in beaded macrame jewellery, braids these bracelets using the macrame technique, known as the "art of knots", composing the design of each bracelet from a series of knots. Growing up in a difficult economic situation, her small but growing handicraft business gives Carmina hope of someday owning a home.

Designed for men and women by Guatemalan artisans Ruben and Gilda Perez, this bracelet has an elegant simplicity. Black nylon cord is knotted at intervals, with a sliding knot that allows the length to be adjusted. A dark green jade bead centers the bracelet.

Pile them on or share them with friends--however you choose to use them, you'll love this fun set of 20 unisex friendship bracelets from Lucas Sicay in Guatemala. Using macrame techniques, the artisan crafts 10 bracelets in rich emerald green and 10 multicoloured bracelets. The bracelets can be tied at the desired length.

Resembling flowers, lovely shapes are created by beads of blue-green serpentine and gleaming brass. Thai artisan Tiraphan Hasub creates this macrame bracelet, which closes with a ringing brass bell button clasp.

Slip this bohemian-style necklace on first thing in the morning for a beautiful day. Thai artisan Kanjana deftly hand knots bright polyester cord in a zigzagging rainbow of scarlet, pink, purple, green, and yellow. The necklace is decorated by round onyx gemstones, and closes with an adjustable sliding knot.