cool beads

The colors of the enchanted Guatemala rest in this glorious creation by artisan Álvaro Ratzan. After years of learning traditional techniques and living among wondrous creatures of vibrant hues, Álvaro captures the exquisite beauty of the region's nature in this glass beaded home accent. Masterfully made in a palette of beige, yellow, green, orange and red, this hummingbird-shaped piece is not only an homage to Guatemala but a symbol of fantasy.

Inspired by the constellations, this pretty top featureshints of stripes and geometric stars in shades of blue and brown. Petite glass beads trim the neckline and sleeve opening adding a hint of sparkle. The V-neck finishes withdouble buttons while the back has an asymmetric seam with slight gathers for a relaxed fit. This lightweight breezy cotton tunic top pairs perfectly with jeans or layer it under a jacket for cooler nights.

Wakami is an artisan collective whose work benefits over 500 Guatemalan women and their families. This bohemian-cool unisex bracelet set is crafted with macrame techniques, and each of the 4 bracelets is different. In tones of beige, natural, and brown, the bracelets incorporate braided waxed cord along with metal accents, leather, and beads of white howlite. Three of the bracelets have clasps (one with a hook and two with button clasps), and the fourth bracelet features a sliding knot for an adjustable length.

Beige petals over black embellish this art glass pendant necklace that will add a charming touch to your outfits. Costa Rican artisan Rosario Ramirez reclaims stained glass scrap and fuses it into jewelry designs, making a fine eco-friendly creation. This pendant hangs gracefully from a black cord with black pine wood beads.

Wrap yourself in layers of color with this glass beaded bracelet hand crafted by the Weaving Hands of Atitlán from Guatemala. The artisans weave glass beads in the cool blue-greens and warm browns of surf and sand and of a mixture of shapes and sizes to create visually stunning patterns. The bracelet closes with a pewter button clasp.

The Weaving Hands of Atitlán are a group of women from Santa Cruz La Laguna in Sololá, near Lake Atitlán, who grew up weaving. About their work, the artisans say: “We want people to be curious about our town and our craft. We are inspired by nature, the lake, the beaches — basically all of Guatemala, because it is so beautiful! We dream about bringing our creations to the world so that people may enjoy them and have something they find special.”

A row of cultured freshwater pearls is framed by topaz and garnet beads in this dramatic collar necklace designed by Thai artisan Saranarat. Gold-plated sterling silver chains closing with a slide lock clasp tie together this twist on a classic style.