earthy decor

Perfect for a relaxing day by the beach, this towel is designed by Eladio Chiroy in Guatemala. He works with cotton, weaving this beach towel by hand on the traditional telar de pie, or floor loom. The towel features a body of snow white with indigo stripes decorating its length. Fringes at either end complete this summery accessory.

Perfect for a relaxing day by the beach, this towel is designed by Eladio Chiroy in Guatemala. He works with cotton, weaving this beach towel by hand on the traditional telar de pie, or floor loom. The towel features a body of teal with snow white stripes decorating its length. Fringes at either end complete this summery accessory.

"This design is inspired by our huipil blouses," members of Women United for Artisan Development confide. "We've created this so that you can have a small part of our homes and our people in your life." Meticulously handwoven on a backstrap loom, this delightful cushion cover features corded edges and a solid brown back. "The red and blue geometric motifs at top and bottom represent birds," the artisans explain.

Should one of the threads snag, the women suggest you pull it back into place from the back of the fabric with a fine crochet hook.

This practical yet stylish hand-woven cotton tortilla warmer promises to keep your tortillas perfectly heated and irresistibly fresh from the first bite to the last. Designed by Guatemala’s Fernando and Ana Cecilia and boasting a beige base, it features a mesmerizing color combination on the front of blue spruce, Prussian blue, sunrise and black stripes, adding a perfect touch of color to your dining table. The cotton lining ensures optimal freshness while its unique design makes it a must-have for any food lover.

El Salvador's Marcela Moran crafts this delicate angel of her own design using natural fibers and wood. This simple piece will blend effortlessly into any decor, but stands as a reminder to us to look for the good in everything and everyone.

"This beautiful doll represents the union of all the peoples of the world living in harmony and peace, no matter what our religion or culture is," Iliana Hernandez says. She crochets a delightful display doll to convey this message.

"Each one of the flowers she wears symbolizes a continent — continents that are united in union, harmony and love. Today we live in a world where there's so much pain. That's why this doll represents the cry for peace from everyone on the planet, human beings and even nature that is affected by contamination."

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 colors and patterns on a decorative garland. "These represent Tibetan prayer flags," the artisans say. "Their colors 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."