handcrafted

Scintillating seed beads cascade from diamonds in very long, lovely earrings. Diamond-shaped talismans known as the "eyes of God" refer to the four cardinal points in Huichol belief and direct one to the correct path of life. Meticulously handcrafted by artisans of Mexico's Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Traditional Arts, they combine black seed beads with brown and ivory.

One of the best ways to find peace is by traveling because you can discover wonderful places, new aspects of yourself and the tranquility of learning that your problems become small compared to the big, vast world. This is Peruvian artisan Kathiana Quispe's particular vision of what world peace means and she conveys it in this delightful leather passport cover that invites you to find your way to your next destination soon. Embellished with an acrylic Andean textile and the image of an introspective llama, the passport cover features two interior pockets to carry your documents safely.

This handcrafted cushion cover transforms ordinary furniture into a testament to ancestral craftsmanship. The traditional Mexican diamond pattern, woven with precision on a manual loom, showcases naturally dyed wool that tells stories of generations past. Mario Chavez's meticulous attention to detail is evident in every thread, creating a functional accessory that celebrates Zapotec heritage. The timeless design brings cultural richness into your space while the convenient zippered closure allows for easy cushion changes.

Crafted by hand, this delightful morral combines rich textures with red, white and rich earthen browns. Artisan members of Peru's Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco first knot the yarn before it is woven on a backstrap loom. The motifs derive from Inca art in an effort to keep the traditional patterns and techniques alive as well as their Andean identity. This texture is known as urpi, which means "dove" in the Quechua language.

The community raises and cares for its own alpacas. The fleece is washed, carded and spun by hand using a pushka, or drop spindle. The dyes come from plants, nuts and tree bark. The next step is one of the most important, as the artisan prepares the warp, or vertical threads for the backstrap loom. This determines the size of the textile, the color combinations, and the patterns that will be woven.

The intensity of color can vary depending on the hardness of the water, the altitude and the local dye sources, making each textile a unique piece of handcrafted art

Summer brings the most beautiful landscapes in warm and vibrant colors. Inspired by that youthful summer energy, Petrona Perez and the Women Artisans Association handcraft this gorgeous shoulder bag in shades of amber, butter and pink, with geometric motifs and a striped pattern. This enchanting item handloomed in Mexico features an open top and has no lining, making it incredibly lightweight to enjoy the summer freely.

Featuring a geometric patchwork in colors of lapis and white, this exotic hobo handbag makes an excellent companion wherever you go. Hailing from Chiang Mai, Thai artisan Chirada designs the bag, handcrafting it of cotton blend fabric. Leather accents and two braided straps complete it. This handy shoulder bag features a central compartment that opens with a zipper flanked by two compartments with magnetic snaps. The fully-lined interior of the bag features various pockets for securing small items.