happy ring

With his pack slung over his shoulder, Buddha takes a stroll down a country road. Balinese artisan Sarwaedi hand-carves a suar wood sculpture, realizing this happy religious figure with an impressive degree of detail. He gives the sculpture a finish that accentuates the natural grain of the wood.

"The dove is a bird of love, with a gentle face symbolizing love for all the universe and a call for universal peace. With this design, I'm offering a constant reminder to the wearer to maintain thoughts of peace, and to remember to imitate the dove's character," explains the artisan.

"If a community is able to create peace in terms of living conditions, and in terms of embracing the existence of others in general, the population in each village will be happy to carry out activities in each of their diverse fields, including the farmers who are happy to go to the fields, office employees or civil servants, and so on and on, with the spirit of carrying out duties and responsibilities well for the harmony of all. So that macro-economy and technology will continue to develop positively, and human resources can still be relied upon for world development. If these aspects develop well, then the creation of harmonious relationships with our fellow human beings, and also with the universe, is possible."

Bali's Buana creates a lovely design featuring a beautiful dove carved from bone. This sterling silver necklace has a faceted blue topaz gemstone for a breathtaking accessory symbolizing peace.

With a diversity of instruments in an impromptu band, five women perform a concert in the blue Javanese night. Deep color creates the effect of a dream in this beautiful portrait. A guitar, violin and sultry sax keep to the beat of lively drums as a vocalist mesmerizes listeners. "Human life is like a rhythm," Harman says. "It needs harmony just like a music concert so that humans can have peace and a happy life."

The most charming scene of a cat sharing a smile with its bird friend standing on its tail is crafted in Naif style by Thai artist Noi. The canvas is worked with beautiful strokes of acrylic paint for both the lovely animals and the light blue and pink background in a work of art that delights and amazes.

In Bali, artisan-jeweler Buana crafts this stunning World Peace Project design featuring gentle doves handcrafted from bone. "The dove is a bird of love, with a gentle face symbolizing world peace. I've carefully decorated this unique dove with flowers in the shape of a heart, symbolizing love for all the universe and a call for universal peace. By creating this message in the form of a bracelet, I’m offering a constant reminder to the wearer to maintain thoughts of peace, and to remember to imitate the dove’s character.

"If a community is able to create peace in terms of living conditions, and in terms of embracing the existence of others in general, the population in each village will be happy to carry out activities in each of their diverse fields, including the farmers who are happy to go to the fields, office employees or civil servants, and so on and on, with the spirit of carrying out duties and responsibilities well for the harmony of all. So that macro-economy and technology will continue to develop positively, and human resources can still be relied upon for world development. If these aspects develop well, then the creation of harmonious relationships with our fellow human beings, and also with the universe, is possible."

This sterling silver bracelet features faceted blue topaz and citrine stones in a dazzling design symbolizing peace.

Speaking a language of abstraction, David Fernando Duke creates amorphous shapes in dark, inchoate colors enclosing golden yellow. "When you feel as though your throat closes and you simply cannot speak, we call it aphonia," the Salvadoran artist says. "This painting represents silence, all that we remain silent about in order to make those we love happy." In the title, 82 relates to the number of paintings he has created within a certain time frame.

Titled "Afonía 82" in Spanish.

The talented Thatsanee and Ramphan in Thailand present this pretty tea set, just right for two. Dark green elephants parade around both the teapot and the 2 cups, which are handcrafted of celadon ceramic with a light green crackle glaze. The coordinating saucers feature a simple border in dark green.

Indian designer Amit Moza presents this gorgeous bedspread to celebrate the magnificence of animals while bringing a traditional craft into the modern home. The antique white cotton bedspread is skillfully crafted by local artisans with intricate chain stitch work that can take up to 20 days to complete by hand. The wonderful design features an eclectic selection of wildlife living together in harmony; from ducks swimming happily in a pond, to graceful deer roaming the grassland. The solid cotton backing adds durability to the beautiful textile.