sculptures of hands

Alternating beads of dark lava stone and light cow bone decorate this inspiring beaded bracelet from Bali's Made Wardika. Hand threaded on a black leather cord, the bracelet features a hand carved pendant inscribed with the word "peace." The carving is stained with tea in light brown tea to make it pop from a distance.

Formed of three blue peyote buds, a lighted candle is radiant in this exquisite nierika, or votive beadwork painting by Kupihaute. A butterfly alights on either side in his composition, which takes the shape of a flower with five wide petals.

The artisan, who writes fluently in the Huichol, Nahuatl, Spanish and English languages, talks about this work in his own words. "The nierika is a mirror that is offered to the sea together with the first corn that has been harvested, in order to renew the cycle of rains that will give life to the next crop cycle. As in most of the ancient cultures of our planet, the candle represents our trajectory between being born and returning. For this reason, even today, during the celebration of our birthday, it is customary to light and blow out as many candles as solar cycles have elapsed. The butterflies and spirals are indicating that existence is energy in permanent transformation between arising from and returning to earth."

The intricate images are formed with tiny seed beads. Kupihuate patiently places them one at a time with a needle made of abalone shell onto a huanacaxtle wood backing. Beeswax is used instead of glue.

The process is totally spontaneous, with no previous sketch or design. It is guided by the artist's unconscious to tell the stories that remain in our collective ancestral memory. He signs his work with the symbol of a butterfly on the reverse side of the nierika.

A testament of faith can also be a wonderful accent to hang at your favorite spot at home like this precious decennary rosary handmade from onyx and nylon cords featuring a resin-coated brass medal of St. Benedict. Crafted by Costa Rican artisan Omayra Jaramillo, it is designed to show on the wall or be held in the hand while praying.