formal decor

Add a vivacious and cheerful touch to your home decor with this superb sculpture, hand-carved by India's Motilal and Ayush. After choosing the kadam wood for a sturdy structure, the artisans start to give form to a smiling man in a traditional garment, all embellished with traditional motifs as an homage to the artisans' heritage.

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."

Wisdom and resilience grow as stunningly as the plants that will inhabit this precious flower pot by Joaquín y Silvia from El Salvador. The artisans use cement and advanced techniques to create this whimsical accessory that takes the form of a charming girl holding a teddy bear as a symbol of inner strength. The piece also features a hole for drainage.

Love and tenderness grow as prosperously as the plants that will inhabit this charming flower pot by Joaquín y Silvia from El Salvador. The artisans use cement and advanced techniques to create this whimsical accessory that takes the form of a little girl whose peaceful appearance evokes the sweet side of life. The piece, accented with a cute feline detail, features a hole for drainage.

Saint Benedict, patron of good fortune, infuses valiant energies into this suncatcher, whose colors evoke Earth's beauty. Artisan Alejandra Paiz of Guatemala uses crystals in ivory, yellow and brown hues to form the piece—crowned with a pewter Saint Benedict medallion. A brown polyester cord completes the design with convenience, whereas stainless steel wires ensure a glorious illusion.

The people of Ghanaian artisan Emmanuel Atiemoh Yeboah's town show their courage and bravery every day, working hard to achieve their dreams. Using oil on cotton, the artisan creates a batik wall art of a woman carrying food, showing the strong spirit of the region.

Let love grow prosperously in your interior with this adorable creation from Guatemala. Marleny Chajon uses traditional knit techniques to handcraft this crocheted home accent, whose cotton threads form a lovely flower pot where a heart-shaped cactus rests harmoniously, displaying a yellow bloom as a symbol of joy.