New and Featured
The power of a simple question: #whomademyclothes?
byFashion Revolution Week, which kicks off on April 22-28, operates under the belief that a group of individuals can change the world by asking…
Beautiful Scarves Made By Widows of Guatemala’s Civil War
byFormed in 1987, the K’amolon K’i K’ojonel cooperative provides support to women left widowed during Guatemala’s violent civil war. Their mission is to create…
Solace in the simple things after a life of loss
byHis mother was killed in the crossfire of Guatemala’s civil war. He was sexually abused at the age of 11 years old. But this…
Ring in Spring: Blossom in this Jewelry Collection
byAnd just like that, SPRING HAS SPRUNG! I don’t know about you, but I have been so ready for these longer and warmer days…
Morneo: The Life of a Papier Mâché Sculptor
byThe Barrio de Tepito is a picturesque area of Mexico City that dates to the pre-Hispanic era. It was known as San Francisco Teocaltepiton…
How One Artisan Balances Woodworking With Conservation In His Local Forest
byGrowing up in the forests of Chimaltenago, Patricio Coroy was fortunate to play in the dense woodlands. But as he grew older, he noticed…
She harvests what others reject. But this artist is doing more than saving the environment with her work.
byAs an advocate for sustainability, this up-cycling bead-worker challenges us to open our eyes, not just to the plight of our planet, but to…
Balvina Huaytalla: Andean appliqué and the art of weaving dreams that tell stories
byThe possibilities are endless when a person faces high-risk decisions in life that may result in success or failure. When everything seems fraught with…
Stunning First Impressions: Tips for Decorating Your Entryway
byIn our society, first impressions hold a lot of weight. We put emphasis on sounding our best, looking our best, and being our best. The…
Alejandro Chavez, healing the pain of tragedy with Ayacuchan retablos
byAlejandro Chavez began learning the art of Ayacuchan retablos, or dioramas, at a very young age. But a war forced him to awaken from…
These Guatemalan Artisans Built Something Amazing Out of Their Deepest Despair.
byThrough their compassion, commitment, and creativity, Argentina and Francisco Figueroa teach us that a bracelet, a bowl, and an ornament can represent much more…
The Art that Doesn’t Die: Gregorio Bracamonte Creates New Archaeology
by“Before I die, I want to leave many designs so that people remember me” San Juan de Oriente is a town in Nicaragua that…
Making a Mark: Jalapa Girl Jewelsmiths Embody Female Empowerment
byOurs are the hands that create lovely items to sell and we manage our own micro-business. With the profits, we help ourselves and our…
One Man’s Incredible Journey: The Life of Jewelry Artisan, Wilder Paredes
byGreat talent has always been something of a mystery. Mozart published his first piece of music when he was five years old. Pablo Picasso…
Weaver of Dreams: The Magic of Mayra Hernandez
by“We suffered not only the grief from my father’s death, we also suffered hunger and sickness… but all of this made me stronger and, thanks to…
In Guatemala, we light up Christmas with smiles
byAs the year ends, it’s always a good time to pause and recharge, to strengthen friendships and set new goals for the year ahead….
Happiness – Golden glow of the young and Silver lining of the old!
byEverywhere we look, there is a tear to wipe, a heart to lift, a soul to hug… only if we look! In our effort…
Novica Thailand’s ‘Happiness Project’ a Hit with KaeNoi Orphans!
byGroaning and straining around hairpin turns with 18+% road grades in high altitude, our caravan struggles to reach our destination on time. Our…
The retablo, when a religious tradition becomes popular art
byRecently, a short documentary published on the Nat Geo webpage put the spotlight on a popular art that has existed only in the Peruvian…
It’s Sweater Weather: Fashions for Men and Women
byDays get shorter, the air gets crisper, and just like that, fall is among us. After a long, hot Floridian summer, I could not…
Guatemalan Day of the Dead: Giant Kites and A dish with 50 ingredients
byEach year, during the Day of the Dead, the skies above the small village of Santiago are filled with giant kites called barriletes. Although Guatemala…
The Art of Decorating: Mixing Home Decor from Around the World
byThere is no right or wrong way to decorate a home. Our homes are a reflection of who we are; therefore, they should be…
These Wild Boars (Thai Soccer Team) Burrow Deep!
byThroughout history, the occurrence of a heartbreaking event has been known to unite entire countries with a single focus to bring relief to the…
Monsoon: The Kerala Floods — 6 feet Under
byIn India, monsoons symbolize abundance and prosperity and are considered the harbinger of good times. They are celebrated with zest in Kerala with the…
From the orphanage to the art studio, this Guatemalan jewelry-maker keeps one big childhood dream alive
byShe never knew her parents, but Zandra Sajbin grew up in an enormous family—even if it wasn’t her biological one. With 240 “brothers and…
Breaking routines through travel: A TED Talk with NOVICA CEO, Roberto Milk
byIn a society that thrives on the “go, go, go” mentality, we often forget to slow things down and take a breather for ourselves….
First Person Accounts of the Guatemala Volcano from Novica Artisans
by“We were at home when we began to hear the sound of rain on our roof. But when we ventured outdoors and held out…
How to Make your New House Feel Like Home
byMoving into a new home can be a very daunting process but this transition comes with a lot of excitement as well. Your new home…
Never Give Up, Ruben and Gilda Perez
byThere are nights when we can’t sleep. We remember all the times we lost everything and it still surprises us that we’ve been able…
Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Mother’s Day Present
byBuying gifts for my mother has often been a daunting task. I am fortunate to have a very close relationship with my mother and…