different rings

Resplendent with sparkling gems, this original ring design by Bali's Kadek Hendra features a band that resembles a bamboo stalk. Hendra crafts the ring from sterling silver and adds almost 2 carats of blue topaz, citrine, and peridot cut in different shapes.

.925 Sterling silver

"Seven gems, one for each day of the week. None of the stones are alike, just like we never experience each day exactly the same as the day before," say Ruben and Gilda Perez of their ring design. They work with Guatemalan jade in seven different shades, from very light green to dark green and black. The gems can be positioned as desired along the set of seven sterling silver rings that are held in place by a discreet bar.

Tiny blossoms surround a radiant sunflower as they flourish in a magic garden; it is framed by verdant leaves on curling vines. Tay Nontawat designs this extraordinary panel, which he carves from four different pieces of teak wood. He works with a fine chisel and knife to achieve a finely detailed work. Nontawat then joins the two parts together and allows them to dry in the sun; he then embellishes the relief panel with lacquer paints.

Due to the handcrafted nature of this product, there could be slight difference in color. It could also present a rough finished, which is Nontawat's intention as it serves to emphasize the original appeal of this piece.

"Green is the color of the valleys and mountains that surround us," say the women of K'amolon K'i K'ojonel, who boast their pride in their classic weaving techniques. Working on a back strap loom, the design of this poncho is at once classic and contemporary. A rich blend of cotton and rayon made from bamboo assures the soft warmth of this trendy poncho.

Since the threads are dyed by the women, please expect slight differences in the color tone and arrangement.

A set of four bells is ready to ring in the holiday on your tree. Costa Rican artisan Blanca Padilla handcrafts these angels out of the fiber extracted from cabuya, a succulent that looks like agave. The artisan works with the cabuya's natural texture to form the bells, each a different color and topped with a gold ribbon bow and red paper flower.

The art and skill of creating handicrafts from cabuya has been handed down through Blanca Padilla's family for generations. The artisan sources her material herself, growing and harvesting the cabuya, extracting the fiber, and preparing it for use in the handicrafts. Blanca Padilla hopes to help revitalize the cabuya craft industry with the success of her designs.

The alley cat does her best to stay in the shadows. Contending with other night creatures, the feline also prefers to be neither seen nor heard. No wonder they call them "cat burglars!" The nocturnal nature of the notorious alley prowler is captured in beautiful detail by Balinese artisan Made Wardika. The circular pendant features a smiling crescent-moon, hand-carved from bone, with a cat of sterling silver sitting beside it. A pair of faceted garnet gemstones flank them, while the top and bottom are adorned with amethyst and peridot gems. The entire necklace receives a combination of oxidized and high-polish finishes for stunning visual contrast.

Like a scene of nature's chemistry, soothing green tones ascend this unusual vase in an evolution of expressive rings. Presented by Daeng Thanunchai, the piece revels in the glassy surface of lacquered design. A modern and original Thai accent for the home. Not intended for use with water.

To complete this piece, coiled bamboo basketry is carved into the desired shape on a lathe. A mixture of lacquer - obtained from the Gluta usitata tree - and ashes of burnt rice paddy husks is then applied to the object. Upon exposure to air the mixture dries to form a watertight seal that is polished before another coat is applied. This process is repeated until a rigid base is formed, and a final polishing is executed with sandpaper. Then several coats of pure lacquer are painted on the object, with drying periods in between each coat.

The work is partially polished with sandpaper according to a predetermined pattern - generally concentric - and a few coats of different lacquer colors are applied to the surface, then the object is left to dry for a few days. The process remains identical for each ensuing color, alternating lacquering and polishing sessions until the design is achieved. The final coat is washed with water and polished with powdered fired clay, offering an irresistible sheen.

Thailand's Tiraphan Hasub orchestrates a dazzling harmony of colors with the design of this bracelet. She crafts the bracelet by hand, combining green and red enhanced jasper with brass beads. The bracelet closes with a ringing brass bell.