handmade gifts

Maria Astuhuaman creates a bright and beautiful unity bracelet. A polished disc of sterling silver poses on red faux leather. It bears the letter S, ending in an arrow. In 2015, world leaders adopted mutual objectives to help eradicate poverty and assure prosperity while protecting the planet. "The pendant depicts the symbol for Objective 12, which seeks to do more with less and disconnect economic growth from ecological destruction, as we try to promote sustainable lifestyles," the Peruvian artisan explains. With this design, she encourages us to live in unity with nature.

Four braids — two in brown and two in black — come together in a square knot and return to their origins. Working in leather, Passaramon crafts a handsome unity bracelet. "The corona virus divides us from parents, lovers, or family to stay away from each other and live in fear. Both nostalgia and anxiety still remain people in Thailand and in other countries," the artisan says. "This gave me the idea for this unity bracelet. It means the unity we all have in every difficulty arises and will be a nostalgic symbol to heal people. We shall pass this nightmare together."

"I chose to make this bracelet with two glass bead ties that symbolize union. The small beads of different colors, sizes and textures represent the community — all different but sharing the dream of having a better future," artisan Cristobal Ramirez says. |He combines seed beads in brown, green and blue, all beautiful earth colors in his original unity bracelet.