practical decor

Guatemalan artisan Liz Oliva skillfully sculpts the colorful flowers and leaves that grace the lid of this charming decorative jar from papier mache. Boasting a palette of delicate pink, purple, yellow and green shades, the glass jar is both beautiful and practical as it transcends its ornamental purposes and can be used to store beloved trinkets.

An adorable cow resting peacefully on the grass is expertly sculpted from papier mache by Guatemalan artisan Liz Oliva. The hand-painted motif gracefully adorns the lid of a glass decorative jar that oozes aesthetic appeal but also provides a practical solution for storing your treasured items.

For this design, I chose a symbol of peace in practically all cultures and countries — a dove with an olive branch." says Alejandra Paiz of this delicate and unique beaded suncatcher. "It represents hope and the desire for a new and peaceful beginning on Earth. It's associated with purity and spirituality.

"I say a prayer for peace," the Guatemalan artisan continues. "And I ask that we pray it together. 'No more wars. We want peace. May this peace dove reach all the homes of the world.'

"The principles of peace are love, justice and truth. Nothing is more valuable than peace, and it's the basic starting point for humanity to progress.

"I share sensations of peace with the beautiful crystals that reflect the sun's light to illuminate the heart and soul. We seek that which gives meaning to our lives. Peace. Let's be a source of light instead of darkness."

Alejandra crafts the suncatcher by hand with crystal, glass and pewter beads, stainless steel ring and wire, a nickel chain and a zinc dove pendant.

Add a touch of elegance and functionality to your desk with our exquisite golden brass 1-minute hourglass sand timer. Featuring lime green sand, this stylish and compact timer is not only a practical tool for timing activities but also a stunning decorative piece that adds a vibrant pop of color to any setting.

Floral artistry meets practical beauty in this Peruvian wall mirror, where painted blooms frame your reflection with old-world charm. The colonial reverse-painting technique places every petal and stem beneath protective glass, keeping the colors as vivid as the day artisan Gliseria Soto first applied them. Rich mohena wood frames the looking glass, aged to perfection with bronze gilt accents and walnut staining that gives this striking home accent an authentic patina of years gracefully lived.

Gorgeous leaves go all over a traditional design by Carlos Mendez from Mexico. Putting his woodworking techniques into practice, the artisan creates a vibrant hand mirror from copal wood. Then, the artisan chooses a colorful palette to paint a stunning pattern inspired by nature, all on a red base that enhances every little detail.