quality decor

Cerulean diamonds adorn a midnight hue to create this sublime home accent from Guatemala. Designers Miriam and Debora work with local artisans to craft this cushion cover from cotton yarns, combining the elegant colors in an exquisite piece equipped with tassels on each corner and a handy back opening.

Precise geometric motifs alternate with birds in an exquisite design. From talented members of Women United for Artisan Development, the cushion cover is woven by hand on a backstrap loom. Cording defines the borders, and the back is solid grey. "We love birds," the artisans confide. "This design was woven by women who live in Quiché, a forested region in western Guatemala."

Should one of the threads snag, they suggest you pull it back into place from the back of the fabric with a fine crochet hook.

Jamriang crafts a set of three contoured face masks for comfort and fit. The ivory mask is a hemp and cotton blend while the blue polka dot and check masks are cotton. Each one has three layers of fabric as well as a double layered cotton lining with an opening so you may insert a protective layer of tissue or paper towels. All are both washable and reusable, and feature elastic to loop over the ears.

Miriam and Debora are designers who saw the potential that traditional weavers had in making quality products, but decided that the designs needed updating. One result is this 100% cotton hand woven throw pillow case with a streamlined version of a traditional geometric motif.