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Mayan Creations
Beautiful colors, you'll need more than one.
Ever since my first journey to Guatemala some 20 years ago, I have marveled at these warm, hard-working, and extremely talented people. I made the choice three years ago to come out of retirement, and start this business to showcase the colorful environment of their lives through their artisan creations.
The finely crafted pieces we carry are the rich designs of the Mayan women in the village of Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. Combining the finest Czechoslovakian beads and crystals with their astonishing creativity for design and color, they have created these beautiful works of art.
Producing hand-made jewelry provides these artisan women with above average earnings, which greatly improves their lives and that of their families. What's more, they do so without compromising their cultural heritage and tradition. Two hundred and fifty women have been working together in this cottage industry for 10 years. They usually work in small groups as they thoroughly enjoy the social interaction.
They speak Tzutujil as their first (and usually only) language, a Mayan language unique to Santiago Atitlan and a few surrounding villages. In most cases they shoulder the burden of providing for their families alone, due to the loss of so many Mayan men in the civil war.
They meet in a central area every afternoon where they are provided with a hot meal to render it unnecessary to return home for meal preparation.
Their beading business is one of the most successful small industries in Guatemala.
After two years I am still in awe when I open a shipment, and gaze upon these Mayan Creations.
Enjoy,
Dennis Gardner
President, Mayan Creations Inc.
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