A Guatemalan woman in love with her heritage, Ivania Ruiz has been working as a designer and artisan since 2005. She is... able to give work to many people, especially artisans in the Quiché region.

As a little girl, she was a creative child, a dreamer. From her first years in school, she loved crafting colorful seed bead jewelry that she later sold to friends.

"I'd craft my own designs and take them to school with me. I always had orders for bracelets or necklaces. Since then, I've begun creating new designs such as candles and accessories, but I've always focused mainly on jewelry.

"In college, I studied industrial design. Then a friend and I started a project crafting jewelry, which we sold to established shops and stores.

"I fell in love with art when I was very young. My imagination would take flight and this is what has let me create different kinds of accessories and décor, to innovate and reach shoppers of many kinds.

"Today, I create the prototype designs. Women artisans I met in 2006 craft them for me. At that time, I was working in an organization where I learned a lot from them and we were a great team.

"I've always been in this world of art — I once worked in an export company and in consulting projects for artisans. As time went by, I received offers to work as a designer on beautiful projects that brought me wonderful experiences and much satisfaction.

"The situation for artisans is very difficult right now and I'd like to be able to make a small change so that, together, we can continue on the path to our dreams.

"We hope you are delighted with our designs because they're made with much love. Behind each one, is an artisan and her dreams."