Cristóbal has been making gorgeous silver jewelry for almost 20 years. In his spare time, however, he's managed to win kite-flying championships, guide tourists through the Inca Trail back in its heyday, and go boat-hopping through the southernmost reaches of Patagonia. Sidetrips and odd jobs notwithstanding, he's established a reputation for himself as one of the best artisanal jewelers in Ecuador. Those in the know have been collecting Cristo's work and making custom orders for years, frequenting his workshop in Quito's historic Colonial Center. Although he exported to a boutique in France over a decade ago and occasionally fills wholesale orders bound for the United States, this is the international community's first opportunity to see all of his current stock and make custom orders. Those interested in becoming jewelers themselves should contact us about taking lessons in his workshop.


Roberto, known affectionately as Pajarito, is a born traveling artisan. Although he played football for money and did publicity work for some of Quito's most prominent businesses in his early years, he's spent most of his life making a name for himself as one of Ecuador's favorite fiesta face- and body-painters, and as a master artisan. His batiked clothing can be found throughout South America, but his name is well-known throughout Europe as well. And his ceramic pipes are often not even used for smoking; they're fascinating pieces used for home decoration. Oh, and his distinctive murals can be found throughout the country as well. His newest passions are wood carved pendants (available here) and macramé, and his latest project is a treasure trove of Pre-Colombian designs for fellow artisans.


That's me! I'm the webmaster and only English-speaker of the group -- so I'm Caipocha's ambassador to the outside world. I started selling little beaded bracelets at age eight, then learned how to make beaded lizards and quickly went on to make all sorts of three-dimensional beaded animals, creating a number of new designs by age eleven. As I moved into my teens I began to mix beads with weaving techniques I'd learned in school at a very young age, and started to make experimental necklaces for my friends. I shifted away from my old love of drawing to my new love of beadwork when I realized I could actually make money selling jewelry and afford new materials. I continued working almost exclusively in beadwork until an Argentine friend named Lupe taught me how to carve coconut pendants. I met Roberto and Cristóbal (who have been friends for nearly two decades) only two years ago, but we began working together right away. And the rest, as they say, is history.

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