About Us

On January 4, 2018, founder Gwen Baird penned a simple vision in her prayer journal.  She shared with the Lord her desire to be an advocate for at-risk women and children around the world by bringing their artisan goods to the US market.  She was particularly drawn to the vibrant textiles of Guatemala, and felt that the Lord had placed this country on her heart.

Not certain if this vision would materialize, Gwen waited for opportunities to present themselves. Remarkably, every door that needed to be open flung wide. Soon, she was on a plane headed to Guatemala after being invited to join a small short-term mission team on a trip to work with orphan populations in-country. This would be the first of many journeys to the Central American country.  

 With only a couple of days left on one of these trips, Gwen prayed for God to bring clarity on what He was calling her to do and why she was truly there. Gwen was led to read the biblical story of Tabitha, a disciple of Christ, in Acts 9. Tabitha, a woman after God’s own heart, created beautifully embroidered garments as a means to serve the widows and the poor. Gwen pondered this story, as she waited upon the Lord for direction. 

The next day she and a few others traveled to the more remote regions of the Western Highlands. One destination included a rural village near the Lake Atitlan region where she met a woman named Mary, whose trade was hand-crafted beadwork and embroidery. Mary introduced Gwen to her husband, the pastor of a local church. She learned that Mary led an outreach program, called Tabitha Ministries, in which women produce artisan beadwork and embroidery to sustain their families.  This ministry was based on the story of Tabitha from the book of Acts. This was no coincidence! It was at that moment Gwen knew God was making the vision perfectly clear! She spent the next few days with the female artisans, watching them work and praying with them. Relationships were built, and on that very first visit they began collaborating on new innovative designs. 

The women of the Guatemalan Highlands are resilient, community-focused, honorable, and as beautiful as the designs they uniquely create. They carry on the traditions of their regional cultures while continuing to practice crafts passed down through generations. Yet, they live in a society with very limited economic opportunities and no real upward mobility. They have minimal access to health care and their children are often under-educated. Most live in remote and isolated villages, which further prevents their artisan crafts from being sold for their true value.

Together, we co-create innovative designs rooted in the time-honored traditions of Guatemalan culture, fused with contemporary style, and expertly crafted for the eclectic woman. We embody the love of Jesus Christ in practical ways by supplying female artisans with tools for their trade, assisting with food insecurity, increasing access to healthcare, providing educational scholarships for their children, and designing a path toward a sustainable future.