Beaded Frogs from Guatemala

Own one of these amazing works of art!

Our Beaded Frogs

It was another one of those very lucky days when Catherine Todd (same last name, no relation) contacted me about taking some of our plastic animals to Guatemala so the artisans could craft beaded animals with the plastic replicas as a realistically-shaped base. The subject at hand was camels for a special project, but it seems the artisans make a wide variety of unique animals covered with a woven beaded "skin." Imagine my delight when a package arrived including these delightful frogs! When you purchase one of these unique animals from our collection, you help in a number of ways. You help save tapirs, because that's what we do. You help the local artisans in Guatemala who need an outlet for their work (yes, jobs!), and you help my new friend Catherine with her sustainable business of working with the artisans of Guatemala to maintain jobs for themselves and make beautiful art for many people around the world to enjoy. The beading on these frogs is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads that completely covers the frog and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these frogs are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other frog items as well as our page of beaded animals from Guatemala.

About Frogs

Frogs are among the most diverse animals on the planet. They come in an astounding range of colors, sizes and shapes, and more than 5,000 species have been described worldwide. They are amphibians in the order Anura (meaning "tail-less", from Greek an-, without + oura, tail). Frogs are among the most commonly-known animals to most people, and yet we probably think of them in generic terms. Once you begin to read about frogs, you realize how different each species is from the next. Typically, they are exceptional jumpers, and many of the anatomical characteristics of frogs, particularly their long, powerful legs, are adaptations to improve jumping performance. Many frogs have an extremely loud call which is most often used during their mating season. Although the greatest number of frogs are found in the tropical rainforests of the world, they can be found in a wide range of climactic zones. Frogs may live in trees or on the ground, but they always live near water. Their skin becomes dry easily and this will inevitably lead to death. Some populations of frogs are declining significantly, and there are important organizations dedicated to their study and conservation. Frogs have long been a favorite subject in art, literature and legend, and many people collect images and replicas of frogs.

 This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.