Whimsical Keychains

Cuppa Joe at Tapir and Friends Animal Store

Our beaded keychains from Guatemala are fun, whimsical, and practical! Can't beat that combination! Whether you're looking for monkeys, melons, or mermaids, you won't be disappointed with our large selection. These keychains are well-made, sturdy, and make wonderful gifts or mementos. 

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Cactus Beaded Keychain

This beautiful keychain has no spines!

Our Beaded Floral Keychains

The beading on these flower, plant, and tree keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these plant keychains are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other cactus items as well as our page of beaded keychains from Guatemala. When you purchase one of these unique items 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 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.

About Cactus

The saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) is the most distinctive plant of the Arizona and Sonoron desert. It is also the state flower of Arizona. It grows very slowly, about 1 inch a year, to a height of 15-50 feet and may live for 200 years or more. It has a columnar stem of about 24 inches and several curved arms. The saguaro cactus develops bright white flowers with yellow centers which open in the evening and develop into brilliant red fruit in late Spring and early Summer. The saguaro cactus is home to and provides nutrition and shade for a myriad of animal species, especially woodpeckers and owls that burow inside the stem. The name saguaro is a Spanish adaptation of the Native American word. The saguaro cactus played an important role in Native art and housing construction. It is a delight to see this cactus throughout the desert landscape.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Mermaid Beaded Keychain

This delightful lady will happily watch over your keys!

Our Beaded Mermaid Keychain

Our hand-made mermaid keychain is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded keychains I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these mermaid keychains are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. The bright, shiny beads will delight you when they sparkle in the light. Check out our other beaded keychains as well as our pages of beaded animals, beaded jewelry, and beaded ornaments and suncatchers from Guatemala. When you purchase one of these unique beaded items 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 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.

About Mermaids

Mermaids are creatures reported to be a melding of a human female from the waist up and a fish from the waist down. The first stories of mermaids appeared in the literature of ancient Assyria (present-day Iraq) over 3000 years ago. Sightings of mermaids have continued throughout time, the most recent being made in Canada, Isreal, and Zimbabwe in the 20th - 21st centuries. Christopher Colombus reported seeing mermaids during his exploration of the Caribbean.

Mermaids have been depicted as both malevolent and benevolent creatures, sometimes luring sailors to their deaths on unseen rocks and reefs, other times betowing helpful gifts and information to humans to protect them. The order sirenia includes manatees and dugongs, who's body shape could be mistaken for human forms with aquatic tails when seen at distance or through water. These animals are believed by much of the scientific community to be what ancient sailors may have seen in eyewitness accounts of mermaids.

According to a 2012 report by the U.S. National Ocean Service, "no evidence of mermaids have ever been found". It is interesting, however, that the United States made an investigation so recently...isn't it?

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Seahorse Keychains from Guatemala

Come see our HUGE stock of delightful, portable Guatemalan artwork!

Our Beaded Seahorse Keychains

The beading on these beautiful seahorse keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these seahorses are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other seahorses as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Seahorses

The yellow seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) is one of the most common seahorses and is also known as the common seahorse, spotted seahorse, or oceanic seahorse. It is found mainly in the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. It has a short crown, which is directed backwards. This seahorse is found in shallow water of not much more than 30 feet. They can be found in mangroves, coastal seagrass beds, estuaries, coastal bays and lagoons, harbors, sandy sediments in rocky littoral zones, and rivers with brackish waters. Seahorses pair for life. They are poor swimmers and generally remain anchored to rocks using their prehensile tails.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Peacock Beaded Keychain

Another stunning piece of collectible art from Guatemala!

Our Beaded Bird Keychain

The beading on these bird keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these birds are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other bird items as well as our page of beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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 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.

About Peacocks

"Peacock" is the name of males of genus Pavo from the pheasant family, known collectively as "peafowl". Females are called "peahens". Peafowl consist of three distinct species: Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), green peafowl (Pavo muticus), and Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis).

In the wild, peafowl are omnivorous, feeding on all parts of plants and insects, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods. Peafowl make their nests on the ground in forests. All peafowl are capable of flight and have large plumes of feathers, although the male peacocks tend to be more vibrantly colored.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Unicorn Beaded Keychains from Guatemala

Let this mythical beast guard your keys!!

Our Unicorn Beaded Keychain

The beading on these unicorn animal keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these unicorns are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other unicorn items as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Unicorns

One of history's most recognized fantasy creatures, the unicorn was first mentioned by the ancient Greeks and became the most important imaginary creature of Europe during the Middle-Ages. Like many mythological creatures (the manticore, the griffin, and the sphinx to name a few), the unicorn is a combination of existing animal traits, combining the horn of a narwhal, the hooves and beard of a goat, the body of a horse or deer, and the tail of a lion or ox.

Many Biblical passages mention the unicorn, and unicorns appear in many Renaissance scientific journals. The horn of the unicorn is of 'Alicorn', a substance with powerful purification and medicinal qualities. Of course, Alicorn does not exist in nature, but false Alicorn powder (usually comprised of powdered tusks and antlers from many different animals) was commonly sold in Europe as late as the mid 1700's for curing many diseases and detecting and counteracting poisons. In addition, goblets made of alicorn (usually ivory) were sold and gifted to European nobility for their ability to nullify poisons in drink.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Sea Turtle Keychains from Guatemala

An awesomely cool bit of animal bling!

Our Beaded Turtle Keychain

The beading on these sea turtle keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these sea turtles are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other sea turtle items as well as our page of beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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 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.

About Sea Turtles

All six species of sea turtles in the U.S. (green sea turtle, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead and olive ridley) are listed as threatened or endangered on the U.S. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife List. Sea turtles are aquatic reptiles and live most of their lives in the ocean. Sea turtles are excellent divers, the Leatherback species routinely dive more than 1,000 ft., and may reach depths of more than 3,900 ft. seeking jellyfish. Although they must swim to the ocean surface to breathe periodically, some turtles can remain underwater for as long as 5 hours without breathing! Currently sea turtles are endangered because not only are they hunted by people as a food source, but they are losing their beach habitat to recreational development, drowning in fishing and shrimp nets, and ingesting plastic trash. (Sea turtle research by Joslyn Biggins.)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Dragonfly Keychains from Guatemala

A FANTASTIC gift! Useful and beautiful!

Our Beaded Dragonfly Keychains

The beading on these dragonfly animal keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these dragonflies are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other dragonfly items as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Dragonflies

A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata. It is has large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies eat mosquitoes, midges, and other small insects like flies, bees, and butterflies. They are valuable predators, since they help control populations of harmful insects. Dragonflies are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. Dragonflies do not normally bite or sting humans, though they will bite in order to escape, if grasped by the abdomen. Dragonflies hover above the water, but then can rapidly accelerate. They capture their prey by clasping them in legs studded by spikes. We are most familiar with the adult stage of the dragonfly, but most of their life is spent as a nymph below the water.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Scorpion Keychains from Guatemala

Nothing says "Hands OFF my keys!" like this wonderful keychain!

Our Beaded Scorpion Keychain

The beading on these scorpion keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these scorpions are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other scorpion items as well as our page of beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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 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.

About Scorpions

Scorpions are found in warm regions. They are arachnids, and therefore more closely related to spiders than to insects. They are found not only in the desert, but also in forests. They spend much of the day under logs and leaf litter, and feed mostly at night on spiders and insects. Most scorpions are only painful to humans and are not especially dangerous, although a few can deliver a fatal sting. Children and elderly people are more at risk from their venom than strong, healthy adults. The approximately 2,000 species of scorpion vary widely in size, from about 1/2 inch to 7 inches long. People have collected scorpions and made a commercial product out of them in the form of paperweights and keychains by placing them inside moulded plastic. Because of this, they have become over-collected and are now "a CITES-listed animal, meaning scorpions could be threatened with extinction if exportation and other threats, such as development, are not regulated." [Wikipedia]

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Sea Turtle Keychains from Guatemala

An absolutely stunning ornament you can take with you everywhere!

Our Beaded Sea Turtle Keychain

The beading on these sea turtle keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these sea turtles are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other sea turtle items as well as our page of beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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 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.

About Sea Turtles

All six species of sea turtles in the U.S. (green sea turtle, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, leatherback, loggerhead and olive ridley) are listed as threatened or endangered on the U.S. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife List. Sea turtles are aquatic reptiles and live most of their lives in the ocean. Sea turtles are excellent divers, the Leatherback species routinely dive more than 1,000 ft., and may reach depths of more than 3,900 ft. seeking jellyfish. Although they must swim to the ocean surface to breathe periodically, some turtles can remain underwater for as long as 5 hours without breathing! Currently sea turtles are endangered because not only are they hunted by people as a food source, but they are losing their beach habitat to recreational development, drowning in fishing and shrimp nets, and ingesting plastic trash. (Sea turtle research by Joslyn Biggins.)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Shrimp Keychains from Guatemala

The perfect gift for the fisherman, chef, or ocean-lover in your life!

Our Shrimp Beaded Keychains

The beading on these shrimp animal keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these shrimp are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other shrimp items as well as our page of beaded keychains from Guatemala. When you purchase one of these unique keychain 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 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.

About Shrimp

Many different, unrelated forms of crustacean fall under the heading of “shrimp.” Most shrimp require a marine environment to grow and reproduce…a very few species can tolerate freshwater environments. Shrimp can collect in schools or survive independently, and form the basic food source for many marine predators. Like lobster, shrimp walk very slowly, but swim (backwards) very quickly by snapping their tail. Unlike lobster, shrimp have been successfully farmed for human consumption since the 1970s, with almost a third of the world’s commercial shrimp supplied by farming.

While the word "prawn" tends to be used in North America to describe any big shrimp, there are biological differences between true shrimp and true prawns. Biologists can distinguish between the two by their gill structure, but an easy way to tell is to examine the segments that form the shrimp’s abdomen. On a shrimp, the second segment overlaps both the first and third segments. On a prawn, it overlaps only the first.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Clownfish Beaded Keychain

Find Nemo in your pocket!!!

Our Beaded Clownfish Keychain

The beading on these clownfish keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these dogs are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other fish as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Clownfish

There are about 28 different species of clownfish. In the wild they all form a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. They are also called anemone fish. Depending on species, clownfish are overall yellow, orange, reddish, or blackish, and many show white bars or patches. The largest reach a length of 7 inches but some are as small as 4 inches. The relationship with sea anemones is interesting. The clownfish feeds on undigested matter which otherwise potentially could harm the sea anemone, and the faecal matter from the clownfish provides nutrients to the sea anemone. It has also been suggested that the activity of the clownfish results in greater water circulation around the sea anemone. In addition to providing food for the clownfish, the sea anemone also provides safety due to its poison. Clownfish live in small groups around a single anemone.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Beaded Baby Tapir from Guatemala

A delightful and unique hand-crafted figurine!

Our Beaded Baby Tapir

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, but we thought it would be fun to make some beaded tapirs as well. Imagine my delight when these cute animals came back in the mail, their plastic bodies covered in shiny seed beads stitched together into a brand new creation. You don't find beaded tapirs just anywhere, trust me! I've looked! 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. Check out our other tapir items as well as our page of beaded animal art!

About Baby Tapirs

Baby tapirs are some of the most adorable and engaging animals on Earth! There are four species of tapir, and the babies of all species are marked with their distinguishing spots and stripes. The stripes on our beaded baby tapir do not match those of any particular species, so you can imagine it's whichever species you like best. Baby tapirs are quite friendly and lovable. They can stand and walk almost immediately, and they quickly begin to explore their world with amusing curiosity. It takes a gestation period of about 13 months for a pair to produce one baby. Can you believe that? It's one of the longest gestation periods among mammals. Even horses give birth after about 11 months. Because only one baby is born per pregnancy, and because the gestation period is so long, the tapirs are said to have a long "recruitment period." This means that for every tapir that is killed in the wild (or that dies of natural causes), it takes a very long time to replace that animal. This is one reason why hunting and destruction of habitat are so devastating to the Earth's dwindling population of tapirs. You can purchase this beaded tapir, take it home, and be proud not only to have a beautiful, unique, hand-made work of art, but also to know that your purchase keeps the Tapir Preservation Fund going so we can support tapir conservation in the field.

 This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Beaded Lizard Keychains from Guatemala

A unique, useful gift for any reptile lover!

Our Beaded Lizard Keychains

The beading on these lizard animal keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these lizards are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. The lizards are very nice looking. It was hard to get adequate photos because of the interesting angles. The eyes are bright faceted crystal-like beads which always have an angle to the light, making it look like there is life in the lizard's eyes. Each beaded lizard keychain has a skin pouch under its throat and diamond shapes on its back. Check out our other lizard items as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Green Anole Lizards

"Anole" lizards refer to members of the family Polychrotidae. The green or Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) is the only anole native to North America, concentrated in he southeastern United States.

While the green anole has the ability to change the color of it's skin in reaction to mood or threat, it is not a true chameleon. The green anole can also self-amputate its tail in response to an attack, but again, it is not related to the gecko. The green anole spends most of its time in trees, hunting small insects. An influx of the Cuban brown anole into Florida and the deep south has begun to push the native green anole further north.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Beaded Unicorn Keychains from Guatemala

Some animals are even more endangered than tapirs!

Our Beaded Unicorn Keychains

The beading on these unicorn animal keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these unicorns are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other unicorn items as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Unicorns

One of history's most recognized fantasy creatures, the unicorn was first mentioned by the ancient Greeks and became the most important imaginary creature of Europe during the Middle-Ages. Like many mythological creatures (the manticore, the griffin, and the sphinx to name a few), the unicorn is a combination of existing animal traits, combining the horn of a narwhal, the hooves and beard of a goat, the body of a horse or deer, and the tail of a lion or ox.

Many Biblical passages mention the unicorn, and unicorns appear in many Renaissance scientific journals. The horn of the unicorn is of 'Alicorn', a substance with powerful purification and medicinal qualities. Of course, Alicorn does not exist in nature, but false Alicorn powder (usually comprised of powdered tusks and antlers from many different animals) was commonly sold in Europe as late as the mid 1700's for curing many diseases and detecting and counteracting poisons. In addition, goblets made of alicorn (usually ivory) were sold and gifted to European nobility for their ability to nullify poisons in drink.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Amazing Collectible Alligator

The perfect centerpiece to ANY animal collection!

Check Out This Display Of Amazing Artistic Talent!!!

This hand-beaded alligator is nothing less than extraordinary! Absolutely one-of-a-kind, this amazing creation from the artists of Guatemala is over two feet long and LOADED with details!

This spectacular collectible figurine was created with the help of our good friend Catherine Todd and the skillful artistry of local Guatemalan craftsmen. Similar pieces have been sold at the New York Museum of Natural History for over $1,000! This figurine has a solid plastic core covered in HUNDREDS of stone beads, each arranged and placed BY HAND to form the wonderful patterns and features of this truely wonderful, one-of-a-kind creation.

Check out our other reptiles as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Alligators

An Alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator. The name alligator comes from Spanish el lagarto (the lizard), the name by which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. There are two living alligator species: the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator. It is an ancient animal and has survived for 200 million years. An average adult American alligator's weight and length is 800 pounds and 13 feet long. According to the Everglades National Park website, the largest alligator ever recorded in Florida was 17 feet 5 inches. The Chinese alligator is smaller, rarely exceeding 7 feet in length. Alligators have an average of 75 teeth.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Amazing Collectible Alligator

Truely a one-of-a-kind collector's item!

Check Out This Display Of Amazing Artistic Talent!!!

This hand-beaded alligator is nothing less than extraordinary! Absolutely one-of-a-kind, this amazing creation from the artists of Guatemala is over two feet long and LOADED with details!

This spectacular collectible figurine was created with the help of our good friend Catherine Todd and the skillful artistry of local Guatemalan craftsmen. Similar pieces have been sold at the New York Museum of Natural History for over $1,000! This figurine has a solid plastic core covered in HUNDREDS of stone beads, each arranged and placed BY HAND to form the wonderful patterns and features of this truely wonderful, one-of-a-kind creation.

Check out our other reptiles as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Alligators

An Alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator. The name alligator comes from Spanish el lagarto (the lizard), the name by which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. There are two living alligator species: the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator. It is an ancient animal and has survived for 200 million years. An average adult American alligator's weight and length is 800 pounds and 13 feet long. According to the Everglades National Park website, the largest alligator ever recorded in Florida was 17 feet 5 inches. The Chinese alligator is smaller, rarely exceeding 7 feet in length. Alligators have an average of 75 teeth.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Beaded Turtle Figurine from Guatemala

More brilliant artwork from Guatemala!

Our Beaded Turtle Figurine

The beading on this 5-inch long turtle figurine is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these figurines are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other reptile as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Freswhwater Turtles

There are about 46 species of freshwater turtles in North America. There is terrific diversity in size, diet, habitat and clutch size among freshwater turtles. All are threaten by loss of habitat, capture for meat, and by predators such as cars and raccoons. A freshwater turtle's shell is commonly called a carapace which is divided into scutes, while the bony belly plate is the plastron. Some freshwater turtles, such as the Western pond turtle, are good to keep in ornamental ponds while others, such as the snapping turtle, are a liability. Some turtles bask for long periods on floating debris while others, like the mud turtle, remain underwater for long periods of time. Freshwater turtles come in various colors of green, brown and dark yellow and each species has a different pattern on its back. The most common freshwater turtle is the painted turtle and is the ideal turtle for a turtle pond.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Beaded Dolphin Keychain from Guatemala

Take Flipper everywhere with you!

Our Beaded Dolphin Keychain

The beading on these blue and silver dolphin keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these dogs are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other dolphins as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Dolphins

The dolphin is a toothed whale. There are many species in the world's oceans and rivers. The most famous Bottlenose is "Flipper". The Bottlenose gets it's name from its short, stubby beak. It's color can vary considerably, but it usually runs light to slate gray on it's upper body with lighter sides and pale, pinkish gray on it's belly. It can grow up to 12 feet long and weight up to 1,400 pounds.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Beaded Clownfish Keychain from Guatemala

He found Nemo, now let Marlin help you find your car keys!

Our Beaded Clownfish Keychain

The beading on these clownfish keychains is securely stitched into a woven fabric of beads and is very sturdy. Unlike some beaded animals I've seen that are beautiful and engaging but very delicate, these dogs are durable and with normal handling will hold up extremely well. Check out our other fish as well as our page of beaded animals and beaded keychains from Guatemala. 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.

About Clownfish

There are about 28 different species of clownfish. In the wild they all form a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. They are also called anemone fish. Depending on species, clownfish are overall yellow, orange, reddish, or blackish, and many show white bars or patches. The largest reach a length of 7 inches but some are as small as 4 inches. The relationship with sea anemones is interesting. The clownfish feeds on undigested matter which otherwise potentially could harm the sea anemone, and the faecal matter from the clownfish provides nutrients to the sea anemone. It has also been suggested that the activity of the clownfish results in greater water circulation around the sea anemone. In addition to providing food for the clownfish, the sea anemone also provides safety due to its poison. Clownfish live in small groups around a single anemone.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.