NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Wings unfurled in all their splendor, the butterflies of summer pose on emerald grass. The precise geometry of their patterned bodies forms an ornate cross. Working in the colors of the land, Cerapio Vallejo creates a stunning tapestry on a traditional handloom. Titled "Cruz de mariposas" in Spanish. Artisan Info: Cerapio Vallejo's artistry has been featured in many periodicals, including Business Week, Sunset magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle, and on PBS Television. He is also featured in Keepers of the Arts, a beautiful hardcover book available through Novica. "My art form was handed down to me from my parents and grandparents. But the quality of my work is the result of my long experience and the product of my careful observation over the years. I draw inspiration from our ancient Peruvian cultures, Andean village life, and from our snow-capped mountains. "I have faced many challenges during my life, and I have learned from them. Perhaps the most difficult was when I was obliged to leave my house in Ayacucho with my family. I had to make this painful decision because there was no other way. This was during the 1980s, when terrorism was bleeding my people to death and there seemed little hope. "Artisans in my region were considerably affected when tourism halted.
