Zandra Lorena Sajbin
"My son's pediatrician and a priest from San Lucas Toliman, whom I regard as my father, are my guardian angels. I'm a happy person who loves to chat, I'm honest and responsible, and I'm also a little bit strict. I was born in 1983 in Quiché but I grew up in an orphanage in San Lucas Toliman.
"At first, my husband and I had a hard time selling our silver jewelry, as we didn't have any clients. One day, when we didn't have money for food, I went to see our son's pediatrician and he bought a few pieces. He was our first client.
"The first thing I ever made on my own was a pair of silver earrings. My husband taught me so I could help him. I remember watching him work on his own 'til all hours of the night and I really wanted to learn how to craft jewelry. Finally the day came when he asked me to help him and that's how I started. As I saw the jewelry I had been crafting and saw how beautiful it was I felt happy — everyone kept saying how much they liked what I had made!
"It's not been easy getting established as an artisan because silver is very expensive and it's difficult to purchase. But when you set your own mind to it, you can achieve your goals. My greatest dream is to be able to buy a piece of land and build my own house so that I can leave it to my two sons.
"I like to work with jade because it is a sacred stone for us Maya people. Jade used to be worn as an amulet, and those who wore the most jade pieces were considered to be the most important people in the community. Rescuing the value of our traditions is always important.
"Silver has become a way of life for my family and, little by little, I'm teaching my sons so that when they grow up they may choose to continue what their mom and dad began for them.
"Guatemala offers many opportunities for those of us who like to work hard and now my husband and I have a workshop where we also sell our designs. I strongly believe that everything is possible if one has dreams, and that nothing is impossible if you work hard to achieve your goals.
"I think the people who support traditional handcrafts can tell that ours is jewelry that satisfies the highest demands.
"I lead a happy and tranquil life together with my loved ones. I enjoy going to fairs and expos to exhibit my jewelry. We have been recognized several times by Guatemala's Tourism Institute where they give special mention to the high quality of our designs, as well as for our hard work.
"I believe our jewelry reflects all the love that we pour into what we do. Our shoppers are mostly tourists who like our designs because we use the best jade and the best quality silver we can find.
"Offering everyone my art is another dream come true. I am honored to see people beyond Guatemala's borders wear my designs. Each one of them bears my best wishes."
Products (96)
Guatemalan Hand Crafted Multi Color Jade and Silver Necklace 'Colorful Dahlias'
Reversible Silver Pendant Necklace with 2 Shades Green Jade 'Quetzal Lord Eclipse'
Green and Black Jade on Sterling Silver Bracelet 'Natural Geometry'
Medium Green Guatemalan Jade Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings 'Green Apple'
Green Turtle-Themed Jade Dangle Earrings form Guatemala 'Marine Turtles in Green'
Heart-Shaped Dark Green Jade Dangle Earrings from Guatemala 'Dark Green Spirals of Love'
Natural Rhodonite Ring from Guatemala 'Plain and Simple'
High-Polished Sterling Silver Stud Earrings with Jade Stones 'Vital Soul'
Maya Eclipse Lilac and Dark Green Jade Pendant Necklace 'Lilac Quetzal Eclipse'
Faceted Dark Green Jade Signet Ring from Guatemala 'Gleaming Facets'
Handcrafted Modern Sterling Silver Pendant Jade Necklace 'Pale Green Tears'
Rhodonite and Jade Ring 'Now and Then'
Dark Green Guatemalan Jade Necklace in Sterling Silver 'North and South'
Leaf-Shaped Green Jade Earrings 'Leaf Center'
Handmade Guatemalan Black Jade Earrings 'Night Monument'
Circular Light Green Jade Dangle Earrings from Guatemala 'Light Green Wheel of Fortune'
Modern Handmade Guatemalan Green Jade Earrings 'Three Wishes'
Green Jade and Sterling Silver Teardrop Earrings from Mexico 'Drops of Peace'
Men's Handcrafted Sterling Silver Pendant Jade Necklace 'Invincible'
Hand Made Heart Shaped Sterling Silver Dangle Jade Earrings 'Wild Heart'
Jade Pendant Necklace of Mayan Figure Iq from Guatemala 'Iq Medallion'
Artisan Crafted Jade and Sterling Silver Earrings 'Apple Princess of the Forest'
Dark Green Jade and Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings 'Subtlety in Dark Green'
Artisan Crafted Lilac Jade Dangle Earrings 'Forest Cat'
Modern Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings with Jade Stones 'Imperial Harmony'
Handmade Sterling Silver Jade Stud Earrings Set of 3 'Maya Moons'
Sterling Silver Jade Double-Sided Pendant Necklace 'Bicolor Shadow'
Jade pendant necklace 'Forest Lilac'
Guatemalan Hand Crafted Apple Green Jade Dangle Earrings 'Apple Green Blossoming Dew'
Faceted Green Jade Pendant Necklace from Guatemala 'Green Ancestral Treasure'
Jade Dangle Earrings in Black from Guatemala 'Mayan Peaks in Black'
Dark Green Jade Cylindrical Dangle Earrings from Guatemala 'Dark Green Mayan Pillars'
Eclipse Green Jade and Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace 'Green Quetzal Eclipse'
Jade and Aventurine Dangle Earrings from Guatemala 'Earthen Fruits'
Round Dark Green Jade Pendant Necklace from Guatemala 'Dark Green Wheel of Fortune'
Round Jade and 925 Silver Pendant Necklace from Guatemala 'Mixco Moon'
Handcrafted Heart Shaped Sterling Silver Link Jade Bracelet 'Soul Mates'
Hand Crafted Jade earrings 'Maya Ascension'
Guatemala Artisan Crafted Jade and Sterling Silver Earrings 'Green Nuances'
Handcrafted Faceted Jade Oval Sterling Silver Cocktail Ring 'Facet Fixation'
Faceted Jade Pendant Necklace from Guatemala 'Roped Facets'
Round Black Jade Stud Earrings from Guatemala 'Round Delight'
Hand Crafted Sterling Silver Jade Pendant Necklace 'Maya Virtues'
Handmade Guatemalan Jade Pendant Necklace 'Dark Green Sacred Quetzal'
Fair Trade Sterling Silver Jade Pendant Necklace 'Floating Leaf'
Light Green Jade Silver Heart Pendant Necklace Guatemala 'Mayan Heart in Light Green'
Guatemalan Pendant Necklace with Natural Jade Beads 'Vibrant Culture'
Guatemalan Green Jade Diamond Shape Earrings 'Verdant Diamond'
Handmade Silver Dolphin Earrings with Lilac Maya Jade 'Lilac Dolphin'
Modern Sterling Silver Dangle Jade Earrings 'Floating in the Breeze'
Light and Dark Green Jade Earrings 'Maya Geometry'
Fair Trade Sterling Silver Dangle Jade Earrings 'Pale Green Tears'
Black Jade Dangle Earrings from Guatemala 'Spiral of Life'
Unique Jade Dangle Earrings with Sterling Silver 'Black Peacock'
Pointed 925 Silver Jade Statement Necklace from Guatemala 'Mayan Elite'
Artisan Crafted Green Jade Link Bracelet 'Natural Connection'
Round Jade Stud Earrings in Sterling Silver 'Harmonious Peace'
Heart Shaped Jade Sterling Silver Link Bracelet 'Love Immemorial'
Artisan Crafted Dark Green Jade and Sterling Silver Bracelet 'Dark Green Natural Connection'
Fair Trade Mint Green Jade and Silver Earrings 'Maya Mint'
Sterling Silver Jade Double-Sided Heart Pendant Necklace 'Love Emotion'
Green Jade Teardrop Pendant Necklace from Guatemala 'Falling Drop'
Maya Eclipse Pendant Green and Black Jade on Silver Jewelry 'Quetzal Eclipse'
Green Rhombus Jade Single Stone Ring from Guatemala 'Love Rhombus in Green'
Guatemalan Hand Crafted Lilac Jade Dangle Earrings 'Lilac Dahlias'
Dark Green Jade Sterling Silver Geometric Dangle Earrings 'Ancient Heritage'
Artisan Crafted Sterling Silver Dark Green Jade Earrings 'Forest Cat'
Sterling Silver Heart Earrings with Light Green Jade 'Innocent Heart'
Light green jade dangle earrings 'Spiral of Life'
Jade Sterling Silver Oval Shape Dangle Earrings Guatemala 'Woodland Princess'
Sterling Silver and Jade Cat Dangle Earrings 'Nature of God - Cat'
Drop-Shaped Jade Dangle Earrings in Dark Green 'Dark Green Tears'
Jade Artisan Crafted Ring 'Life Divine'
Signet Style Green Guatemalan Jade Ring 'Indomitable'
Guatemalan Hand Crafted Sterling Silver Black Jade Earrings 'Maya Night'
Artisan Crafted Jade and Sterling Silver Earrings 'Power of Life'
Dark Green Jade on Handmade Sterling Silver Bird Earrings 'Forest Quetzal'
Collectible Modern Jade Sterling Silver Cocktail Ring 'Maya Princess'
Jade Jaguar Pendant Necklace from Guatemala 'Ix'
Light Green Jade Rhombus Stud Earrings from Guatemala 'Diamond Lassos'
Multicolored Jade Obelisk 'Healing Power'
Light Green Teardrop Jade Pendant Necklace from Guatemala 'Pale Green Tear'
Heart-Shaped Jade Wrap Ring 'When Two Hearts Meet'
Jade Pendant Necklace of Mayan Figure No'j from Guatemala 'No'j Medallion'
Jade dangle earrings 'Quetzal In Love'
Hand-Carved Jade Owl Pendant Necklace from Guatemala 'Kame'
Heart-Shaped Dark Green Jade Cocktail Ring from Guatemala 'Love Dream'
Sterling Silver Pendant Jade Necklace 'Floating in the Breeze'
Artisan Crafted Heart Shaped Jade Pendant Necklace 'Love Immemorial'
Dark Green Jade on Handmade Sterling Silver Bird Earrings 'Quetzal Beauty'
Unique Sterling Silver Jade Dangle Earrings 'Dark Green Sacred Quetzal'
Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings with Drop-Shaped Jade Stones 'Harmony Drops'
Jade heart necklace 'Love Immemorial'
Jade and Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace from Guatemala 'Light Green Forest Princess'
Sterling Silver Link Bracelet with Dark Green Jade Stones 'Maya Queen'
Green Heart Shaped Jade Silver Dangle Earrings Guatemala 'Mayan Heart in Green'