Beaded Mosaic

The San Blas Archipelago, off the northeastern coast of Panama, is home to the Kuna Yala—an indigenous people that inhabit its 365 coastal islands.  The only way to truly experience the islands is by sailboat, and we sailed them for a month. Women wear mola blouses with patterned skirts, red and yellow head scarfs, and arm and leg beads.  This intricate geometric beaded pattern needed to be hand strung, bead-by-bead, to display correctly on her small legs.  Image made while we were cruising Central America in our sailboat 2000-2001.