Soda pop-top backpack, 'Blue Rainbow Gleam'

Product Review

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. Combining blue threads with gleaming aluminum, Neide Ambrosio presents a delightful backpack-style purse. She crochets the chic, modern piece by hand. By recycling colorful pop-tops, she affirms environmental responsibility. The bag is lined and features a zipper closure. Artisan Info: "I still cannot believe how life can be so unpredictable and have everything change from one day to another. I am from Sao Paolo, and when I retired I moved to Rio de Janeiro because my husband is a singer, and Rio offers better career opportunities. At the time, my husband was very busy because he wanted to further his career in this new city and it wasn't easy, so I spent all my time alone. I was getting bored and feeling useless. I was unhappy and I didn't have any friends so I was alone all the time. "One of my friends in Sao Paolo was sick and I was going over to visit her, so I wanted to bring her a present. I went walking all over Rio looking for an original and I came upon an arts and crafts fair where I saw a woman making belts using recycled objects. I fell in love with that belt and I started talking with the woman. I confided how difficult it was for me to adapt to Rio, and she felt compassion for me. She said that she would teach me how to crochet and use recycled objects, so that