CLIPBOARD

Ana Tejeda doesn’t need a neon sign or a flashy window display to advertise her shop, Ana’s of Guatemala, in San Juan Capistrano. Her exquisitely colored merchandise, imported mostly from Guatemala, beckons customers inside with hues of deep purple, sky blue, red and aqua.

Once beyond the colorful allure, customers will be delighted with the variety and quality of the handmade fabrics, embroidery, wool blankets, pillows, dolls, quilts and jewelry. Tejeda, who was born in Guatemala, is on hand to explain the folklore and significance of the colors, embroidered Mayan figures and woven patterns.

“The colors and designs are more than pretty to the villagers who create them, “ said Tejeda. “They tell a story or have a sacred significance that is centuries old.”

Also apparent is the complex and painstaking methods of hand weaving and dying that make each piece of fabric, skirt or blanket a work of art.

Tejeda travels to Guatemala at least once a year to live among the artisans who produce her merchandise.

“They are mostly small, family-run operations with generations of family members helping out. The old ones teach the little ones,” she said.

Each village or city has a unique color and pattern in its weavings, making it possible to identify from which part of the country each item originated.

“That duffel bag is from Chichicastenangro,” said Tejeda, pointing out a multicolored cotton bag. “That’s typical of the patterns and colors woven there.”

A hand-loomed bedspread in various shades of aqua is from Zacualpa, and the silver-plated filigree jewelry is from Coban. Other items, such as the hand-appliqued wall-hanging depicting village life, are from Colombia and Mexico.

Ana’s brightly colored baggy shorts are popular among surfers, and the hand-embroidered T-shirts and quilted jackets are sought by those who want a different way to accent their wardrobe.

With Ana’s fabrics and accessories, it’s possible to achieve a unique look without seeming to have just stepped out of a mall.

* Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 12 to 5 p.m., Sunday

* Address: 26832 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano

* Telephone: (714) 493-8891

* Miscellaneous Information: Hand-woven Guatemalan fabrics sell for $8 to $25 per yard. Double-thick wool blankets are $100, skirts $40 to $50, shorts, $15 and T-shirts $36.