handmade gift

Leonor Quispe gives an Andean setting to the very first Christmas. While the Wise Men wend their way to the stable, an angel hovers above the manger to watch over the Holy Family. In the sky, the Christmas star illuminates whitewashed homes that cluster amid cactus. Quispe works in the traditional art of arpillera (patchwork) to create this extraordinary wall hanging. Each tiny figure is crafted in three dimensions and lavishly embroidered by hand. A display rod (not included) can be slipped through two loops at the top.

Shaped by hand of blown glass, an angel lifts her wings and bows her head in prayer. Artisans from the Cooperative of Cantel create this reverent figurine as an expression of faith.

Because each piece is handmade, shape and size can vary slightly and tiny bubbles may appear within the glass. This exemplifies the hand-blown technique, making every piece a unique example of blown glass craftsmanship.

Riris Mahanani of Indonesia creates this charming holiday ornament using paper from recycled magazines. Thin strips of rolled paper are arranged in the shape of a traditional Christmas tree, complete with a paper star on top. Maharani's creative technique is the perfect use of otherwise landfill-bound material.

This handmade sculpture is a charming, batik-style take on a traditional Christmas tree. Javanese artisan Riris Mahanani creates each decorative sculpture using brown jute applied over a carton backing. Then, the tree is dotted with multicolored ornaments with traditional batik flower motifs for a festive decoration.

This handmade home accent is a charming, batik-style take on a traditional Christmas tree. Javanese artisan Riris Mahanani creates the decorative sculpture using green jute applied over a cardboard backing. Then, multi-colored accent ornaments with traditional batik flower motifs are dotted over the tree for a colorful, festive decoration.