handmade product

Handmade of acacia wood, a geometric chess board provides the perfect place for a battle of minds. This chess set is designed by Indian artisan Ashish Mehta. He details the board with haldu wood inlay for a two-tone appearance. Magnets under the board help keep your pieces in place during play. A velvet lining inside the drawer protects the chess pieces.

White rabbits chase glowing orange deer around an exquisite nierika, or votive beadwork composition by Kupihaute, which takes the shape of a flower with five wide petals.

The artisan, who writes fluently in the Huichol, Nahuatl, Spanish and English languages, talks about this work in his own words. "This nierika/mirror represents the duality of our existence. The rabbit symbolizes the permanent movement of earthiness reflected in the lunar mirror. The deer is the spirit that animates the movement of our wise memory, marking the spiral path of our ancestral cultures in permanent transformation and adaptation around the peyote-maize." The artist has created the word "eARThiness" to emphasize the word "art" found inside "earth." "For me, this eARThiness is very important and meaningful."

The intricate images are formed with tiny seed beads. Kupihuate patiently places them one at a time with a needle made of abalone shell onto a huanacaxtle wood backing. Beeswax is used instead of glue.

The process is totally spontaneous, with no previous sketch or design. It is guided by the artist's unconscious to tell the stories that remain in our collective ancestral memory. He signs his work with the symbol of a butterfly on the reverse side of the nierika.

Handmade from rich mahogany wood, this stunning mini djembe drum is created by Trisna Dewi who is inspired by the music she grew up listening to in her home of Bali. The artisan uses an intricate process in the creation of this instrument, which features stretched goatskin on the top of the drum, producing a pleasant sound when struck. Beautiful gecko engravings and colorful cord decorate the sides, giving the instrument an attractive appearance.

Useful since ancient times, back scratchers have accompanied people throughout different eras. Made to relieve, this handy accessory is now presented by the talented Thai artisan Sanai Keawchaisa, who uses advanced techniques to hand-carve this sturdy scratcher from teakwood, allowing for a sublime combination of natural colors.

A brilliant painted wood box opens to reveal handcrafted masks. Used during the Carnival celebrations preceding Lent, they show an astonishing array of animals, human and fantasy faces. Alejandro Chávez displays them in a traditional diorama, known as a retablo; each figurine is modeled by hand.

“My products show a little piece of my hometown of Tonala, which I always carry in my heart,” says Mexican artisan Ana Maria Gonzalez. She crafts this decoupage box from pine wood. It can be used as decoration or for storing jewelry and other belongings. The box is handmade and the cover features a printed image of a woman wearing traditional Mexican attire. Once dried, the box is treated for a unique aged finish.

Yudi Suardi in Bali designs and crafts a stunning decorative piece from two kinds of wood and blue-tinted glass. The artisan hand carves a patch of mushrooms from jempinis wood, using a base of benalu wood with a naturally flat bottom. A hand blown glass dish rests on top of the sculpture for all your small trinkets.

Let your mind wander to a scene of foamy blue water, rhythmically crashing into rocky cliffs. Each out-tide exposes an outcrop of jagged earth cloaked beneath the deep-blue ocean. It could be serene, or it could be an illustration of the power of the Earth's bodies of water. Made Sadia creates a stunning representation of tumultuous tidal-surges that fits on your desk with this handcrafted blown glass vase. Beautiful albesia wood is reminiscent of jagged rocks, while the clear handblown crystal takes on the nature of the tides for an eye-catching decorative piece that is the perfect addition to your home.

Because each vase 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.

Inspired by the traditional music of her childhood, Balinese artisan Trisna Dewi creates a pleasant percussion instrument using local suar wood. The instrument is designed to be played by shaking it back and forth to produce a harmonious bell-like sound.

Through the Callotl Project, the Domenech Foundation in El Salvador focuses on the sustainable development of the Costa del Sol region and the conservation of sea turtles. They achieve this goal by creating sustainable products made from parts of the coconut fruit that were previously underutilized and often burned as firewood in the area. Their creations are not only eco-friendly products but also a reflection of the flora, fauna and breathtaking landscapes of the region. Salvadoran artisans expertly carve coconut shells to create this practical soap dish, featuring a modern design with three drainage holes and a pinewood base, perfect for securely holding your soap bars in place while adding an organic touch to your bathroom.

Designed by Tulsi Dass in India, this singing bowl is designed to promote relaxation and calm your nerves. Thai artisans hand craft the bowl from shimmering brass, which produces a soothing sound when struck with the included mango wood mallet. Finished with a resin-coated handle, the mallet is easy to grip while you meditate.

The kalimba, or African thumb piano, is easy to play and pleasing to the ear. Crafted from a hollow coconut shell and painted in bright colors, this one by Trisna Dewi depicts a stylized rising sun. The kalimba produces an array of varied tones when the stainless steel "leaves" are plucked with the thumb. This petite and portable instrument is perfect for reproducing elements and tones of tribal music with ease.