quirky gifts

Add a tender vibe to your environment with this set of three ornaments, each handcrafted by Peruvian artisan Percy Rojas. After choosing the dried gourds, the artisan paints every detail by hand, bringing these lovely cats to life for a warm and lovely ambiance.

Cats and dogs love the holidays, too. Increase your merriment this season by welcoming this set of critter-themed ornaments into your home. Balinese artisan Nik carves the set of four from albesia wood, hand painting each ornament with its own motif. Wooden beads and polyester ribbons accent the set, which comes equipped with strong agel cord for hanging.

Be captivated by the glorious splendor of these reindeer ornaments crafted by Balinese artisan Nik. With a stunning golden hue and distressed pattern ornamenting this gorgeous set of four, each piece is hand-carved from albesia wood. Symbolizing triumph and divinity, the accessories also dangle from nylon cords in a matching and magical tone.

Balinese artisan Nik, who specializes in holiday ornaments, designs this adorable set of six reindeer to bring life and color to your Christmas tree. The delightful accessories are carved by hand from albesia wood, highlighting its natural grain. The reindeer's facial features are delicately hand-painted while their antlers are exquisitely accentuated with glitter in red, green and silver shades. They come ready for hanging with shimmering golden cords.

All aboard to the market at Xela! Sometimes known as chicken buses, these old fashioned vehicles carried people and merchandise to and from rural market towns. Noted Guatemalan ceramicist Vitelio Orozco crafts a diminutive three-inch bus in ceramic, hand-painted in brown, white and turquoise. On the roof, a bright palm leaf basket carries a variety of ceramic and pinewood fruits and vegetables.

Topped with a striped tabby cat, Fida Hussain's decorative papier mache box makes a charming piece of home decor. The Indian artisan starts with weeping willow wood, pasting strips of paper around the box before buffing the surface smooth. Finally, the box is hand painted, then given a coat of glossy lacquer for shine and protection.

This adorable key fob is hand crafted by Claudio Ojeda in Mexico. The panda alebrije is carved from copal wood and painted in black and white and myriad patterns and shapes in pink and purple. The wood figurine adorns a stainless steel key ring. The artisan signs his pieces with the initials "T.C.", which represent his initial "C" preceded by his mother Teresita's initial "T". Claudio learned the art of crafting alebrijes from his mother.

The folk art tradition of alebrijes dates back to the 1930's in Mexico City. A man named Pedro Linares was taken ill, and in his fevered dreams he saw a strange land populated with curious creatures--a donkey with wings, a rooster with bull's horns, and a lion with the head of a dog. The beasts all shouted "alebrije! alebrije!". Upon his recovery, Linares began recreating the fantastical creatures he had seen in his dream. The art form gained popularity, and alebrijes are now made of wood as well as papier mache.

A cheerful piece of decor, this decorative box is presented by artisans Maria and Esteban from Mexico. The ceramic turtle is hand-painted green with multicolored designs on its shell. The shell opens to hold small items.