family figurines

Wearing a variety of colorful cotton dresses, 12 Guatemalan worry dolls preserve Maya traditions. Originally made in honor of the Mayan sun god, these diminutive figurines are handcrafted by the Lopez Garcia Family in the style of quitapenas, or "worry dolls," designed to provide comfort and store preoccupations. The set of twelve arrives with a colorful cotton bag.

The Magi make their way toward the stable where Jesus sleeps in a manger. Guided by the Christmas star, they seek the Holy Family and a newborn king. Leonor Quispe works in the traditional art of arpillería (patchwork) to create an heirloom Christmas stocking. Each tiny figure is crafted in three dimensions and lavishly embroidered.

The Christmas star announces the location of the stable where Jesus sleeps in a manger. Guided by the star, shepherds and Maggi will find the Holy Family and a newborn king. Leonor Quispe works in the traditional art of arpillería (patchwork) to create an heirloom Christmas stocking. Each tiny figure is crafted in three dimensions and lavishly embroidered. The colorful background fabric emulates traditional hand-loomed cloth.

Santa and his reindeer soar across the night sky above the manger where little Jesus sleeps. Despite the late hour, shepherds watch their sheep, turning a curious gaze toward the Three Kings riding camels. Leonor Quispe brings the nativity to the Andes in a lavish, handcrafted Christmas tree skirt. She works in the traditional art of arpillería (patchwork) to create this family heirloom. Each tiny figure is crafted in three dimensions and embroidered.

Dressed in a variety of colorful dresses, 12 Guatemalan worry dolls are here to preserve ancient Maya traditions. Legend has it that the Maya Sun God gave princess Ixmucané the gift of solving people's problems. With time people started making dolls in Ixmucané's honor and they would tell her their woes, hoping she would solve them through the dolls. "This tradition is still alive," says Ana from the Lopez Garcia Family. "The idea is to have many worry dolls and trust each one with whatever troubles you. Once you've told them, you put them under your pillow. It is said that during the night, while we sleep, the dolls will whisper the solution to our troubles. For us, crafting the worry dolls - muñequitas quita penas - is our main source of income.It allows us to provide our children with an education as well as a job for all of us." The set of 12 arrives in a pedal-loomed cotton pouch.

Please expect slight variations in color and size as each doll is crafted by hand with available materials, rendering each one unique.