ring set

Thirty different species of birds are represented in this amazing mini ornament set from Jose Arriola in Guatemala. The petite ornaments are crafted from ceramic and carefully painted in colourful detail. The set of 30 arrives in a cotton storage bag.

"In Guatemala, we have more than 720 bird species, but few people seem to care about preserving their habitat. This is my way of showing some of our tropical birds and sharing my respect for nature," Jose Arriola says. Working in ceramic, he creates a set of six ornaments. A toucan, a scarlet macaw and a crested carpenter bird are joined by the almost-endangered blue ocellated turkey and two bright parrots. The ornaments arrive with a pouch of handloomed cotton.

"Hummingbirds are a daily feature in our gardens, that's why I combined the image of the bird with the flowers and colors of Guatemalan gardens. What I like about hummingbirds is that they seem to be full of energy, they're beautiful and yet delicate," confides José Arriola. The talented artisan handcrafts the ornaments of ceramic and paints each one with acrylics with different themes. The six ornaments hangs from bright red ribbons, and the set arrives in a traditional cotton pouch woven on a foot loom.

Stylized peacocks and pretty flowers pose on festive ornaments — one each in green, red, yellow and orange. Working in an ancient art they learned from their father, the Canto Sisters craft the set from dried gourds harvested from the yerba mate plant. They are cleaned, dried and painted before the images are meticulously engraved around the surface by hand.

Cultivated on the Peruvian coast for 6,000 years, mate gourds were decorated with images of birds and fish by the pre-Inca Moche and Chimu peoples. But it was the Inca who went on to use the gourds as cups and bowls, in ceremonial objects and in musical instruments.

Because each unique piece is handcrafted from a natural gourd, please expect slight variations in shape, size and motifs.

This whimsical collection of elephants, butterflies, turtles, birds, giraffes, tigers, monkeys, frogs, alpacas, and dogs will help you create the most unique Christmas tree you've ever seen. Jose Arriola painstakingly handcrafts and hand-paints each tiny piece in terracotta and adds a loop for hanging. They arrive with a cotton bag for easy storage.

Jose Arriola learned the art of ceramics from his mother. His work is inspired by old Mayan traditions and the bright colors of his homeland.