handmade stuff

Crafted by members of the Lopez Garcia Family of Guatemala, this set of six quitapenas dolls makes a wonderful gift for friends or family that tells the recipient you care about their well-being and wish them the best. Quitapenas means "to remove worries" in Spanish; artisan Aura Lopez explains the Mayan worry doll tradition. "My grandparents said that the way to use them was to take the doll out of the bag or wooden box and tell it your problems and fears," she states. "Then, you place the doll under your pillow and, the next day, your problem becomes smaller or can be resolved." The set consists of three male and three female worry dolls each clasping a red heart to his or her chest and comes with a pouch made from loom-woven cotton. Handmade using tule wood, polyurethane, nylon stockings, kraft paper, and 100% cotton fabric, the dolls are dressed in vividly-colored traditional Guatemalan attire.

Colourful mirrored snowflakes light up this wool felt stocking handmade by artisans in India. The ivory stocking is presented by Rajesh Gehlot.

Donning cute winter coats, felted wool animal friends are ready for a snow day. Indian artisan Ashish Mehta handcrafts this assorted set of six, detailing each animal with cotton embroidery.

Keep those glasses handy and accessorize at the same time with this pretty eyeglass lanyard. Mirian Zet in Guatemala crafts the lanyard by hand with glistening glass and crystal beads in orange, bronze, gold and peach hues.

A colorful peacock struts his stuff on the cover of this journal from Vidushini in India. The artisan paints the front cover by hand in the traditional Gond folk art style, which was once used to adorn the walls and floors of a home. The journal is made of handmade paper and features 40 unlined pages and a spiral binding.

With a strap that is designed to tie at the desired length, this bohemian shoulder bag is a beautiful testimony to northern Thailand's textile traditions. The cotton bag is woven on a traditional loom by Karen hill tribe weavers in pink magenta with patterns in black, yellow and gray. Adorned with elephants detailed in aluminum repoussé, the bag by Jiap Rojjana has a pocket in the solid black lined interior and closes with a coconut shell button.

Felted wool puppies are ready for a winter's walk in their coats and scarves. Indian artisan Ashish Mehta crafts each dog from wool, wearing a scarf and jacket with cotton embroidery and glass beads for the eyes. This set of six arrives with a polyester storage pouch.

Mighty and regal, elephants celebrate Thailand's artistic heritage in a design by Jiap Rojjana. The brocade adorns a cotton shoulder bag trimmed with rain tree wood and a coconut shell button. The lined interior features a practical pocket.

All natural and handmade, the vegan and cruelty-free products from the Handmade Soap Company use locallygrown ingredients in County Meath, Ireland. Thisgift set of three wonderfully scented hand creamshydrates and nourishes hands, leaving them feelingsilky soft. Great for stocking stuffers or to treatyourself. At 30ml each, they’re airport-friendly too.Set includes Lavender, Lemongrass and Grapefruit.

INGREDIENTS

Grapefruit: Aqua (water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba (May Chang) Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum (fragrance), Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

Lavender: Aqua (water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Herb Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Oil, Mentha Spicata (Spearmint) Herb Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor) Leaf Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum (fragrance), Limonene, Linalool.

Lemongrass: Aqua (water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cymbopogon Flexuosus (Lemongrass) Leaf Oil, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood) Bark Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum (fragrance), Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

Peruvian artisan Dina shows the world the ancestral elegance of the Andes region in a masterfully crafted ceramic necklace. Made with traditional techniques, the accessory comes in a brown palette that enriches each triangle pendant at the center of the design, typical of the region's artworks. On top of that, a sterling silver clasp allows an easy fit.

As the waxing moon inches closer toward becoming the bright, full lunar beacon that is the stuff of superstition the world over, a series of wondrous, crescent-shapes adorn our night sky with splendor. Thai artisan Jantana designs and creates this beautiful rendition of celestial rebirth in 925 sterling silver. The pendant features an exquisite, brushed-satin finish and hangs gracefully from an intricate, Venetian-style box chain.

Sasithon Saisuk links disks of coconut shell to create this charming shoulder bag. Sleek beads of rain tree wood and an inner pocket distinguish this purse.