Nicaragua Animal Theme Ceramic Candleholder, "Forest Friends"

Nicaraguan creatures appear amid ferns on a smooth ceramic oval. Isabel and Jessica craft this charming candleholder from terracotta, polishing the finished piece with a zapote fruit seed and applying colors derived from natural minerals. A tealight can be placed inside so that light emanates from stars incised by hand into the terracotta. The top is open to provide even more illumination. "This is our personal favorite," they confide. "We like the colors and also that the butterfly, hummingbird and frog make it unique."