festive decor

This handmade home accent is a charming, batik-style take on a traditional Christmas tree. Javanese artisan Riris Mahanani creates the decorative sculpture using green jute applied over a cardboard backing. Then, multi-colored accent ornaments with traditional batik flower motifs are dotted over the tree for a colorful, festive decoration.

No holiday would be complete with a pair of Santa's little helpers at your side. Balinese artisan Nik, who specializes in holiday ornaments, starts by hand carving the pair from albesia wood. The elves are hand-painted in festive red and green, and finished with looped polyester cords for easy hanging.

Old Saint Nick is as festive as the Christmas star in a set of four ornaments from Bali. Wayan Cidra, from Bhakti Senang Hat, crafts each albesia wood ornament by hand and paints them green. The set of four ornaments hangs from golden cords.

"I'm the youngest of five siblings and our parents are farmers in Gianyar. I never went to school because of my parent's financial limitations, and also because I got poliomyelitis when I was just a child and it left me with weakened knees. I wanted to help my parents in some way, so I have been crafting ornaments since I was 14 years old. I felt so proud to myself when I received my very first income. Although I'm not really happy with my physical condition, I'm happy doing ornaments and hopefully my products can make more people happy. My hobby is singing traditional Balinese songs. I'm married and we have a son and a daughter. My wife is the one who helps me in making these ornaments, which I hope makes people’s Christmas happier."

Old Saint Nick is as festive as the Christmas star in a set of four ornaments from Bali. Wayan Cidra, from Bhakti Senang Hat, crafts each albesia wood ornament by hand and paints two in maroon and two in green. The set of four ornaments hangs from golden cords.

"I'm the youngest of five siblings and our parents are farmers in Gianyar. I never went to school because of my parent's financial limitations, and also because I got poliomyelitis when I was just a child and it left me with weakened knees. I wanted to help my parents in some way, so I have been crafting ornaments since I was 14 years old. I felt so proud to myself when I received my very first income. Although I'm not really happy with my physical condition, I'm happy doing ornaments and hopefully my products can make more people happy. My hobby is singing traditional Balinese songs. I'm married and we have a son and a daughter. My wife is the one who helps me in making these ornaments, which I hope makes people’s Christmas happier."