gifts for bird lovers

By Elias Garcia, this charming wreath carries a message — "Be Happy Always." He covers it with handloomed Guatemalan textiles and adorns it with diminutive worry dolls who wear red clown noses. The dolls are crafted by his sister of the Lopez Garcia family.

According to Maya legend, the sun god gave princess Ixmucane the gift of solving people's problems. With time people started making dolls in Ixmucane's honor and they would tell her their woes, hoping she would solve them through the dolls. Many people whisper to the dolls, then place them under their pillows at night, hoping that the doll will provide a solution as they sleep.

By Elias Garcia, this handcrafted cross is a reminder of the importance of faith. The artisan covers the open figure with handwoven fabric. Diminutive worry dolls in handwoven apparel stand shoulder to shoulder to surround the cutout cross. According to Maya legend, the sun god gave princess Ixmucane the gift of solving people's problems. With time people started making dolls in Ixmucane's honor and they would tell her their woes, hoping she would solve them through the dolls. Many people whisper to the dolls, then place them under their pillows at night, hoping that the doll will provide a solution as they sleep.

Elias Garcia links two open hearts to represent love. Diminutive worry dolls in handwoven apparel stand shoulder to shoulder on a cheerful and unique double wreath; they are crafted by his sister of the Lopez Garcia family. Centering the hearts, a wooden plaque reads "Blessed." This charming design hangs from a golden cord.

According to Maya legend, the sun god gave princess Ixmucane the gift of solving people's problems. With time people started making dolls in Ixmucane's honor and they would tell her their woes, hoping she would solve them through the dolls. Many people whisper to the dolls, then place them under their pillows at night, hoping that the doll will provide a solution as they sleep.

These adorable dolls are here to bring some love into your home. Elias Garcia arranges them in two interlocking heart-shaped wreaths covered with colorful handloomed fabric and finished with a wooden plaque reading "Connected Heart to Heart." Each doll is handmade by Elias' sister, Aura, and she dresses each one in a unique handwoven dress.

Quitapenas or "worry dolls" represent Ixmucane, a princess who was gifted with infinite wisdom. Children are instructed to confide all of their worries to their quitapenas and then place them underneath their pillow at night. The dolls will impart their wisdom to them while they sleep and in the morning they'll wake up knowing what to do.

Precise geometric motifs alternate with birds in an exquisite design. From talented members of Women United for Artisan Development, the cushion cover is woven by hand on a backstrap loom. Cording defines the borders, and the back is solid red. "We love birds," the artisans confide. "This design was woven by women who live in Quiché, a forested region in western Guatemala."

Should one of the threads snag, they suggest you pull it back into place from the back of the fabric with a fine crochet hook.

Diminutive worry dolls in handwoven apparel stand shoulder to shoulder on a cheerful and unique wreath. Elias Garcia links two circles to suggest the solidarity of different families, communities and cultures. The dolls are crafted by his sister of the Lopez Garcia family. Centered by a wooden plaque reading "Friends Forever," this charming design hangs from a golden cord.

According to Maya legend, the sun god gave princess Ixmucane the gift of solving people's problems. With time, people started making dolls in Ixmucane's honor and they would tell her their woes, hoping she would solve them through the dolls. Many people whisper to the dolls, then place them under their pillows at night, hoping that the doll will provide a solution as they sleep.