handmade things

Perfect for keeping eyeglasses or face mask handy, this lanyard is both practical and beautiful. Costa Rican artisan Rebeca Zamora creates the lanyard from supple brown leather, adding a cute multicolored cotton tassel.

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.

A meaningful gift, "This sculpture expresses love and sharing," says Eka of this exquisite statuette. It is carved by hand from suar wood featuring fluid lines that convey the essence of natural harmony.

Open hands offer a welcoming gesture in this suar wood catchall from Bali. Wayan Rendah creates the catchall, carving it by hand and giving it a natural finish that highlights the grain of the wood. It's ready to hold your keys, spare change, or jewelry.

Volcanic stones and pinewood beads capture the bold essence of the modern man, forming a dapper accessory crafted in Guatemala. Artisans Erick and Ivania work long hours on this beaded bracelet, meticulously arranging each piece around an adjustable nylon cord and finishing it with a hematite bead at the center, a symbol of protection.

Corral keys, wallets, and coins on a desk or entryway with this hand-tooled leather catchall. Designed by Johnny Jimenez, it features a lasso motif inspired by the cowboys —morochucos— who live and work in Peru's Andean highlands.

By Thai artisan Waraporn Khamsuk, this domino set offers a unique twist on the traditional tabletop game. Handmade from raintree wood, 56 triangular dominoes or "Trionimoes" come within a handy wooden box. The corner of each domino is hand-painted with colorful dots. This 2-6 player set offers fun for the whole family.

Instructions included.

From the many things that make this adorable sea turtle sculpture by Bali’s Made Arsa truly remarkable, one stands out: its original base crafted from natural benalu or parasite wood. This exceptional material is formed by a plant that attaches to a tree's bark and creates a distinctive, mushroom-like structure, resulting in a base that is unparalleled and one-of-a-kind. The sea turtle figure, which is handmade from jempinis wood and adorned with fabulous hand-painted colors, perches elegantly on this captivating base bringing together the natural and artistic elements in perfect harmony.

Sitting on a splendid throne, Lord Ganesha blesses those who are faithful. He is also known as Vinayak ("Knowledgeable") or Vighneshwer ("God to Remove Obstacles"). Regarded as a benevolent deity, he is always called upon to bless any auspicious event. From Suresh and Devender Garg, this fantastic sculpture is hand-carved from kadam wood with rich detail and vivid artistry.

Ganesha is the son of the mighty god Siwa and the Goddess Parwati. Legend tells that while pregnant, a powerful demon appeared wanting to destroy heaven. The only thing that could destroy the demon and prevent the destruction of heaven was a demi-god who is neither animal nor human, but rather a combination of the two. The group of gods thus brought an elephant before Parwati, who had just given birth. She cast a powerful spell causing her newborn baby to take on characteristics of the powerful elephant and, in effect, creating the half-animal, half-man demi-god that could fight off the demon. The baby Ganesha then succeeded in killing the cruel demon and solidifying his legend.

Music and nature come together to create a country full of rhythm and magic. Inspired by the things that make Costa Rica an amazing place, artisan Jorge Leiton handcrafts a pinewood figurine of the traditional marimba, painting a natural scene of butterflies, symbolizing hope for the future.

Confides Guatemalan artisan Carlos Jimenez, "Thinking of people who like to keep their things organized, I made these pieces with a lot of dedication." He works with cedar wood that displays a beautiful natural grain, hand-carving this pencil holder to display a wavy form that contrasts with a rigid, rectangular one. Three holes offer space for pens an pencils as an open space in the center is perfect for holding sticky notes or business cards.

It's said good things come in small packages; Tulsi Dass's charming meditation bowl is just that. Designed to promote relaxation and calm your nerves, the brass bowl "sings" when tapped by the accompanying wooden mallet. Thai artisans finish the mallet with a coat of resin for a firm, no-slip grip.