stocking stuffers

In this hand made arpillera Christmas stocking, artisan Leonor Quispe of Peru brings to life the biblical tale of Noah's Ark. Two-by-two giraffes, wild boars, zebras, rabbits, sheep, leopards, and ladybugs board the ark to join alpacas, camels, and butterflies already on board. Sea creatures swim nearby and the two doves of peace fly overhead under the arch of a rainbow. Two loops are attached to the top of the stocking to allow for vertical display on a wall, or, you can hang it from your mantel for a vibrant addition to your holiday decor.

Miniature zampoña panpipes bring their soft tones to Christmas carols, sung by tiny people in traditional dress. They center red wreaths wrapped in handloomed-style ribbons. "Andean cultures are very expressive with their music," Margarita and Martha say. "These ornaments transmit our feelings about Christmas."

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.

Traditional Guatemalan worry dolls share the love as festive ornaments by the Lopez Garcia Family. Each doll in the set of six is crafted by hand and wears a handwoven skirt and headdress. "The idea is to trust each doll with whatever troubles you. It is said that during the night, while we sleep, the dolls will whisper the solution to our troubles," says Ana from the Lopez Garcia Family. The set of six arrives in a hand-loomed cotton pouch.

Legend has it that the Maya Sun God gave princess Ixmucané the gift of solving people's problems. With time people started making dolls in Ixmucané's honor and they would tell her their woes, hoping she would solve them through the dolls.

Please expect slight variations in color and size as each doll is crafted by hand with available materials, making each one unique.

In the traditional style of quitapenas, or worry dolls, these angelic ornaments are created by the Guatemalan artisans of the Lopez Garcia Family. Each angel features sparkling paper wings in a different color, and wears a dress made from handwoven cotton fabric with colorful stripes. This set arrives in a handwoven cotton storage pouch.

A colorful bird wings across this beautiful handbag from Wahyu Sulistiani. Created in batik on cotton, the sawunggaling motif depicts the king's favorite rooster, which is a symbol of Javanese beauty and power. Lavish beadwork is applied by hand, and the roomy bag opens to reveal a convenient inner pocket.