wonderful gift

Highly revered and beloved by the Mexican people, the Virgin of Guadalupe inspires Ana Maria Gonzalez to create a collection of decoupage crosses in her honor. In 1999, Pope John Paul II named Our Lady of Guadalupe patron saint of the Americas, and she is celebrated on December 12. Her well-known image miraculously appeared on the Saint Juan Diego's robe, where he was carrying Castilian roses as proof of her appearance to him. Guadalupe sent him to the Spanish bishop to convince him to a build a church in her honor. In this cross, Guadalupe is welcomed into Heaven by God and His angels.

Dazzle your dinner guests with this lively salad bowl in deep blue and sunny yellow patterns. Sergio Ponce crafts ceramic tableware in his Dolores Hidalgo studio, a significant hub of Talavera production. Matches perfectly with artisans matching cruet set. Makes a wonderful house warming or host gift.

Rich earth tones combine with soft, sturdy nylon in a hammock that is as handsome as it is comfortable. Maya Artists of the Yucatan follow time-honored traditions to hand-weave this piece.

Long before the Spanish arrived upon the coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula, the Maya preferred to sleep and rest in hammocks. They considered the hammock to be like the loving embrace of a mother, due to the comfortable manner in which the body is held and swung within its cradle. Maya Artists of the Yucatan seek to preserve time-honored customs while also offering stylized versions of the original Maya hammock. For them, the hammock is a work of art. Their hammocks are incredibly comfortable, easy to maintain, and may be stored just about anywhere.

Please note: The accompanying extension ropes may vary in color from those shown in the images.

It easily packs for travel to the beach or lake. Extender ropes (measuring 1 meter), hammock hooks ("S" hooks), and step-by-step instructions included for easy installation.

NOTE: Because each is woven individually by hand, measurements may vary by as much as ten centimeters. There may be slight color variations from hammock to hammock.

This cute little porcupine invites you to experience the rich artisanal history of Mexico, crafted of copal wood with maguey plant fiber spines. Mexico's Zeny and Reyna work together to craft this wonderful alebrije sculpture, painting it by hand with hues of bright green, yellow, red, and blue for a vibrant look.

Crafted by hand, this jewelry box by Julio Sanchez is a superb example of a traditional Peruvian art. He works in mohena wood, a fine hardwood whose grain is similar to mahogany. Beautifully tooled leather depicts ancient Inca icons, and the locking chest has ornate bronze handles on each side.

In the traditional style of Talavera handicrafts, colorful hand-painted designs decorate this rectangular casserole dish from Mexico. Armando Sobreyra creates this wonderful ceramic dish for family gatherings.

Working with native copal wood, Zeny and Reyna in Mexico create this wonderful alebrije sculpture, a popular traditional folk art of Oaxaca. The whimsical Siamese cat is painted in loving detail with a yellow coat and bright blue eyes. The folk art tradition of alebrijes dates back to the 1930's in Mexico City. A man named Pedro Linares was taken ill, and in his feverish dreams he saw a strange land populated with curious creatures--a donkey with wings, a rooster with bull's horns, and a lion with the head of a dog. The beasts all ran at him, shouting the nonsense word "alebrije! alebrije!". Upon his recovery, Linares began recreating the fantastical creatures he had seen in his dream. The art form gained popularity, and alebrijes are now made of wood as well as papier mache.

Perfect for tapas or snacks, this wonderful appetizer platter is from Ivan Martinez in Mexico. The artisan works in the traditional style of Talavera ceramics to create the colorful, hand-painted set, which includes a square platter, a small round central bowl and four dishes that fit around the bowl.

Crafted of ceramic, this delightful bunch of garlic cloves will make a wonderful addition to your kitchen. Bringing a tasteful flair to any home, this decorative ristra is designed by Mexico's Rene Vazquez. He diligently crafts each pepper by hand, completing them with a hand-painted finish. The bunch dangles from natural henequen fiber.

Two bamboo boards and one bamboo cylinder beautifully decorated with the pyrography technique are the highlights of these wind chimes hand-crafted in Bali. Artisan Trisna Dewi designs this wonderful outdoor decorative accent with two layers of aluminum pipes that have already been hand-tuned to produce a serene sound. You can hang the lovely wind chimes from a nylon cord at your favorite spot at home.