Christmas is one of our favorite times of the year, but it isn’t easy or cheap, especially when you consider the pressure and cost of finding a unique holiday present for everyone on your list.
But handmade artisan gifts from Greater Good stores alleviate this seasonal stress with meaningful fair-trade gifts that are also easy on your wallet! In addition to treating your loved ones with gifts they won’t find in larger stores, these fair-trade presents support your cause of choice and help an artisan provide for his or her family.
Handmade Artisan Gifts For Under $30
Holiday Owl Ornaments
These adorable owl ornaments have been crafted by Margarita and Martha, a mother-daughter team from Lima, Peru. In addition to using gourds in new ways, the creative pair is making work for other women, who can work from home while caring for their own children.
Winged Beauty Spiral Sterling Silver Earrings
Birds of a feather flock together, and these sterling silver winged hook earrings are a special way to show friends how much you care. This unique jewelry was handcrafted by Bali’s Nyoman Rena, whose Ubud workshop employs 12 men and women artisans helping him handcraft sterling silver jewelry using hammers, stoves, chisels, and other manual tools.
Cherry Heart Alebrije-Style Wood Heart Key Fob
This heart key fob was carved and painted by Claudio Ojeda, a Mexican artisan who learned how to make alebrijes, aka traditional hand-painted Mexican folk art, from his mother. Today, Ojeda and his mother still work side by side in Oaxaca, Mexico, the birthplace of copal wood alebrije art.
Truth and Prayer Shambhala Bracelet
This handmade macrame bracelet has been handcrafted by female artisans in rural Northern India, where women don’t have many opportunities for work. Made with lapis lazuli beads (said to represent truth in ancient Egypt and also September’s birthstone), this adjustable one-size-fits-all bracelet will become a meaningful gift for every woman on your list.
Stunning Nature in Jade Natural Leaf Silver Earrings
These stunning jade leaf drop earrings are the perfect gift for the nature lover in your life. Crafted by artisans from northern Thailand, these unique earrings are made from pressed rubber tree leaves preserved with resin and jade. “This new venture gave flavor to my life,” said engineer-turned-artisan Danai Leosawathiphong, who developed these designs with his wife, Ilkay. “From the very beginning, one of our main objectives has been to employ women, as there were few job offers for women then. Another main objective has been the environment.”
Floral Festivities Ceramic Tequila Decanter
This tequila decanter is a must for the cocktail enthusiast in your life. Handcrafted in Mexico by Armando Sobreyra, a Mexican artisan inspired by centuries-old Talavera ceramics tradition, this colorful decanter marries old-world heritage with modern style. “For me, what’s most important is each one of the people who collaborate with us, the respect and admiration we feel in our hearts for our work,” said Sobreyra.
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Magnificent Forest Labradorite Silver Ring
This sterling silver and labradorite ring was handmade by Wayan Buana, a Balinese artisan who began crafting sterling silver jewelry as a teen to help his parents provide for their large family. Now a husband and father with a workshop of his own, Buana’s unique designs are influenced by tradition and nature. “Most of my designs are influenced by Balinese traditions, and also the beauty of nature on the island,” Buana said.
Lucky Elephant Embroidered Blue Shoulder Bag
These lucky elephant shoulder bags are handcrafted by Jiap Rojjana, a Thai artisan who expanded her hobby into a side hustle to supplement her husband’s income. “My husband’s business was not going well due to an economic crisis and the cost of living was rising,” the artisan recalled. But within a few years, Jiap’s handicrafts were in such high demand that she’s now the family breadwinner. In addition to helping a female artisan support her family, this stylish shoulder bag is embroidered with a hand-painted white elephant, a Thai symbol of good luck.
Worry Dolls Share The Love Ornaments
It’s been one heck of a year, which is why traditional worry dolls from Guatemala are a great present for just about anybody on your list. This set of 6 has been crafted by the Lopez Garcia family, whose generations of women craft quitapena, or ‘worry dolls,’ in keeping with local tradition. “The idea is to trust each doll with whatever troubles you,” said artisan Ana Lopez Garcia. “It is said that during the night, while we sleep, the dolls will whisper the solution to our troubles.”
Sparrows Handmade Paper Journal
This charming journal was handcrafted by Asha Prabha, an Indian artisan from Delhi who leveraged her expertise in embroidery and cross-stitching to open a crafts workshop that now creates work for other Indian women. This handcrafted journal features 48 pages of handmade paper, olive green cotton trim, and bright screen-printed sparrows on the cover. A great gift for writers, artists, musicians, and crafters.
Thai Joy Cluster Earrings
Thailand’s myriad gems inspired Nareerat Tansuwansophon, aka Lek, to begin making jewelry after her children were born. Now Lek’s gemstone designs have become so successful she can provide part-time work for 20 other women. Cute cluster earrings made of cool aquamarine, dyed quartz, peridot, and faceted glass beads are just one of Lek’s many striking designs–and a meaningful gift for anyone who loves to make a statement.
Green Turtle Handcrafted Bronze Sculpture
This artisan-crafted bronze turtle with a floral motif and antique finish is a charming gift for gardeners. After starting work at a young age to help support his family, Balinese artisan Adi Noviantara designs and crafts bronze and brass sculptures to help promote and preserve Balinese culture. Now a father with three kids of his own, the artisan still works with mother, who instilled in her youngest son the value of hard work.
Songkran Belle Layered Necklace
This lovely, layered necklace was handcrafted in Thailand by Sumalee Nawakul, a female artisan who creates bold jewelry using tiny beads carved from littleleaf boxwood. Nawakul, who comes from a family of gardeners, first had the idea of turning the shrub’s colorful beads into bold jewelry after noticing a bag of them on a street in Bangkok. “I started with half a kilo of wooden beads, and I started threading necklaces by hand,” said Nawakul, who began selling her designs in Thai street markets. “My necklaces caught the attention of tourists, who liked them because they were affordable, lightweight, and beautiful.”
Wise Owl Owl-Shaped Jempinis Wood Eyeglasses Holder from Bali
This handcrafted owl is a great gift for owl lovers, as well as that friend or relative who is always losing their eyeglasses. This whimsical owl was hand-carved from Jempinis wood by Yudi Suardi, a Balinese artisan who learned to carve and polish wood sculptures from his father (also a wood sculptor) to continue the family trade and keep Bali’s sculpture tradition alive.
Shop for more holiday gifts under $30 here!
Source: The Autism Site Blog
