Earth Bound

Where would you find beautiful Ghana market baskets like these - , Thursdays 4-8 in December.

More to choose from at Holiday Market market@Heartwood, Thursday 4-8

Holiday gifts and ornaments, join the Holiday Market December 8.
Hand-carved and burnished gourds from Peru. Many designs including , , even .
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Dine in old-fashioned comfort surrounded by elegant fair trade tableware including a luxurious 6 ft. woven tablecloth, a naturally dyed pine needle and native grass basket, accented with woven fringed colorful napkins. All made by talented Guatemalan weavers@Mayanhands. Also shown are indigo-dyed placemats woven in Peru.

More style from El Divino Nino Collective of Tuchin, Colombia showing a modern hat design and a great selection of visors. The visors are adjustable, can be rolled up to fit in a suitcase or backpack. They come in many colors and make a great gift to any woman--traveler or gardener. Zenu women create the dyes, mostly with plants, while men weave the fiber bands, which are then sewn together using a sewing machine. sombrerovueltiao ​ #​Caña flecha

Cordoba, the home of the indigenous of Colombia, is considered the origin of #​Sombrero vueltiao, ​the traditional black & white hat voted the cultural symbol of Colombia. It is worn for any festive occasion, including the Olympic delegation, the Colombian nobel prize winner Gabriel García Márquez, ​and by visiting dignitaries ​Pope John Paul and President Bill Clinton.
Reinel Mendoza Montalvo is a principal of Divino Nino Collective, Zenu who make the hats from the native ​caña flecha​, a tall grass-like plant once wide-spread, now grown in family plots. Over time they have developed many other styles, including women’s hats, here modeled by Jenny Carr.
#​sombrerovueltiao ​ #​Caña flecha .

women from El Divino Niño Family Cooperative, Tuchin, Colombia weave fine dyed grass fiber over hand-cut open-ended PVC bracelets or metal bangles. Caña flecha is a tall grass (arrowroot palm) from Northern South America that today is cultivated in family plots. The bracelets come in a variety of widths, colors and geometric designs, using both natural and commercial dyes. Over the years, there have been many new shapes and color combinations. Have fun mixing colorful woven bangles (1⁄8”). Also shown are a progression of bracelets from XS (1⁄4”), S, M, and L (1”) in B&W, neutrals or bright colors with reinforced ends, also 3-in-one and the newest design of a Zenu bead on a faux leather w/magnetic clasp.
#​Caña flecha @ Gainesville, Florida

This shawl from is perfect for the cooler summer evenings. The intricate designs were handcrafted by the Mishing tribe in north east India.

“Crafted with care and love, this exquisite art hails from Majuli, the heart of North-East India. It brings to you the rich of the Mishing tribe and their hundreds of years old folk tradition. Owning this indigenous art you are offering a better living for the artisans and helping them in hard times during flood. All products are handmade with 100% natural fibre of peace silk, cotton, wool, or a combination of these based on the product. This product provides employment to the distaff weaving clusters of Assam, India.” .bordoloi

This sun visor is exactly what you need for these sunny summer days. The flexible fibers used to the design make it easy to roll up and take with on any .

“The weaving of caña flecha, a cane native to northwest Colombia, extends back to the Zenu Indians of pre-Colombia times. Today the cultural continues for nearly 25,000 Zenu indigenous and it is the mainstay of their economy. The women tint the fibers with local natural plant dyes, braid the cane, and sew by hand while the men cultivate and strip the cane, and stitch the woven braids using sewing machines. Up to 10 members of the same family can participate in the various aspects of producing the many crafts made from caña flecha. The fair wages artisans receive allow them to feed and educate their children, and improve their living conditions; all of which contribute to their hope for lasting peace.”

Marina Lazaro is shown here giving a demonstration of the plants they use to make their , which are mostly grown in their . She demonstrated the digging and dying of roots, bark, and leaves used to create an array of vibrant colors. They spin and weave the threads to create a variety of products. In the past, these techniques were used to make blankets, hammocks, and clothing including a dress she is modeling in the photo.

Although the techniques have been passed down from mother to daughter for centuries, they are now taught to children in school. The Boruca principals, including Marina and her family, have worked hard to recover and revitalize their culture after years of Spanish dominance. While it isn’t possible to visit the village today due to COVID19, you can visit their website https://www.borucacostarica.org/ to learn more about their history.

is still practiced by the Boruca where they occupy their traditional lands in Southern Costa Rica high in the Talamanca Mountains. They continue to grow the original , although they have recently begun to cultivate white as well. They weave textiles on hand-made looms and create bags, table coverings, and pillows.