OWP
Miniature Balsa Wood Nativity
Miniature Balsa Wood Nativity
Couldn't load pickup availability
This Mini Nativity is made from Corn Husk, Beans and Balsa Wood. Mary, Joseph and Baby are crafted from corn husks and beans and then placed on a carved out piece of balsa wood. It is perfect for the Nativity Collector. This tiny piece was handmade by artisans from Ecuador.
- Measures 5/8" high x 2 1/8" wide x 1"diameter
Hand made in Ecuador and fair trade imported.
Camari is a Quechua word meaning "gift"; and true to its name, it is also a fair trade organization that has been a gift for many people of Ecuador. Camari, a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), was founded in 1981 to address the problems inherent in the marketing of small-scale agriculture and the production of handicrafts in the rural and marginalized communities of Ecuador.
Camari helps artisans find access to financial credit, training, and technical assistance; yet from the beginning they have understood that this alone was not a sufficient recipe for success. Without direct access to international and fair trade markets, artisans and farmers are forced to sell to intermediaries at prices that cannot provide the basic necessities of life.
Since their inception, Camari has grown to establish numerous shops in major cities throughout Ecuador, providing access to international markets, and alternative employment to more than 6,500 artisan and farmer families in 18 of Ecuador's 22 provinces.
About the Artisans
About the Artisans
Ceramica Quinua, an artisan cooperative known for its social and environmental responsibility, offers steady work to six workshops and 36 families in Ayachucho, Peru. Ceramica Quinua is dedicated to decreasing the use of firewood to reduce deforestation, and as such, works primarily with clay, which is extracted from the land in a controlled manner to avoid erosion.
The artisans shape and fire their pieces in home-based workshops during their nine-hour workday. Children often sit in on the workshops during their free time in so they may learn the trade that's been passed from ancestor to ancestor. The organization also takes pride in offering health care for its craftsmen, and for sharing its environmental knowledge and conservation techniques with students at public schools.
The Quinua district is characterized by the eucalyptus and alder-scented atmosphere of its mountain and forest landscapes. The name Quinua is derived from the Qenwal plant, said to be comparable in beauty only to the Quinuin women. The unique flora and fauna that inhabit the territory are fast becoming a major tourist attraction. Unfortunately, deforestation and pollution from paint chemicals are threatening their existence.
