NOVICA Handmade Set of 4 Cotton Ornaments Happy Thai Elephants (Thailand)

Four Asian elephants join the holiday celebrations as a festive set of ornaments. In vibrant green yellow blue and red each cheerful pachyderm is handcrafted by Thikaporn. She adorns each ornament with glass bead eyes brass bells raintree wood beads and cotton pompoms. They hang from yellow satin ribbons.Product Features:Measures 8.75 inches long x 3.7 inches wideCountry: ThailandAccent Type: OrnamentsMaterial: Cotton Polyester Brass WoodSeason or Holiday: ChristmasColor: MultiStory Behind the Art:I am an Akha and I was born in a hill tribe village in Maetang soon after my family moved to the city where my father came to work. My father didn t have an education and could hardly speak Thai but he learned so that he could communicate with Thai people and foreigners and ultimately run his own shop. I used to rush to help him after school every day. First he opened the shop at the Night Bazaar in the heart of Chiang Mai and after five years he moved to the Chatuchak Market in Bangkok. This is the largest weekend market in Thailand receiving 200 000 visitors each day. Father would purchase hand-woven bamboo products from hill tribe artisans and then dye them to obtain new colors for home decor purposes. The products included the needlework that made by my mother and neighbors. He had to craft the products in Chiang Mai from Monday to Thursday and then he would travel to Bangkok on Friday Saturday and Sunday. He did this including the 10 hour drive from Chiang Mai to Bangkok for over 25 years. I was studying in college and needed to take trainee course for one year so in 2009 he closed up shop as he was getting older. I quit my job in order to run our family venture full time. Our main products used to be made of bamboo that had been hand-woven by the elder people from the hill tribes but as they got on in age their capacity to weave has decreased to the point they can t do it anymore. I found out about products made of bulrush which is an annual crop and easy to find available in many parts of southern Thailand. Bulrush is similar to bamboo but more durable and stronger. So I decided to work with plain hand-woven bulrush handbags which we then embellish by lining them and decorate them with Lanna patterned fabrics. We also combine them with the creative embroidery unique to the Akha people who are skillful at needlework. It is very important to improve the quality of life of the Akha people who live in the city as well as those who live in the mountains and develop products so we may have a better future. I volunteered to try to get more orders for my products so I could help my family my relatives and the other Akha people who live in Chiang Mai. I am very happy to show what my people the Akha people can do to the people around the world. The weaves are combined with Lanna art as well as with Akha sewing and crafts.The handcrafted touch of artisan skill creates variations in color size and design. If buying two of the same item slight differences should be expected. Note: Color discrepancies may occur between this product and your computer screen.Imported Multi-Color