Be a Fair-Trade Wedding Guest

We're delighted to be featured in the Fair Trade Federation's Fair Trade Wedding Guide, which is full of ideas how wedding planners and wedding guests can add joy to the day. As the introduction to the guide says, "Fair

Trade is an economic partnership based on dialogue, transparency, and respect. What better way to start your new life together than choosing items for your wedding that represent these values?"

We have lots of ideas for fair-trade wedding gifts. As featured on page 31 in the FTF guide, our wedding mola would make a spectacular gift. Handmade by the Kuna women of the San Blas Islands of Panama, this mola uses reverse appliqué. The women layer fabric and cut intricate patterns that expose colors in the underlying layers. This one-of-a-kind piece is collector quality with fine, even lines, invisible sewing and lovely composition. Our molas look beautiful framed (we recommend a framer who specializes in textiles), or fashioned into a sumptuous cushion cover.

Those who like to give tableware should check our our offerings from Bulgaria. Traditional designs have been incorporated into ceramic tableware that is food-safe, ovenproof, and microwaveable. Crossroads Trade carries plates, individual and serving bowls, mugs, and steins in a variety of colors and patterns.

Our telephone-wire baskets from South Africa are part of a story of local entrepreneurship. The first telephone wire baskets were made from multi-colored plastic-coated telephone-wire scraps, which had been carefully saved by basket weavers.After much experimentation, the artisans devised a technique of weaving over a form a fantastic multi-color bowl from the top down. As the baskets became more popular, telephone lines were raided to provide more raw materials. Our suppliers now use specially-purchased telephone wire for their works. 

Our Rwandan baskets are part of the story of Rwanda's rebirth following the 1994 genocide. The thousands of widows and orphans who were left alone after the slaughter are rebuilding their lives through their own talents, including the hand crafting of these baskets. Our baskets are not only beautiful and useful, but contribute to that rebuilding process.

We have lots more items on our Crossroads Trade web site and our pages on World of Good. We ship all over the world, either to you or to the happy couple. Bring extra-meaningful congratulations and best wishes this wedding season.

New Mola Vision

Some time ago Kate noticed that the Kuna Indian mola-makers of the San Blas Islands of Panama gave up their craft when they reached middle age, passing the responsibility to younger women. "At first I thought it was a cultural construct," she wrote. Then she put on her reading glasses to inspect a mola. Both she and the artisans had a revelation: like her, these women just needed to see better.

Now she brings reading glasses with her on every trip. This year's batch came from the denizens of the Arlington List, an on-line community of more than 4000 in (or with an interest in) Arlington, MA. As you can see in the photo, the glasses get put to use right away.

Cultural preservation takes many interesting paths. In this case, the path leads to a pair of reading glasses.

-- Lisa Deeley Smith

Making the transition

 

We’ve been hard at work repositioning Crossroads Trade as an all-web business. We have a completely redesigned, searchable web site, with new offerings added constantly. We also have a growing presence on EBay’s World of Good. Our site there is also searchable, and you can add our entries to your RSS feed.

Our Facebook page is all new, too. Here you’ll find news of our products and buying trips, and thoughts on and analysis of the complex world of fair-trade commerce.

Look for this blog and our Twitter feed to become more active. We want you to have several ports of access to our fairly traded ethnic arts of the world.

-- Lisa Deeley Smith

New Jewelry at Crossroads Trade

We're making great progress in finding new sources for Indian jewelry! I've tracked down two artisans from Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico, whom I'd been trying to contact for some time. Daniel Coriz makes spectacular inlaid earrings. Chris Nieto makes Santo Domingo's trademark hand-made heishi bead necklaces, in which every bead is ground by hand. Chris Nieto's work will arrive next week. We hope to have Daniel's earrings within the next few weeks.

Just received: a variety of Indian jewelry, including: Lupe Lovato's turquoise slab and hand-ground beaded earrings from Santo Domingo; Zuni inlaid and needlepoint earrings; and Navajo earrings and bracelets with a variety of stones and settings.

We also just received a shipment of lovely Balinese earrings. These pieces are made in five family workshops, and come to the US through a fair trade wholesaler. For this round, we've chosen a variety of shells in striking, simple, silver settings.

Please stop by for a look,or ask us to e-mail you photos!

Kate

Welcome to the Crossroads Trade blog!

Crossroads Trade now has a blog! Here you'll find the latest news -- new arrivals to the store, discussions on fair trade, and how the events of the world effect a charming little shop in Coolidge Corner.

The blogs will either be signed by Kate or Lisa: Kate Harris, the store's owner, or Lisa Deeley Smith, who works there.

Spread the word! Come back often!