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Guest Picks: Handicrafts from Rwanda
20 unique gifts for the home, handmade in the heart of Africa
A lover of design and travel, I am always on the hunt for beautiful things.
Find me at: http://www.unstitchedblog.com
A lover of design and travel, I am always on the hunt for beautiful things.
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I have always loved global design. After I stumbled upon some plateau baskets made by women in Rwanda, I searched for more of their beautiful handicrafts. I love that each piece is so intricate in detail and that they all tell a story about their culture. These are the types of items that I love bringing into my home: one-of-a-kind statement pieces that also tell a story about the world. And all of these purchases benefit the local craft — what could be better than that? — Lillian from Unstitched
by Indego Africa
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This plateau basket has such soothing colors, and the unique swirl shape is so eye-catching — it looks like a wave or a kaleidoscope. This would be perfect used as a bowl or hung up on the wall as art.
by Shop 4 Rwanda
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These friendship baubles are perfect little Christmas gifts. Made from sisal and sweet grass, each one is unique.
by Indego Africa
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Each of these wine coasters, made from traditional Dutch cloth, is carefully sewn with foot-powered sewing machines. These would make wonderful gifts.
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These traditional woven baskets represent the artisan craft of Rwanda. Made of sisal, they're sturdy and perfect for storage. I especially love the vibrant red — we could all use a bit more red in our homes, couldn't we?
by EarthLover
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This basket has such a bright and happy color combination; it reminds me of the sun. Each of the colors is dyed naturally by plant or tea leaves. This is bound to make you smile every time you see it.
by Indego Africa
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This is the perfect ethnic piece to add to any cocktail party. These woven coasters are handcrafted with needles and traditional threads. My favorite part is that you can see the complex work that went into making them.
by Indego Africa
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The soft muted colors of this basket are so calming. Even with the intricate details and patterns, it is still so easy to look at. It is just designed enough that is isn't loud or overbearing — a great piece to add to any room for a bit of a global feel.
by Indego Africa
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This bamboo table runner is the perfect organic touch to any table. I love finding unique ways of bringing the outdoors in, just like this. Each of these is handmade with needles and strips of banana leaves, so no two are the same. The complex technique used in making this makes it a truly interesting piece.
by Indego Africa
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These agaseke baskets are so uniquely shaped, they'd be sure to be a statement piece. These are traditionally made for newlyweds, each one distinctly designed to represent something about the couple. They take five days to make, so you know they're truly a gift from the heart.
by Indego Africa
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Dynamic and cultural, these platters are the perfect unique piece to spice up a coffee table or display. They would be perfect as a tray to group sculptures together or on their own as artwork.
by Indego Africa
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These little agaseke basket ornaments make lovely and socially responsible gifts for the holidays. I love the colors of this one — both bright and calming.
by Indego Africa
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From the color to the print, I adore the textiles used to make these wine bags. Simply made yet still reflecting the culture, these would be such unique global housewarming gifts (with a bottle of wine inside, of course).
by Shop 4 Rwanda
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Made from earthen materials (sisal, papyrus, bamboo leaf and sweet grass), this basket is ideal for holding fruit. I especially adore the patterns and colors: checkers and dark violet stripes.
by Shop 4 Rwanda
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This tablecloth is made from East African textiles. The rich blue color is so striking; it would make any picnic or outdoor meal interesting.
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by Shop 4 Rwanda
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| These sturdy placemats are not only functional, but also so interesting to look at. You can see the carefully woven pattern in each one. And they're so durable, they'll surely help protect a tabletop from scratches. |
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The colors of these beautifully woven baskets are simply stunning, and there is that little dash of detail with each line of color. Like all of the other crafts, these baskets are made from organic, earthly materials. It's so inspiring to see that beautiful objects like these can be made from natural materials.
by Indego Africa
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This ageseke basket represents a piece of historical significance in Rwanda: the reconciliation of the 1994 genocide. The two lines represent two women walking together hand in hand, stopping to meet a friend before moving onward. This is a piece of home decor that represents hope.
by Indego Africa
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The large, bold patterns on the cloth of this wine bag are so interesting. They make the textile look so cultural. Tied on the top with a drawstring, these wine bags are great little pouches for storing wine.
by Indego Africa
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These sturdy baskets are made from banana leaves. I love that the weave creates such a pretty pattern by itself. These are also very sturdy — perfect for storage.
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by Shop 4 Rwanda
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| The brilliant combination of hot pink and turquoise in this bowl make it so beautiful. It is woven with many natural materials, sweet grass among them. You can still smell the sweet grass, adding an aromatic element to the room as well as visual eye candy. Next: More ideabooks from Lillian |
Comments
Brandi These are so bold and bright -- and I love so many are handmade by real artists. Great collection, Lillian!
20 months ago · Like
gknee For the amount of time and work that goes into the making of these beautiful handcrafts I can't believe they sell for so little. They are all so lovely.
19 months ago · Like
rockysc And the name of the site where i may purchase these beautiful items is??????
19 months ago · Like
Lily Gahagan @rockysc: Click on any of the products above and you'll see a green link to "Visit Store." Hope that helps!
19 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Oct. 25, 2011.
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