[jnancynancy]

Can I use your knowledge once again?

We are getting ready to visit Guatemala on November 8th. We'd like to bring home some momentos. Some for Sol Ana to have and some for friends and family.

Any ideas? I'd like something that reflects the culture and has meaning behind it.

I've seen the worry dolls....they are darling, but what are they for beside the obvious.

[Amykk]

I found some really cute worry dolls in Antigua that were magnets, so I brought some of them home. For women, I think the small woven change purses are a nice small gift. The jade is beautiful if you want a more expensive souvenir for someone.

[tricecm]

My husband went alone, and both times he brought home stuff for the table. First time he brought home placemat & napkin sets, and the second time he brought home a gorgeous table cloth with napkins. Everyone who has seen that table cloth has fallen in love with it---it's beautiful. I want to get a bunch of them to give to people as Christmas gifts. They were about 50 bucks, so I'll probably just get them for my folks and for my in-laws.

This might also be useful for you since you've got 3 school age kids-----We also got gifts for each child's classroom. They got a plate with the Guatemalan calendar on them--so they could bring it to their classroom and tell the class about Guatemala. Then the classroom keeps it.

That's what we did. I'm eager to hear what you ened up doing!

[tricecm]

Oh, plus he got my mom a nativity set and my dad a chess set. They both loved their gifts.

[Mary Mulcahy]

I also bought some table linens, but at the market they had the cutest pupets that I bought for the kids. I also got some table runners in the different patterns (I had used them as covers for photo albums). They also have so many beatiful Guatemalan silver and jade earings and braclets that I bought. I also bought some art work and several sets of placemats.

Oh, I bought a beautiful handmade quilt one for each boy for the future.
Mary, mom to Danny and Ricco.

[mac308]

We got purses for my sister, my mom and myself. For the our dd we got some wooden toys. A colorful snake type thing on a pull string and a toys with chickens that you move in a circular motion and they peck the ground. For our nephews we got wooden masks. They thought they were pretty cool. I'm sure you'll find tons of stuff to buy

Megan

[kacmom1]

I bought some really cool picture frames made out of some beautiful Guatemalan fabric. Then I put a picture of Luca and his siblings in the frame and gave them to the grandparents. We also put one in Luca's room.

[jnancynancy]

Great ideas...I now remember the table cloth our Uncle brought back from San Cristobal De Las Casas....very cool.


Worry dolls? Are they just to get your worries out on? Do the come by the ton? I could use some.

[tam_nojm]

I really love the handpainted letters. I brought back those for my entire staff. They are cheap, small, and unique! And they are everywhere. They come in two sizes too.

[dsepme]

My 3 year old has a ton of pride in all the Guatemalan things in his room and in our home. In his room we have:
a wooden wall plaque with the sun and moon painted on it
a hackey sack
a bedspread / quilt with matching pillows
one of those things that the Maya women strap their babies to them with... but we use it as a wall-hanging

In our home:
a ceramic dish that says "Mi casa es su casa" hanging in our kitchen
Lots of table linens
Guatemalan textile picture frames
Refreigerator magnets of Maya woman dolls
Beaded necklaces with quetzal birds hanging from them
Several Guatemalan Cedano hand bags (I bought one on our visit trip, and several people requested them when we picked up the boys... they are incredible quality and beautiful, too)
A couple belts, scarves, and skirts

We bought everything either in Antigua at the artisan's market or in Chichicastenango on market day. I actually wish I would have purchased more decorative items for the home as the boys really seem to point them out frequently. "Look! Guatemala!"

[BebitosMama]

We bought up the

Woven pictures frames
Woven covered photo albums
hackey sack crocheted balls
Crocheted hats
Tapesty wall hangings
Little purses and handbags

There are also beautiful ceramic tile work...

And even if you want to set aside something for her trousseau/hope chest, a set of table linens!

They make great gifts, and we have them in our house too

Mary

[brink]

All our kids...bio, domestic adoption, Guatemala adoption...now own a beautiful wool blanket (full or twin size) from Central Market from our three pick up trips. On the last one we brought home five!

I also love small stone or wooden animals, woven table runners, wooden bowl, terra cotta angels for gifts and to use as Christmas ornaments, hackey sacks, a woven basket and painted birch bark type box both from Lake Amatitlan our son's birthplace. Our tour guide, Armando, said when someone sees these painted boxes, they know you've been to Lake Amatitlan...very typical.

My favorite thing (besides our beautiful wool blankets) is probably the small, colorful, ceramic "chicken bus" for each of my Guatemaltecans and myself. I hang them on red ribbon on my Christmas tree and also have a couple on my plate rail. I would actully love a larger one, as they come in about 8" versions, also. Typical tourist!

Another treasure are some "cheap" necklaces I bargained with a street vendor for outside the Marriott. DH could not believe I was doing this, but I just wanted the experience! I have necklaces for our daughter and for our sons to give their wife or daughters one day. Nothing fancy, but nice beads and stones...jade look, but not the real thing for $20 for four!

[jt421_2000]

When in Guatemala I bought a wall hanging which tells the story of the Guatemalan people. I cannot remember how much it was but I bought it at the market in the city that caters to tourists. I also bought another wall hanging with different types of weavings on it. Once home I bought more on Ebay. I found the prices of the auction about the same as in the market.

[jnancynancy]

Ok Antigua market here I come. I love the idea of table linens for her hope cheast.

[jkittysim]

Definitely look for Nativity sets. Small nativity scenes are traditionally placed in homes in Guatemala. I personally like the terracotta ones best.

Worry dolls are to tell your worries to, obviously. They are placed under the pillow at night to keep the worries from interferring with your sleep, chase away nightmares, that sort of thing. This was something I read in a book, sorry I don't have a reference for it.

I am purchasing keepsake items to give to my children every year until they are each 21. Some people go to 18, but since my two are already older, I am extending it a little.