Last night, my husband and I went for a stroll through the Columbus Circle Holiday Market by Urban Space. Central Park is such a lovely setting for a market, and every time I go there, I find something new and wonderful. Tonight we sampled some delicious organic, fair trade chocolates from Raaka. We took home a lavender blueberry bar and a dark chocolate with hazelnuts. Raaka’s chocolate is incredibly rich, which is great because the bars last slightly longer than usual!
The items that struck me most this time at the market were the handmade felted holiday ornaments from Central Asia Craftspring. They are not only beautifully made, but they are very cleverly designed as well. The thick felt is fashioned and stitched into unusual shapes like ibexes and rams, and also chubby horses, sweet angels wearing scarves, colorful birds and even turtles. Each one has a slightly different expression, so it’s worth taking the time to select the exact ornament that is perfect for your tree. My ram has pale blue horns, a pink swirl on his side, and a look of erudition. The ornaments pictured are equally special.
What makes them even more wonderful to me is that they are all handmade by women artisan/entrepreneurs in Central Asia, “at the heart of the ancient Silk Road.” The felting techniques are actually part of their ancient traditions. These women are supporting their families and communities with their crafts, and the are also making sure that their design skills and felting methods are not lost to time. Central Asia Craftspring also has a booth at the Union Square Holiday Market by Urban Space.
Head over to the Columbus Circle Holiday Market and let me know what treasures you find!
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