I’m lucky to live near a [tag]Ten Thousand Villages[/tag] store, where they sell beautiful, [tag]fair trade crafts[/tag] from artisans all over the world. While a good portion of us crafters take for granted the ample portion of craft supplies and tools that are available from big-box stores or online shops, many Ten Thousand Villages crafters make do with what is on hand.
Take, for instance, these funky [tag]recycled newspaper[/tag] coasters, $18, made from Filipino artists. Leftover paper is coiled around broom bristle, joined with thread and glue, then starched for durability. Beautiful and handcrafted from the simplest of materials. The artists, who are part of the Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative in the Philippines, also craft place mats and pictures frames using the same methods.
If you aren’t able to locate a Ten Thousand Villages store near you, the nonprofit organization sells a portion of its inventory online (including this coaster set) at tenthousandvillages.com.
