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“A balm for the soul”
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GOOD PEOPLE Book
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Sammi Mo

This summer, what better way to enjoy the season than soaking in the sun, having fun with family and friends, and treating yourself and/or your loved ones to some beautiful crafts from our store? At Upworthy Market, you can feel good about shopping because every dollar you spend directly supports local artisans who handcraft their own products. We have curated a list of some summer favorites from our store just for you, from jewelry and bags to hammocks and utensils for your summer BBQ.


Hand-Woven Maya Hammock in Chocolate and Coffee Brown

Delicious shades of brown tempt the senses and are destined to be enjoyed in a comfortable hammock during lazy summer days. Skilled Maya Artists of the Yucatan hand-weave this nylon hammock in rich coffee and chocolate brown.

Long before the Spanish arrived on the coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula, the Maya preferred to sleep and rest in hammocks. They considered the hammock to be like the loving embrace of a mother, due to the way the body is held and swung within its cradle. Maya Artists of the Yucatan seek to preserve time-honored customs while also offering stylized versions of the original Maya hammock. For them, the hammock is a work of art. Their hammocks are incredibly comfortable, easy to maintain and can be stored just about anywhere.

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Tropical Print Women's Blue and Ivory Rayon Robe

Ivory flowers and foliage flourish in a blue tropical jungle. By Hari and Arthur of Bali, this short rayon robe showcases an exuberant print. The graceful design with wide three-quarter length sleeves wraps in front and ties with a self belt. One size fits most.

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Pink Garden Umbrella Crafted From Cotton and Bamboo

Thai artisan Nikom presents this cheerful garden umbrella, just right for providing relief from the summer sun or adding festive cheer to your outdoor party. The decorative umbrella is crafted from hand-painted cotton and natural bamboo. The umbrella comes with a handy cotton storage pouch; the pole disassembles for convenience.

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Batik Rayon Sarong

Intricate floral motifs alongside borders depicting elephants and deer in bubblegum pink, cerise and black surround a large circular motif in this elegant rayon sarong by Indonesia's Prayascita Dewi. The artisan employs the batik method to decorate each piece, a process where a wax resist is applied to the fabric before submerging it in vats of dye.

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Beaded Bracelet

This double strand bracelet features cylindrical blue-green beads accented with brass. Handcrafted by Tiraphan Hasub of Thailand, this bracelet provides a lovely pop of color.

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Colorful Nature Masks

Extravagant prints in dazzling colors portray and celebrate nature. By Hari and Arthur, three rayon print face masks are contoured for a comfortable fit. One features a floral motif on cardinal red, while the other two feature abstract motifs. All are double-layered, washable and reusable, with elastic to loop over the ears.

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Sterling Silver Dream Catcher Earrings

Two circular dream catchers are crafted of sterling silver, featuring elegant wire work and feathers with a combination finish hanging just below. Petite blue stones of resin rest within the webs. These dangle earrings from Thailand are crafted by Pichaya.

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Blue Fijian Print Canvas Tote Bag

Who doesn't love beautiful, fun and practical totes? This cotton canvas tote bag is handcrafted and printed in Fiji with a mandala motif on vibrant blue. The large tote is fully lined in natural cotton canvas. It's perfect for market trips, picnics, weekends away or home storage.

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Indonesian Rainbow Glass and Driftwood Windchime

Working near Singaraja, in the mountainous northern region of Bali, artisans collect naturally fallen branches and glean wood from the local coffee plantations to fashion these delicate, colorful wind chimes. Once the reclaimed wood—teak and coffee—is gathered, each piece is sorted by size and color before being hand-shaped and strung with pieces of cut glass. Dazzling in the sunlight, the resulting rainbow chime is a gorgeous example of nature-inspired design. Each piece will vary slightly, due to the natural variations of the wood.

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Handcrafted Eggshell Cotton Cushion Cover from Bali

Featuring geometric diamond patterns at the center, this Balinese cushion cover is hand-knotted from eggshell cotton yarns. Elis Mufarroha creates this cushion cover, which is accented at the top and bottom by long fringes. On the back is a slit for inserting a cushion.

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Teak Wood Serving Utensils (Pair)

These teak wood serving utensils will make a beautiful accent at your dinner table. Perfect for tossing and serving salad or any dish, the pair includes a fork and spoon, crafted by Rian Kusuma of Bali to showcase the natural grain of the wood.

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Six Artisan Crafted Blue-Green Blown Glass Highball Glasses

Aquamarine dissolves into a vibrant lime hue in the refreshing design of these highball glasses. Designed by Javier and Efren, each glass is crafted with Mexican blown glass techniques, in which artisans blow through a metal pipe while twirling it with one hand. They simultaneously shape the molten glass at the other end, expertly achieving this color effect.


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Quart-Sized Serving Bowl in Natural Wood, Handmade in Thailand

Thailand's Noppadol Laesanklang creates a fabulous effect with the design of this conical bowl. Certain to delight the eco-conscious, the bowl is crafted by hand of naturally seasoned raintree wood expertly showcasing the wood's natural grain.

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Artisan Crafted Colorful Mexican Hand Blown Pitcher (87 oz)

This pitcher features colorful accents in bright confetti colors. It's handcrafted by Javier and Efren, using glass-blowing techniques perfected over more than 30 years.

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Coconut Shell Planter With Floral Motif

Give your growing plants a new home in Sindhu Nata's lovely hanging planter. Using coconut shell, the Balinese artisan carefully carves a lotus motif onto the pot's side before hollowing the shell for plants. The delicate palm fiber cords make it ready to hang.

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Handcrafted Bamboo Wind Chimes From Bali

Ringing out with delightful tones, these wind chimes dangle from an attractive piece of bamboo. Balinese artisan Trisna Dewi designs the chimes, elaborating the bamboo with subtle motifs that resemble the petals of flowers. It's completed with 15 chimes of aluminum that gently sway in the wind.

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Cotton Silk Blend Indigo BlackShoulder Bag From Thailand

Indigo embroidery wraps its way around the surface of this black shoulder tote bag, which is made from lightweight cotton and silk blend fibers. Indonesia's Jiap Rojjana designs it with polyester cords and wood beads that dangle from the strap. The bag opens with a coconut shell button to reveal a black cotton lining and an interior zipper pocket.

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Round Woven Bamboo and Ate Grass Shoulder Bag

Javanese artisan Nell crafts a shoulder bag that's just right for spring and summer. The round bag is hand-woven of bamboo stalks and ate grass in a warm brown shade. The strap and clasp are made of brown faux leather makes up and the bag is fully lined with cotton.

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Double Mayan Rope Style Nylon Hammock Handmade in Mexico

A cool drink, a good book and a comfortable hammock is the perfect combination for a lazy summer day. Skilled Maya Artists of the Yucatan hand-weave this hammock in the rich blues and greens of Caribbean surf.

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Happy spring from all of us at Upworthy. This season, soak in the sun with longer days, see flowers in bloom and treat yourself or your loved ones to some beautiful crafts from our store to make your spring extra special. At Upworthy Market, you can feel good about shopping because every dollar you spend directly supports the local artisans who handcraft their own products. We have curated a list of some spring favorites from our store just for you.

1. Spring Awakening Beaded Bracelet

Beautiful gemstones celebrate the earth's awakening in springtime. Knotted by hand on silk strands, dyed dark red and natural white pearls combine with peridot and citrine. Sasina creates this feminine bracelet. The clasp and extender chain are bathed in sterling silver.

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2. Apatite Gemstone Tree

Displaying oceanic blue hues, the leaves of this petite gemstone tree are made from apatite. Joias do Rio offers this Brazilian gemstone tree, which is handcrafted with a trunk and branches made from gleaming brass wire. The tree stands atop a natural amethyst geode.

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3. Flower Earrings From Bali

Hand-carved from bone, two jepun, otherwise known as frangipani flowers, adorn these earring. Balinese artisan Made Wardika creates these stud earrings on posts of sterling silver.

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4. Hibiscus Flower Batik Rayon Shawl From Bali

Against a body of stark white is a garden of hibiscus flowers in a rainbow of colors. Bali's Mayda presents this luxurious rayon shawl, decorated using the batik method, where the fabric is hand-stamped with a wax resist before being treated with the colorful dyes. This accessory is further enhanced with beaded accents that are applied by hand.


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5. Silver Twin Palm Design Pendant Necklace

A dreamy tropical paradise with untouched white sand beaches and crystalline lagoons is perfectly symbolized by the twin palms of this pendant necklace from Aoy of Thailand. Artisan-crafted from sterling silver, the pendant shines with a high polish finish while the hints of dark oxidation enhance the palms' details. A ball chain with a spring-ring clasp completes the necklace.

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6. Cotton Blend Hooded Cardigan From Peru

As delightful as it is simple and cute, this lightweight cotton blend hoodie is perfect for spring and summer. Peruvian artisan Violeta Pacheco designs this zip-up top, which features a solid color in viridian. A ribbed hemline accentuates this hoodie.

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7. Blue Magnesite Sterling Silver Beaded Flower Charm Bracelet

Brimming with the vibrancy of a clear blue sky, this bracelet is designed by Siranya. Aqua magnesite gems are alternated with variegated 950 silver beads to create a striking contrast. An exquisite Karen silver flower charm dangles below, handcrafted by Thailand's hill tribe silversmiths.

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8. Round Woven Bamboo Shoulder Bag

Javanese artisan Nell crafts a shoulder bag that is just right for spring and summer. The round bag is hand-woven of bamboo stalks and ate grass in a warm brown shade. Brown faux leather makes up the strap and clasp. The bag is fully lined in cotton.

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9. Peridot Flower Earrings

Blossoming daisies in Bandung, known as the City of Flowers, inspire Rosalia Tarigan in the design of these earrings. Centered by glistening peridots, the filigree flower earrings are handcrafted of sterling silver.

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10. Green Pinewood Desk Organizer

This handsome desk organizer is made of pinewood and stained a rich green with handpainted flowers of various colors on nearly every outward-facing surface. The organizer has a compartment for notepads or sticky notes; a tall, narrow pencil holder; and a short, square receptacle for paper clips or other small essentials. This desk organizer was handcrafted by members of the God's Seed cooperative of El Salvador.

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11. Lotus Flower Hoop Earrings

Crafted of sterling silver with elegant openwork, two padma, or lotus flowers, form beautiful hoops below the ears. Putu Putri presents this floral accessory.

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12. Beaded Amethyst and Peridot Bracelet From Thailand

Spring-green peridot combines harmoniously with amethyst in this bracelet from Thailand's Sasina. The artisan knots the gems by hand on golden silk threads. The beaded bracelet is secured by a sterling silver plated brass clasp with an extender chain for adjustable length.

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13. Sea Turtle Silver Earrings

Posed on sterling posts, baby sea turtles are safe in the protected waters of Koh Phra Thong. Wadarat Supasirisuk presents these handcrafted earrings from Thailand.

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March is Women's History Month, dedicated to honoring women all around the globe. Women are powerful and when they succeed, families, communities and economies succeed. Supporting artisans directly not only helps them financially but can help foster economic equality in general. At Upworthy Market, you can be assured that your purchases directly support artisans who craft their own products. We want to highlight some strong, female artisans and their crafts. Read their personal stories and view their collections below.


Mayra Hernandez's Story

"I've been weaving now since 1990, when I was 13, a lady gave me the opportunity to sell ceramics in her crafts shop, and then I started selling traditional clothing with another woman. That's when I discovered how much I like handicrafts, because you get to meet many people. After that, a couple I knew taught me to sell and how to talk to and treat tourists so that they buy my crafts." – Mayra Hernandez

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Matta's Story

"My name is Matta Nandrakwang, I was born and raised in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province in Thailand next to the border with Myanmar (Burma). I grew up appreciating this naturally beautiful area, home to rich and diverse cultures as well as many ancient ethnic tribes. Since the area is rich with gems and the main activity was their trade, I began to learn and develop a passion for the various gemstones. Ever since I was a young girl, I have been enamored with the hill tribe people's love of jewelry. I realized I had much to learn and decided to enroll in gemology school. There I learned all about gems and jewelry making." – Matta

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Zandra Lorena Sajbin's Story

"The first thing I ever made on my own was a pair of silver earrings. My husband taught me so I could help him. I remember watching him work on his own 'til all hours of the night and I really wanted to learn how to craft jewelry. Finally the day came when he asked me to help him and that's how I started. As I saw the jewelry I had been crafting and saw how beautiful it was I felt happy, everyone kept saying how much they liked what I had made!" – Zandra Lorena Sajbin

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Patricia Jara's Story

Patricia embodies one of the most fundamental beliefs: that love is at the core of everything. She says it best: “What you do with love always becomes love in some way and expresses itself as such. My jewelry is an expression of love conveyed through art using nature’s influences that interact in a single design.”

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Thatsanee and Ramphan's Story

Thatsanee was born in Sankamphang, a land of beautiful and attractive handicrafts, celadon items chief among them. "I worked in a bank for quite a few years but the office work prevented me from admiring the beauty of my area's handicrafts. The advantage of working in the bank was that I could access funding resources. I got some small capital to be able to start up a little celadon kiln and workshop along with my partner, Kanda. Working with celadon was a dream of mine, and being able to focus my life in this special traditional craft of Thailand brought deep meaning to me. Soon after, I was joined by Ramphan Khumsingkaew, an extraordinary painter, and we all helped to form the base of our small team many years ago." – Thatsanee

"Dearest clients, we are artists in the celadon ceramic tradition, one of the three main ceramic styles in Thailand that dates back many hundreds of years. The traditional green tones of the glaze are intended to bring to mind the tonal qualities of jade." – Ramphan

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Arti Sharma's Story

"While working as a business professional, I've always had a deep passion for social causes, especially helping the less fortunate. I met a number of artisans and learned about their lives and how they were living. They created beautiful crafts by hand from materials like wood, cloth and threads, which I thought was phenomenal. What really moved me was that, even though this art is world-famous, the artisans were paid so little. They were earning almost nothing and yet had to make do with it to pay for rent, food, education, daily expenses and more. I decided to use my marketing experience to help these artisans market their crafts and assist them in earning what they deserve. I want all artisans to earn a fair livelihood so they can have happy and healthy lives. This is also the sole reason of why I left my previous job to start out on my own. Our artisans should earn what their work is worth, and it is my mission to help make this happen." – Arti Sharma

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Alaya Cholprasertsuk's Story

"We have been living in a small rural village for three years. Here I wanted to do something that I loved and to feel free. One day I got the opportunity to learn the process of batik and kept practicing at home afterwards. I thought it was fantastic because I could create anything on the cloth with a free mind. I would go for a walk near my home and look around; I would look at things that impressed my mind and feelings and think about them. Once back home, I would use this inspiration and get down to work with concentration and patience. At first I could not really sell anything until I joined an artistic fair where I used my husband's company stand to display my work on its walls. Unbelievably, I could sell. What really made me happy was to know that people I didn't know bought my work because they loved it, and not only to please me or out of friendship. It encouraged me to continue, which was a good thing since some shops later placed orders. This craft is my pride and my life and I think I have found my way." – Alaya Cholprasertsuk

Alaya is a parent to Kann, an energetic, autistic 16-year-old boy. She has divine patience and grace, and these traits are beautifully exemplified in her life as an artisan, a Thai batik designer, producer and mother. She and her husband are partners in the business that provide for Kann through their artistic work.

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Rita Addo's Story

"I am a designer by profession. I do my designing with African concepts in mind. Growing up, I loved to sketch things on paper. It was a natural talent, I guess. The carvers who collaborate with me use traditional tools. As the demand grows, I'm able to give work to more carvers, which generates more income for them and their families. It is possible one or two carvers who show a keen interest can make a career out of this. The workshop also provides local women with a constant supply of wood scraps for cooking. With the sale of my jewelry, women in the neighborhood who enjoy stringing beads also get to earn some money when there is an increase in demand. We use mainly wood, recycled aluminum sheets and recycled plastic beads." – Rita Addo

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Supporting artisans directly not only helps them financially but can helps foster economic equality in general. At our very own Upworthy Market, you can be assured that your purchases directly support artisans who craft their own products. To this aim, we want to highlight some artisans in various African countries while celebrating their work and culture. Read personal stories by the creators and view their collections below.



1. Rita Addo's Story

"I am a designer by profession. I do my designing with African concepts in mind. Growing up, I loved to sketch things on paper. It was a natural talent, I guess. The carvers who collaborate with me use traditional tools. As the demand grows, I'm able to give work to more carvers, which generates more income for them and their families. It is possible one or two carvers who show a keen interest can make a career out of this. The workshop also provides local women with a constant supply of wood scraps for cooking. With the sale of my jewelry, women in the neighborhood who enjoy stringing beads also get to earn some money when there is an increase in demand. We use mainly wood, recycled aluminum sheets and recycled plastic beads." – Rita Addo

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2. Ila Suleyman's Story

"I was born into a family of artists who have carved and crafted wood and leather products for several family generations. I have been told the crafts that we do date back to more than a century ago, but it was my great-grandfather who took on the craft and made a real venture out of it. I have since introduced new materials in my collection by exploring the use of other natural materials such as wood and some recycled materials. These are designed and crafted by me with assistance from my childhood friend Deri, who has become my partner in the workshop, along with a staff of five." – Ila Suleyman

Ila's West African jewelry traces its roots deep into the past. Exquisite beadwork harkens back to an ancient form of currency. Cowrie shells carry with them symbolic value. Religious, spiritual and nature-inspired motifs are featured in the handiwork of West African jewelry artisans, who now infuse new techniques and materials into their creations.

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3. Akwele Suma's Story

Akwele Suma Glory is a multi-award-winning and dynamic mixed media artist. She developed her trademark style, which includes her choice of materials, concept and techniques that allow her audience to see beyond her physical works. Akwele has also distinguished herself in ethnic jewelry design for more than a decade. Her work with mixed media has made art lovers admire her flair and profound perception, which are rooted in her strong faith in God. Akwele's work is a continuous process of experimentation, research and development, and this has earned her a number of awards nationally and internationally for both her paintings and jewelry collections.

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4. Abdul Aziz Mohamadu's Story

"In 2000, I went into carving and since then I have never regretted it. I am now self-employed and there are five assistants working with me. In addition, I have taught seven other people how to carve, and they are also on their own now and doing well. When I get large orders, I call on them for their assistance. I look forward to training more people in this craft and also to continuing with my paintings." – Abdul Aziz Mohamadu

Today, Abdul spreads love to the five assistants who work with him, as well as the seven other individuals he has trained in the craft of carving. Even as his work has attained incredible success—being featured in exhibits in Ghana, Nigeria, and Benin—his journey is far from over.

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5. Robert Aidoo-Taylor's Story

"I am a self-taught artist. I never took any classes or attended courses. I use manual tools to carve my pieces from wood and then I paint them myself. I enjoy working alone, and my inspiration comes from nature. In 2012, however, I started experimenting with various materials including wood, waxed linen and synthetic cords to add diversify to my products. From these and other media, I now make bangles, bracelets and necklaces." – Robert Aidoo-Taylor

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