Gifts & Crafts

Day of the Dead — Día de los Muertos
Day of the Dead is an interesting holiday celebrated in central and southern Mexico during the chilly days of November 1st & 2nd. Even though this coincides with the Catholic holiday called All Soul's & All Saint's Day, the indigenous people have combined this with their own ancient beliefs of honoring their deceased loved ones.

They believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31st, and the spirits of all deceased children (angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. On November 2nd, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities that are prepared for them.

In most Indian villages, beautiful altars (ofrendas) are made in each home. They are decorated with candles, buckets of flowers (wild marigolds called cempasuchil & bright red cock's combs) mounds of fruit, peanuts, plates of turkey mole, stacks of tortillas and big Day-of-the-Dead breads called pan de muerto. The altar needs to have lots of food, bottles of soda, hot cocoa and water for the weary spirits. Toys and candies are left for the angelitos, and on Nov. 2nd, cigarettes and shots of mezcal are offered to the adult spirits. Little folk art skeletons and sugar skulls, purchased at open-air markets, provide the final touches.

Bell Pine Art Farm
Trade Roots is proud to carry local gifts and crafts like Bell Pine Art Farm.
Since 1986, artists Debbie Berrow and Reed Grossnicklaus have co-created Bell Pine Art Farm, where they produce Debbie’s intricate clay designs. Each figure is hand detailed and finished by Debbie and Reed along with a handful of local artists. Their rural Oregon home and studio are situated between the Cascade Mountains and the Oregon Coast Range on the edge of a small valley. Bell Pine Art Farm provides meaningful gifts for any occasion. This circle of sculpture is being applied in the healing arts by Child and Family Psychologists, Midwives and Childbirth Educators, Play and Sand Tray Therapists and many others. It has found its way into hospital programs, churches and meditation retreats and is collected by people all over the world.

Paper Scissors Rock
Trade Roots is now carrying a unique and original line of whimsical alarm and wall clock and magnetic bookmarks that were created to make you smile. Paper Scissors Rock alarm clocks are designed by Pacific Northwest artist, Pamela Corwin. Trade Roots carries a variety of different styles. The clocks are not ceramic - they are unbreakable and light as a feather.

Swahili Imports
Swahili Imports is a Fair Trade certified U.S. import and Design Company. Trade Roots has a handful of different crafts and gift items supplied by Swahili Imports mostly from Mozambique and Kenya.

Mountcastle International Trading Company
If you are at Trade Roots looking for African art, another company that is Fair Trade and works with Kenya’s soapstone carving artisans is Mountcastle International Trading Company.

Buddha Statuary
There are many people and cultures that believe or turn to Buddha to achieve a state of perfect spiritual enlightenment in accordance with the teachings of Buddha. At Trade Roots you can find much Buddha statuary to assist in guiding you to your enlightenment.