Luna Handwoven Tree Bark Basket

- Made by a democratic collective of 12 women - The materials used are hand-gathered wood and tree bark from the jonote tree - The wood is cut and shaped by hand, then the tree bark is rolled on the calve into string - Next, the string is woven onto the base in various patterns - The braid design on the bottom of the Luna baskets are to ensure that the bottom is stronger - Luna basket is good for storing light items, but nothing heavy like a large plant or it may sag - Simply hang from a ceiling or shelf to use the Luna basket - The Nenes basket is made to carry babies, and has been used since pre-Hispanic times - The strap of the Nenes basket is placed on the forehead, and babies are worn on the back - This lets the parent tend to their chores while keeping their baby safe - Nenes basket can be hung on wall to display dried grasses, magazines or simply as art piece - It can also be carried over the shoulder or across the body as a market basket - Strap is adjustable - Nene means ‘baby’ in Spanish - The mini Nenes baskets are used to carry baby Jesus dolls to and from church for blessings at certain times of the year - These pieces are organic, eco-friendly and pay tribute to traditional Mexican culture - Clean with damp cloth and warm water, no harsh scrubbers, no bleach - After cleaning, hang in a dry location to dry the piece - The wood and tree bark are gathered by hand by the men in the families of these women - These particular trees have both a white and red variety, hence the difference in the colour of the pieces - The men help to make the frames, along with stripping, bending and nailing the pieces into their required shapes - As these are natural materials and the pieces are made by hand, there will be some variations between the pieces