Paraguayan arts and crafts make wonderful holiday gifts. Let us know if you would like to learn more about our beautiful hand-crafted items.

Girls Dance Skirts

These skirts are handmade of polyester and lace. They are very durable come in a multitude of colors, such as yellow, red, pink, and green. We have yet to see a young girl who doesn't absolutely love wearing this skirt.

Sterling Silver Filigree Jewelry

The Paraguayans make beautiful, elegant filigree jewelry. All of the silver is of the finest quality. The earrings and necklaces are exquisitely delicate and bright.

Hand-Embroidered Cotton Clothing

Danced only by women, the Bottle Dance is traditional to Paraguay. The lead dancer balances a number of bottles on her head while the other women dance around her.
The blouses that are worn for the dance, called typoí in Guaraní, portray some of the handiwork that Paraguayan women are known for—fine punto cruz (cross-stitched) embroidery and raglan-type crocheted sleeves, known as encaje ju (lace). This blouse is traditionally worn with a full, colorful pollera (skirt) and a faja (woven sash).

Authentic ñandutí and Encaje Ju Lace

We offer lace in two authentic Paraguayan styles: the ñandutí and the encaje ju. 
Encaje ju is a combination of the Spanish word, encaje, meaning lace and the Guaraní word ju or yu meaning needle. This commonly-seen Paraguayan lace is used to make beautiful tablecloths and runners, shawls, and women’s clothing. The patterns in the lace are usually geometric designs or flowers common to Paraguay. Encaje ju is made primarily in the regions of Yataity and Carapeguá, Paraguay. 

Ñandutí is a fine lace made in Itaguá, Paraguay. It is believed that the word, ñandutí, translates to “spider’s web”. It is not a Spanish word, but from the Guaraní language which was initially spoken by the indigenous of the same name, but is now spoken all over Paraguay.

Lace making was first introduced by the Spaniards to Paraguay in the mid-16th century. The women of the countryside incorporated the designs and symbols of their agrarian life-style and, thus, the ñandutí was born. 

Paraguayan Paintings by Canete

Andrés Cañete was born in San Bernardino, Paraguay in 1955.  His works depict common scenes of Paraguayan foliage and daily life in the country-side. The tropical climate of Paraguay lends itself to trees flowering  year-round. Many of these trees are shown in 12 x 12 x1 inch hand carved and oil-painted works.  

Mango trees are everywhere in Paraguay.  The trees provide an incredible amount of much-needed shade during the long hot summers.  In Asunción many of the mangoes are swept up and thrown away as they tend to litter the ground during Paraguay's springtime months of September and October.