The Pondok: Gifts from Bali

Om Swastiastu!

Welcome to The Pondok.

In Bali when the sun is hottest at midday a farmer will often take a rest in his "pondok", a tiny shack made of bamboo and grass usually situated in the middle of the ricefields(double click on foto at top).

We like the idea of this blog being a quiet place to introduce our life in Bali where we spend a good portion of every year. Why? Because one of us is Balinese (Wayan) and one of us is American (Richard). That's us during our wedding ceremony in the photo above. Wayan's mom is the laughing lady in pink.

This is Wayan (3d one back) her brother Kadek Suarna, and our best friends and business partners in Bali, Kadek Astiti and her daughter Miss Ducati. While in Bali we spend almost every day with them doing our business of finding artists and craftsmen to represent in our small Fair Trade enterprise we call "The Pondok".

One of our favorite artist/craftsmen is Wayan's grandfather I Wayan Siada (pronounced "Ee Why-on See-ah-dah") Here he's working on statue of Ganesha, the Hindu elephant god, made from jackfruit wood. Below a foto of him working as a young man.

We welcome you to scroll down and see some of the things we offer: Handwoven baskets for the home; hand-batik bedcovers; sterling silver jewelery, woodcarvings, "green" shopping bags, textiles and fine art. Double click on any foto to see it larger. To jump to any particular section just click on a link from the "Previous Posts" list at the top of the blog.

Prices and further information happily provided. NOTE: Everything is sold wholesale only except for people who come to our house in New Hampshire by appointment. Everything we have made in Bali is guided by Fair Trade principles. Questions? Just e-mail us at ThePondok@aol.com

Some people have asked who we are: Wayan was born in Bali and before coming to America she worked in the Seniwati Art by Women Gallery in Ubud, Bali. In America she has her own small business managing gardens. (for fotos see our other blog: www.hancockbali.blogspot.com). Richard is an American photographer, filmmaker and author whose work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and featured on NPR's Studs Terkel's Almanac and ABC's Good Morning America. Check out his photography blog www.richardnevellfotos.blogspot.com.

Terima kasih-Thanks

Ni Wayan Suarni & Richard Nevell
Nyuh Kuning, Bali, Indonesia - Hancock, New Hampshire, USA

Handwoven "Ate" Basketry

One of Bali's truly unique crafts are baskets made from a wild vine called "ate" (pronounced ah-tah). Each basket is first woven from the green vines, then dried in direct sun, then cold-smoked to get the color. Here is a foto of one of our weavers, Kadek from Parangsari:

Here are some of the styles we offer:

Fruit Baskets

The Apples

Candy Baskets

Organizers & Specialities

Baskets from Pengosekan

Made by Nyoman and Ketut (foto above)in the village of Pengosekan these baskets are woven from the "lontar" palm and dyed with natural dyes only.

Hand Batik Bedcovers

All the batik bedcovers shown below are available in any size and color combination. It is also possible to have matching sheets and pillow covers made. Usually these bedcover tops are made from 100% cotton but it's also possible to have them made in silk. Prices upon request.