Perhaps because I sew, I take an interest when I see people doing hand work. Factory made souvenirs don’t interest me much. I don’t buy a lot since mostly travel alone I need to stay light. But watching and learning doesn’t cost, or weigh, anything.
I keep my eye out for people doing hand work, art or crafts, especially when they are doing it in a traditional manner. It is one way to deepen your understanding of an area.
Traditional kite making in Weifang, China
Traditional bamboo framed kites made in the shapes of butterflies, fish and birds are a local specialty in Shandong Province, China.
“Monkey baby” dolls in Takayama, Japan.
In Takayama, Japan the area is known for money baby dolls. The dolls are to bring good fortune and the each color has a different meaning. We were able to see a woman making them by hand at a local street market.
Some other hand made items we saw in Japan:
Take an interest in what people are doing
When you take an interest in someone doing hand work, or just notice that something is exceptionally lovely or interesting sometimes people will invite you in and show you a bit about how they work.
