Approximately 8.5 x 6 inches. Long shoulder strap. An educational card accompanies each item.

The Hmong (pronounced mung) are an ancient tribe of mountain people who originally migrated from China to the mountains of Laos, where they made their homes in the mid-nineteenth century. Ironically, the word 'Hmong' means 'free'. The Hmong people cherish the concepts of freedom and liberty and it shows in the unusual free-spirited fabric arts that they create. The history of Hmong needlework involves both ancient traditions and the more recent adaptions from their survival in refugee camps in Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The Hmong take great pride in their needle crafts and possess a unique ability to capture both their cultural traditions and the history of their lives in their lovely work. Possibly, the most difficult of these is their reverse applique called Pandau, meaning 'Flower cloth.' Pandau is traditionally given to commemorate special occasions. It incorporates cross-stitch patterns of snails, elephant footprints, trees and celestial stars.

Mountcastle International Trading Company directly imports ethnic handicrafts created in dozens of developing countries by local villagers and refugees, and markets these goods to wholesale and retail customers. They are active members in the Fair Trade Federation and the Crafts Center, institutions that are dedicated to improving the lives of low-income artisans. They work to serve these artisans by helping to preserve and sustain their folk art as an important part of our collective cultural heritage.