In the past, during the corn harvesting and its defoliation season, the locals would make dolls for the less affluent children, using the leaves covering the corn cobs and corn beards as raw material. Over the years, dolls have been perfected and today they have become a decorative and collection items. The artisan and owner made this her way of life, over 30 years ago, being one of the first artisans to make the corn leaf dolls become a typical product of the Azores.

At the moment, given the advanced age of the owner, the store is closed but with items available for sale at the Vila do Nordeste Tourist Office and at the Handicraft Support Center, in Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park.

Opening hours of the Tourist Office and the Centro de Apoio ao Artesanato (Handicraft Support Center) available here on the page.

The “Casa de Trabalho do Nordeste”, translated as “Nordeste’s Labor House”, was founded in 1954 and it dedicates to produce diverse handcrafts based on weaving and embroidery, among other activities. The crafts of this institution are quite known within the Azores islands, in the overseas communities of the Azorean diaspora and also in a few areas from the Portuguese continent, famous for the regional costume (used in the folk dance), for the embroidery of São Miguel, for the blankets, the tapestry and the bedspreads woven on the loom. Most of the handicrafts produced are previously ordered, but they may be purchased at the institution as well, and the visitors are welcomed to visit and observe the artisans work on real time.

Estrada Regional nº7, Vila do Nordeste

Monday to Friday: 9 am - 12 pm and 1 pm - 4 pm

The Handicraft Support Center is located in one of the most visited places of Nordeste, at the Ribeira dos Caldeirões park. Here you will find corn leaf dolls, reed hats, the local religious festivity’s Holy Spirit’s flag, diverse forms of small replicas of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres and São Miguel island embroidery are some of the handicrafts you can find in this facility, along with other crafts from the Azores islands in general, postcards and Azorean related books.

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Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park, Estrada Regional, Achada

Summer: 10 am - 8 pm | Winter: 11 am - 5 pm

This community center was created as part of the project “Luta Contra a Pobreza – Extremos de Ilha” (Fight Against Poverty - Island Extremes). The mainly purpose is to employ women and occupationless youth or in long-term unemployment situations. This center creates a meaningful purpose of creating and selling embroidery, crochet, retail blankets, decorative items and small sewing arrangements.

Centro Cultural Pe. Manuel Raposo, Estrada Regional S/N, Santo António de Nordestinho

Monday to Friday: 8 am - 12 pm and 1 pm - 4:30 pm

During the Christmas and Easter festive periods and during the months of July and August, the Tourist Office of Vila do Nordeste holds a fair to promote and sell local handcrafts. This site is a convenient alternative to look for Nordeste’s crafts, especially if you have no opportunity to visit our regular dedicated craft centers.

Rua António Alves de Oliveira s/n, Vila do Nordeste

March 1st to September 30th: Monday to Friday: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm | Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 10 am - 3:15 pm
October 1st to February 28th: Monday to Friday: 9 am to 5 pm | Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 10 am - 3:15 pm