His chests result from a collaboration with artisans in Asia: They are made of rattan peel, wicker and woven abaca reed. He designs the chests, they fabricate them and send them to him for painting.

Also from Maui, for those who have not had the delightful experience of touring or taking tea at the Ali'i Kula lavender farms on the slopes of Haleakala, a generous selection of lavender potpourri, lotions and potions.

A first-time participant in the festival, Joan Blackshear Designs from the Big Island will bring her line of table linens. Best known for hand-painted silk garments, Blackshear now makes silk and linen table runners, pillow covers and wall hangings. Her unusual dyes include autumnal colors such as persimmon, indigo, autumn gold, mahogany, citrus and birch. Current motifs include fern, heliconia, a hula moon and a contemporary, stylized tapa. "It's really nice not to have to worry about what sizes and silhouettes (of clothing) to make and bring to the festival," Blackshear said.

Hand-painted ceramic sinks have become one of artist Susanne Ball's mainstays. She enjoys painting Hawaiian or ocean-oriented motifs such as underwater scenes on round or oval sinks.

Small Planet Studios, a North Shore company run by Steve Tilford, makes hand-painted bronze and resin nautical-themed mirror and picture frames featuring dolphins, whales, mermaids and sailing ships, as well as bronze sculptures and coasters.

Gail Lindstrom sees stained glass at the end of the rainbow. Her stained and fused glass art has also gone 3-D, as she adds materials such as shells and seaweed to her stained-glass windows, wall hangings and light fixtures. She also paints lamp shades with underwater scenes and dancing hula maidens.

Also in the Pacific Handcrafters booth: Kyle Ino and his popular ikebana vases. Ino is now doing wall hangings that look like kimono and Japanese fans in natural raku colors embellished with acrylic paints.

Lamp maker Cathy Berenberg's vision is that of a playful child's room. Her lamp designs include a fire truck, a biplane flying in the clouds and a lion lounging under a tree. Her company, Mary McKee, specializes in lamps carved or turned from colorful local woods such as mango and koa.

In addition to her table cloths and runners, dish towels, napkins and throw pillows, Janet Holaday, who has been with the handcrafters guild since its inception, has expanded her home décor line to include what she calls "yoga flags."

"They are inspired by Tibetan prayer flags and are meant to speak to your higher self. They can hang where the trade winds will catch them and send a breeze of peace and love," she explained.

Lauren Levin of Lo 'Scapes, best known for her hand-painted cotton garments, now has items for the home: pillow covers, wall hangings, shoji screens, sofa covers, place mats and napkins.

For the City & County's Recycled Products Store booth, artist Mark Chai created a kooky, five-foot chameleon from recycled cardboard. The newlywed Chai explained that the critter he calls "Kolohe Kameleon" is just a romantic, looking for a girlfriend.

The Made in Hawai'i Festival, with more than 400 booths, also offers comfort foods, exotic fresh flowers, candles, soaps and lotions and CDs by local musicians.

Reach Paula Rath at 525-5464 or prath@honoluluadvertiser.com.