Little Olea: Safe, Sustainable & Handmade for Our Littlest Ones

At Handmade Palestine, we love telling the stories of makers who pour their heart into their craft. One of those makers is Morgan Totah, founder of Little Olea—a brand creating safe, sustainable teething accessories for babies and mamas—and of course, also founder of Handmade Palestine.

We sat down with Morgan to hear how it all began, and what makes Little Olea so special.

“It All Started With A Gift…”

Morgan: In 2016, I had my first baby, and a friend gifted me a handmade teething ring from Etsy. I loved the idea, but when my baby put it in his mouth, the dyed colors bled and the beads splintered. I was horrified—it wasn’t safe at all.

That moment set me on a path. I thought: If I can’t find a safe teething ring, maybe I can make one myself.

I started researching olive wood in Bethlehem. It’s incredibly hard, naturally antibacterial thanks to its oils, and it has a slightly bitter taste that babies actually love. Best of all, it’s sustainable—we only use pruned branches from the olive harvest each autumn. That’s why I named the brand Little Olea. Olea is the Latin word for olive tree, and “little” because the wood comes from these small, pruned branches.

The Search for Artisans

Morgan: I began wandering through Beit Sahour and Beit Jala, visiting small family workshops in basements and garages. It was exhausting at times, but I was determined to find the right artisans who could bring this vision to life.

Finally, I met Jack Nasrallah, who crafted our first beautiful beads and rings. Later, I found Ibrahim in Beit Sahour, who carved our pendants and even designed our teething spoons.

And when I wanted to add color, I turned to crocheting around the beads instead of using dye. That way, babies could chew safely without any risk of chemicals in their mouths.

More than Accessories: A Community of Makers

Morgan: Today, every Little Olea necklace or teething ring is the work of seven different artisans. For example, women in Deir Ghassaneh hand-crochet each bead—a time-consuming but beautiful process that also creates income for women in the village.

One of the most creative collaborators has been Marisabel Darras, who designed the intricate knotting that holds every necklace together. She made sure each bead is knotted before and after, so even if a necklace breaks, no bead ever comes loose. That was huge for me as a mom—because safety is always first.

What makes Little Olea unique?

Morgan: These pieces are not only safe, but they’re also part of Palestinian heritage. Each one is naturally finished with our cold-pressed, extra virgin organic olive oil. That means babies get something completely safe in their mouths, while mamas know they’re supporting traditional craft.

Honestly, the necklaces are safer than the buttons on a mom’s shirt or the hair tie on her wrist. Babies will always grab and chew, so why not give them something beautiful, safe, and meaningful?

Looking back

Morgan: What began as a teething ring for my own baby has grown into something much bigger. Little Olea now supports Palestinian artisans, empowers women, and brings the story of the olive tree—a symbol of Palestine—into the lives of families around the world.

At the end of the day, it’s not just about teething rings and nursing necklaces. It’s about connection, heritage, and creating something that truly cares for our little ones.

✨ Discover Little Olea’s handmade nursing necklaces and teething rings in our Handmade Palestine shop. Each piece is crafted with care, rooted in tradition, and safe for your little one. And read more on Little Olea in these blog posts.

Our Little Olea pieces also feature in our Baby Shower and Baby Gift Bundles. Explore more here.