Final run from Darlenes barn • In 14 active carts • 21 left
Darlene's Hands-on-Hips Mavis Jar
Darlene's Hands-on-Hips Mavis Jar
Ships within 2–3 days
30-day money-back guarantee
Free US shipping with tracking
Couldn't load pickup availability
Darlene's Hands-on-Hips Mavis Jar
Shaped in an old Virginia tobacco barn since 1983
Darlene Combs, 71, has made her hands-on-hips “Mavis” jars in Abingdon, Virginia, for over 40 years — a wink at her no-nonsense Aunt Mavis. Arthritis in her right thumb has ended the work. These are her last 212.
“She’d fuss at you and then hand you a peppermint. That’s the whole jar, right there. Every one of these ought to start a conversation in somebody’s kitchen.”
Darlene Combs · Abingdon, Virginia
What comes in the box
About 6 in tall, hands on her hips
Lifts off by the crooked tuft
For wrapped candy, rings and little things
Packed carefully, ready to give
What makes a Mavis jar different
Both arms are rolled, curled and pressed on by hand. That’s why every jar has its own attitude — no two stand the same way.
The body is crooked on purpose, like someone resting on one hip. The bottom is flat, so it stands firm and doesn’t tip.
A round lid with a crooked little tuft on top, like hair that won’t lie flat. The tuft is the handle, and the lid sits snugly in place.
Peach Fizz, Porch Lavender or Creek Blue — each one painted after a corner of Aunt Mavis’s life.
About 6 inches tall and 4½ inches wide. Small enough for a crowded counter, big enough that every visitor notices it.
Everybody knows a Mavis. A sister, a mother, an aunt. Hand her one and watch her put her hands on her hips.
“Figural jars with a personality have a long tradition in Southern kitchens — the cookie jar shaped like a person, the sugar bowl with a face. They were never just storage. They were the thing children remembered. What Darlene’s jars do well is the expression: the tilt, the arms, the lid. It reads from across the room, and it makes people smile before they know why.”
Marla Jennings · Folk Art Curator · Appalachian craft center, Southwest Virginia
Choose her mood
Perfect for
Why a Mavis jar stays on the counter
- Shaped by hand. Every arm curled and pressed on one at a time.
- Stands firm. Crooked on top, flat on the bottom.
- Snug lid. Sits in place and lifts off by the tuft.
- Bright, lasting colors. Painted and sealed with a smooth glossy finish.
- Easy care. A soft damp cloth is all it needs.
If she doesn’t make you smile, one email to info@craft-folk.com is enough. Darlene would rather have her back than see her sit in a box.
Good to know: A Mavis jar is a keepsake jar, not a food container. Keep candy and treats in their wrappers. Wipe clean with a soft damp cloth, no dishwasher. Every jar is finished by hand, so the dots, sprigs and the curl of the arms differ slightly from jar to jar — no two are exactly alike.
Product details
| Contents | 1 jar with removable lid |
| Material | Resin, hand-painted, glossy sealed finish |
| Colors | Peach Fizz · Porch Lavender · Creek Blue |
| Size | About 5.9 × 4.5 in (15 × 11.5 cm) |
| Use | Keepsake jar for wrapped candy, tea bags, jewelry and small things — not for loose food |
| Care | Wipe with a soft damp cloth; not dishwasher safe |
| Made by | Darlene Combs, Abingdon, Virginia — final batch, 212 remaining |
| Made so far | About 6,000 since 1983 |
The Last Winter
The Last Winter
A note from the barn:
Darlene Combs has shaped her hands-on-hips jars in an old tobacco barn in Abingdon, Virginia, since 1983 — about 6,000 of them, every one a wink at her Aunt Mavis, who never had to say a word to get her point across. For two years the arthritis in her right thumb has been getting worse. She can still throw a mug, but she can no longer curl and press on the little arms that give every jar its attitude. The 212 jars on her shelf are the last there will ever be.
Free US Shipping
Free US Shipping
Free shipping across the United States
- Delivery time: 3–5 business days
- Every jar is hand-packed and ships from the US
- Size: approx. 5.9 in / 15 cm tall, 4.5 in / 11.5 cm wide — it fits in one hand
- Removable lid with the crooked tuft as a handle. Keepsake jar for wrapped candy, tea bags and small things, not for loose food
- 30-day money-back guarantee — just email info@craft-folk.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Email us anytime at info@craft-folk.com. We answer Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and Saturday 10am–3pm (ET). Whether it’s about your order, which counter she will stand on, or just to say hello — a real person writes back.
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Of course. 30-day money-back guarantee. Set it on a shelf, live with it a week, and if it isn’t right for your room, email info@craft-folk.com within 30 days for a full refund. No questions, and US shipping is free.
How is it made?
How is it made?
Each jar is shaped by Darlene in her old tobacco barn. The two arms are rolled, curled and pressed on by hand, which is why no two jars stand quite the same way. Then the dots, lavender sprigs or speckles are painted on and sealed with a smooth glossy finish. Small differences from jar to jar are part of it. It is a keepsake jar — keep treats in their wrappers, and wipe it clean with a soft damp cloth.