“Why should I buy Handmade for the Holidays?”
Y’know, I get asked this a lot – and I have answers, oh yes! So when I saw that Angela Flicker of The Artist’s House was proposing a Blog Hop to talk more about buying handmade, and showing off lovely shopping suggestions – well, you can guess that I was immediately ready to join in!
For me, a big part of why I love Handmade items is the story behind them, and the connection I get to the artist – another person like myself, working with their hands to create beautiful things, and often trying to make a living doing what they love.
I also appreciate the uniqueness of these items; I’m not going to find such well-crafted and special gifts in any big-box store!
Most importantly, I’m making a statement with my choices: I love the recipient and want him/her to have something special, carefully crafted, and uncommon – something created with as much thought as I put into choosing the present.
And I feel so strongly about supporting other artisans and their efforts, that I didn’t just go the “easy” way and join the mobs of people at the mall; instead, I invested my dollars back into the Handmade Community, because I believe in voting with my dollar. How can I ask for people to buy my things if I don’t show them WHY by doing the same?
So with this in mind, let me show you some of my favourite shops and items to visit when I’m looking for lovely and well-crafted handmade items. Let’s go shopping!
lavender filled acorn sachets
glamorous glitter candle
buckwheat hull pilow
button cluster pendant in pink
bobby pins
vintage flower rings
sunset ikat pillow
historiette vest
quarry purse
Please keep checking back for more Handmade recommendations, both here via the Get To Know & Friday I’m In Love segments, and by continuing on through the A Crafty Holiday Blog Hop! Tomorrow, Nimo will have thoughts and suggestions for you – or if you’d like to read through the whole Hop, and I recommend you do! – go to http://angelaflicker.com/a-crafty-holiday/ to see the entire line-up.
Have a Happy Handmade Holiday!
Yes, that’s right, I totally agree –”because I believe in voting with my dollar”. I love that statement and I love the little tag you’ve made about buying handmade and asking others to do the same. Very neat!
I love the items you’ve posted. I’m especially loving that first shop, “Mireio” –totally my style.
Thanks for participating.
Thank you, Angela, and thank you SO much for hosting this hop! I tried to choose some shops that have different styles, and that I have shopped from personally and love both the items and artisans – because I want to share the love all around!
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Voting with my dollar, awesome! I feel the same and started changing my buying habits about a year ago. So rewarding!!! Great ideas, love the acorn sachets and Lai Grrai shop is to dye for! Her custom knitting would make a great gift for friend. Wishing you a very crafty holiday
xi, thank you so much for including me in your favorite shops! i am so honored
i absolutely believe in buying or making handmade for the holidays. often i find that sharing something that i created from scratch means so much more to ME, even if the recipient doesn’t necessarily believe in the handmade movement. also, i like to make my own decorations and if you think about it, many people have been having handmade holidays for a long long time… think about stringing popcorn garland strands or baking cookies- those are handmade (and tasty too!). i feel like there are SO SO SO many options now for handmade items that you can get something for everyone on your list! <3 hugs & love and thanks again! laila
Lovely post! Thank you!
Xiane,
This is such a lovely post. And I’m so honored to included among such lovely artists. Thank you so much for this. I hope you have a lovely holiday.
xoxo Wende
This line totally resonated with me: “I love the recipient and want him/her to have something special, carefully crafted, and uncommon – something created with as much thought as I put into choosing the present.”
I wholeheartedly agree! Giving something uncommon and unexpected, especially to those who may not be super familiar with handmade goods, is a rush, especially when their face lights up with surprise. Excellent point, excellent choices!
So true – I love the idea of being able to tell a little story about each handmade gift I give this holiday season. I am totally diggin’ those little acorn sachets!
Thank you for a wonderful handmade shopping post!
Yes, that’s right, I totally agree –”because I believe in voting with my dollar”. I love that statement and I love the little tag you’ve made about buying handmade and asking others to do the same. Very neat! I love the items you’ve posted. I’m especially loving that first shop, “Mireio” –totally my style. Thanks for participating.