« Stockley Gardens Arts Festival | Main | Friday Flickr Favorites! »
24 October, 2007Buy Handmade
Everyone should go check out Buy Handmade and take the handmade pledge this holiday season. Why buy handmade? For me it all comes down to one-of-a-kind gifts and avoiding the malls and parking lots which I LOATHE. But there are some other really good reasons as well. Here’s some great info from their site:
Buying handmade is better for people, better for the environment, and better for giving truly special and well-crafted gifts. The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us all dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. The connection between producer and consumer has been lost. Buying handmade helps them reconnect.
We encourage all consumers to be aware of the social and environmental implications of their purchases.
Below is a list of resources that can get you started in the right direction:
http://www.coopamerica.org/: Co-op America is a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1982. Their mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.
http://www.sweatfree.org/: A Network For Local action against Sweatshops
http://ilsr.org/: The Institute For Local Self-Reliance. The Institute’s mission is to provide the conceptual framework, strategies and information to aid the creation of ecologically sound and economically equitable communities.
http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Business/Allegedly_Unethical_Firms/Wal-Mart/ : See what Walmart is up to in your community
They also have some great badges for your website. Take the pledge and represent! Oh, and if you’re looking for some great handmade artists, here’s a good place to start!
Comments
It's definitely cheaper to buy handmade for gifts and for fashion too! I saw a crocheted scarf in the Limited last night that was selling for $36!!! For a one color, mohair feeling crocheted scarf! It makes me want to yank anyone who would buy that over and let me sell it to them for a third of the price but 3 times the quality!
Thank you so much for the posting this link! I've been scouring the net for handmade Christmas gifts, because I too am trying to avoid malls (and credit card bills) this holiday season. I'm also considering a buy-nothing Christmas, but that is entirely dependent on getting the time and motivation to actually make stuff.. hah!
No truer words have been spoken...err...typed! Say, I was wondering how I might get my hands on some flyers for the Handmade Parade. I was in the fabric store yesterday and a lady was admiring the bag I was wearing (I made it, naturally). I mentioned the show and she said she thought she heard about it but she wondered why she hadn't seen any flyers or anything...I live in Hampton. I'd be glad to put up posters n' stuff if you don't care to do the tunnel thing ;) .
You know I hate to admit it, but I have never heard of Etsy before now. But I am SO glad I found it! I usually make my own gifts for Christmas, but I have already found a few good ideas for some people on that website. I avoid malls all the time, especially during the holidays. Just thinking about parking, the crazed shoppers, and the crying babies makes me want to run away screaming. Thanks so much for the ideas! I'm excited now about shopping.
Can I get a Wii or some Heelys handmade? j/k! :) (I could, however, search for secondhand versions...) My crafty/artist friends and I are talking about doing trades for gifts. We probably should have started months ago! We're thinking about what we can each do well and then commissioning each other for trades. Thanks for the reminder that we need to get cracking!
I'm 'bout it. I did the pledge, too!
This is right my alley and I am on a budget to boot. :)
BTW, Amber, this is write your alley - http://nablopomo.ning.com/
This is right my alley and I am on a budget to boot. :)
BTW, Amber, this is "write" up your alley - http://nablopomo.ning.com/
I swear there Gremlins my browser. Ugh! Sometimes I just suck at typing. lol
Sorry for the double post.
This is such a cool idea! I've already started my Christmas shopping at the bookstore, but I'm sure I can do the rest hand-made!
Amber,
Your words: "The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us all dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. The connection between producer and consumer has been lost." are so true.
Love lurking your site. I've gotten great ideas and wonderful links!
Have you tried anything from the Jaffrey book yet? My favorite is the sprouted mung beans. Keep up the great work!
