In the spirit of the recent comment discussions regarding bought -vs- handmade gift giving I thought I’d put a spotlight on the website “Buy Handmade,” which you can find here as a blog and here as a website with an “I pledge” thingy
From the website:
Buyhandmade.org is a collaboration between Etsy, Craftster, indiepublic, Craft Magazine, Interweave, Burdastyle, The Austin Craft Mafia, Design*Sponge, and The American Craft Council, nine prominent forces in the DIY and handmade worlds. Calling ourselves The Handmade Consortium, we have banded together to encourage people to buy handmade this holiday season.
The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left people all dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. The connection between producer and consumer has been lost. Buying handmade helps them reconnect. We created the pledge as a call to action for consumers to be conscious of how they spend their money this holiday season. We want people, whenever possible, to support independent creators and shop outside the big boxes.
If you’re buying handmade, you’ve still bought something, but perhaps a purchase of this ilk takes the dull edge of mass-marketdom off the purchase. This may not have a major effect on the “interpersonal relationships” present in present giving, but it may make one of the two participants go, “Ohhhh…really? Someone made this?” And that’s always a nice moment.
Onalistus Reveler
Ernistine Cabins
Myra Eddy
House Manager
Daisy Jane Danger
Blujay
Cody Meyocks
I agree that making something yourself is a worthy goal. One I hope to fully achieve this season. However, I also am a crafter who sells my goods at local artisan fairs; which for some, can allay other concerns folks have for supporting their local economy. More likely something with real value can be found, a relationship with the artisan can be built, and the “carbon foot print” of the item can be small if, as I do, I try to source local materials for my craft.
When it comes to artisans, it’s best to remember that exchanging something (money, peas, a pepper grinder) for her/his work is also a form of gifting. We “give” something to the giver.
Gifts are relational. Support your local artisans, people! Buy from them. Talk to them. Learn from them.