Something that will really last...

Handmade items have always been a part of my life, from the time I was born. One blanket was even lovingly handstitched by my mother just days before my birth. That was nearly 22 years ago. I still have that blanket, and both of my children have been lovingly snuggled in it, just as I was. Just as my 3 sisters after me were. Just as my future grandchildren will be.
How often does a blanket you buy in a store get saved, and used for 3 generations of children? Not often, they're not worth saving.
I have dozens of handmade blankets, dresses, sweaters, hats that were saved over the years. I will use them, and then save them again. Handmade items are something that will last.

The above photo features my daughter wearing a sweater that my great grandmother knit for one of my younger sisters, and a Tadpoles n Butterflies t-shirt made just for her.

Mama Stone, 21, Artisan, hyenacart.com/mamastonecreations
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Monday, October 6, 2008 4:51 pm

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Making connections between generations

My daughters, mother, and grandmothers inspire me to buy and make handmade. As a child, I have many memories of my grandmother Sarah's knitting bag. It was always in the same place, right next to her chair in the living room. Her house was filled with afghans she had knit and quilts she had sewn by hand.

My grandmother Rita loved to crochet, sew, and craft. She and my grandfather made Christmas ornaments to sell at their church fair and my grandmother crocheted afghans. I can still see them working at the kitchen table surrounded by all of the ornaments they had made. My own Christmas tree is filled with their ornaments.

I had forgotten about the clothing both of my grandmothers had made for my beloved Cabbage Patch dolls over 20 years ago until my mother brought them out for my girls to play with and I saw the outfits they had sewn and knit for my “babies.” Those little outfits are something I can cherish and are a way for my girls to connect with my grandmothers, whom they were unable to meet.

I make things by hand so that hopefully a little part of me will live on for my family members to cherish. I buy handmade because I value the work of other women and men, I value each item's uniqueness, and I value the piece of each person that becomes a part of their craft and brings that craft alive.

Angela, 32, WAHM, Pumpkin Pie Baby, hyenacart.com/pumpkinpiebaby
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:51 pm

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Heidi's handmade inspiration

Buying handmade helps other moms just like me stay home with their babies! It is much more personal to give a handmade gift.

Heidi, 28, hyenacart.com/callumscorner
MO
Saturday, September 20, 2008 6:52 am

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Etsy for Bath&Body

I'm a make-up, lotion, anything-pretty-and-smells-good junkie. Let's just say I can easily spend a couple of hours in Sephora. I started purchasing all my bath and body related products on Etsy about a month ago. I started because 1 - I have a shop on Etsy that I love and work on, so I'm already in front of (or near) my computer, 2 - I love the idea of products made in small batches. To me that means that more time and care was taken to create the products. 3 - Vegan, good-for-your skin stuff is all I'm about now that I've turned 30 (okay, 31) and I wish I had started going the more organic route earlier!

Some of my favorite bath products come from Satinpetalsoap.etsy.com - she makes the best smelling vanilla/shea lotion I've tried and Gudonyatoo.etsy.com has some incredible washes, as well as hair care products.
Dressgreen.etsy.com and ayelet17 (Sun Kissed Bud is the name of the shop) makes excellent face care products - I was a little apprehensive about purchasing products for my face, but, honestly, after using products from these two shops there is no going back! The quality and the all-important smell of these products is unbelievable!
Then came the make-up purchases. I have tried mineral make-up from three wonderful places: Mixology, Pink Quartz, and Mineral Make Up are ALL awesome - they also each have incredible sample sets - so check them out!!
Now, not only do I purchase the majority of my bath and body needs off Etsy, my gifts come from here, too - it's going to be a very Merry Etsy Holiday Season around my house!

The Pretty Peacock, 31, Jewelry Designer, theprettypeacock.etsy.com
Seattle
Monday, July 7, 2008 12:50 pm

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buying handmade

I love to quilt but after many yrs family members want something besides wallhangings or quilts.So that ones that I am buying for I am buying handmade that is out of my realm of creativity.

hookedonquilting
Sunday, November 9, 2008 8:53 am

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