'tis the season....choose handmade

Christmas Dinner for Horses - Washington DC (circa 1918)
(click link to view all the beautiful details in the photo)

The holidays are my favorite time of year. There are traditions old and new, visits with family and friends, and plenty of excuses for eating all those decadent treats. As you celebrate this gift-giving season, please consider gifting handmade treasures. I for one enjoy receiving a gift knowing that it was brought to life by an artist or craftsman who is passionate about their trade.


Last year I blogged about the wonderful conversation that Jan and Earl of Poppytalk began in 2008 about buying handmade. Those reasons still hold true today.

Perhaps you'd like to get a jump start on your shopping. Check out these amazing finds over at Poppytalk Handmade's Pre-Holiday Market.


Cheers!
Mandy

poppytalk's 101 reasons to buy homemade

One of my favorite, go-to sources for design and creative inspiration is Poppytalk -- brought to you by the dynamic duo of Jan + Earl.

Thankfully they are continuing their conversation about handmade goods and why so many of us artisans do what we do. Jan and Earl asked artists, designers and shop keepers to submit thoughts on the subject and here are some of my favorite reasons: (click here for a link to Poppytalk's full article).

• #46 -- When i buy handmade i am buying more than a product. i am supporting an artist who has put care, creativity and love into the product. i am supporting their vision. the product has such a personal history and story. Pamela Sherry, pixelimpress.etsy.com
  
  
• 47. Buying handmade is win-win situation : You enrich your life with beautiful handmade goods, and you enable an artist to continue following their creative dreams. Stephanie Levy, stephanielevy.etsy.com
  
  
• 71. Buying handmade shows our children that not everything in this world needs to be mass produced. It teaches them to love and appreciate the unique and the imperfect. And it inspires them to do their own creating as well. Jill Bent, jillbent.com