Why Buy HandMade?

Why Buy HandMade?

In an age where everything comes from China, Turkey, or Indonesia...why should we still buy handmade?  The argument can be made that buying handmade costs more and isn't as easy to get or obtain.  To both of these comments, I say, "you are correct."  However, we're missing the point if that's the sole reason why we're NOT buying handmade.

I recently went to the grocery to look for fresh fruits and veggies.  I decided that I would actually READ the labels that were on my fruits and vegetables (yes friends, they do have labels!).  Have you done that lately?  I was shocked to find that over 75% of what my local grocery store carried that it was imported from somewhere outside the United States.  I'm not claiming that these fruits or veggies are bad for you or not good...however, I paid attention to what I was purchasing.

Buying handmade shows thought in a gift.  You can go anywhere and pick up a pearl necklace...but can you go anywhere and pick up a pearl necklace where you met and talked to the designer, watched them tie every knot in between those pearls, and when you paid the bill, smiled because the business card was handmade, so was the price tag, and so was the bag you took it home in?

There are still some good things in life...and they're still some things worth paying a few pennies extra!  Today I stumbled upon an artist online who hand tools leather bound notebooks for everyday use.  She buys up-cycled leathers (leather that a leather crafter has placed in the garbage as "non-usable") at a fraction of the cost, stitches designs in it, adds emblems and jewels, stiches a closure, tears by hand 100% recycled papers, and hand stitches it all together.  And the best part, an 8 1/2" by 11" book with over 100 pages cost under $15!

We live in an era of technology where the speed of emails and texting is leaving humanity in the dust clouds.  But we can take the time to slow down and choose the option to settle for the quieter and simpler things in life.  Perhaps this is why I love handmade good, artists, crafters, and hobbiest so much.  They enjoy the time spent working with their hands.  All their work is a labor of love and when someone else loves it as much as they do, it makes their day.  Handmade artisans and crafters and going by the way side because the "everyday Joe" won't spend the time and cost to seek out the simple pleasures of life.

The next time you have a weekend to spare, hit your local craft show or flea market and find those wonderful artists, crafters, and hobbiest who have used their time, talent, and energy to make something SPECTACULAR.