Knowing where it came from..

My family buys handmade or homegrown because we like to know where our goods come from and where the money is going. I love spending my hard earned money on something that I know was made with heart. I love knowing that I'm supporting another small business, or that I may be helping to keep a Mom, Dad or both at home.

Kickshaw Confections, Confectioner/Chocolatier, www.kickshawconfections.com
Philly Burbs
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 2:04 pm

Transition from supporting WAHMs to becoming one

I started out buying handmade because of cloth diapers. I knew I wanted to use cloth even before my first child was born. At that time I thought there were only a few stores that sold diapers - boy was I wrong. I soon got introduced to the world of WAHMs!

I quickly moved from cloth diapers to buying clothes, toys and many other WAHM products! It is so nice to get something handmade for your kids (and yourself!)and know that you are also supporting a family! I live in a small rural area where there is really only one major place to buy clothes, toys, shoes. I LOVE having the WAHM community to buy things for my kids that does not come from that retailer.

Of course there is the downside....my obsession of buying beautiful hand-dyed yarn to knit. There are so many creative wonderful dyers out there I am always tempted by their beautiful colorways!

Since I need to support my yarn buying habit (not to mention my fabric buying habit), I've turned my love of quilting into sewing knitting and crocheting accessories for others. I love being a part of the WAHM community! It gives me another outlet for my creativity and love of all things fabric and yarn!

Kathi, Mom/Archaeologist/Artist, www.hyenacart.com/chacocreations
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 7:41 am

Handmade Items

I buy handmade items for the personal touch. "Handmade With Love" what could say more.

Country Ivy, 29, Stay at home Mom / Crafter, www.etsy.com/shop/CountryIvy
USA
Monday, June 7, 2010 1:47 pm

No Batteries Required

Lead and choking hazards and toxic plastics . . . OH MY! Shopping the mass produced toy aisles these days is a dangerous endeavor. Our family made the commitment to buy as many handmade items as possible for our children's (and our own) safety. And not just toys: soaps, cloth diapers and covers, jewelry, clothes, tea, pottery, make up . . . it feels good knowing what goes into the handmade items we buy and what doesn't. We also believe it is important to support moms and dads who are staying home with their own children, and who strive to create substantial, quality, lovely, useful works of art. Selfishly we benefit from the best customer service available and shipping usually costs less than the gas we would use to drive to a store. The ultimate hope is that someday our children will pass on their wooden toys and playsilks and Waldorf dolls to their own children; instead of adding broken toys and batteries to a trash heap.

Julia, 35, WAHM, silk painter, http://hyenacart.com/juliadream/
East Bay, CA
Thursday, July 10, 2008 11:20 pm

Handmade enriches your life

Growing up, we had more handmade than most and I came to understand that it was better than mass-produced. Something handmade begins with an idea, then made one by one, showing the unique individualism of the artisan. Each thing handmade is as original as the person who uses them, who makes them. Sometimes the stories behind them are even more interesting than the item themselves. Over my lifetime, I have learned many crafts & techniques. I have used these skills to enhance mine, my family, my friends, and now..even people around the world lives. Out of necessity, I have made clothing, toys, and more for my children. I am always proud to see them & others being one of a kynd, as unique and wonderful as they are. Whether it is a bar of soap, a beautiful tie dye, a lovely piece of jewelry or even a jar of fresh jam...handmade can & will enrich your life and become part of your heritage.

Rhonda ~lilgamoma~, 33, wahm & artisan, www.jtribecreations.com
Georgia, USA
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 12:26 pm

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