Hand-Sewn items are One-of-a-Kind items which is very special

Having something that was hand-sewn is really a great treasure.

It is a one-of-a-kind thing that no one else in the entire world can have.

I have many aprons, clothes... that were made by my Grandmother, my Mom and myself that will be passed down.

I love getting handmade items and I love making and giving them to family and friends even more : )

Diana, Owner/Designer - Diana's Vintage & Gift Shop where you can Experience Luxury - Naturally, organicgiftsbydiana.mybisi.com/
Hubbard, Ohio
Thursday, October 23, 2008 1:33 pm

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Unique Items

I love to buy hand made items, as you can see the time, care, love that is used to make them. If you purchase 2 items the same from a crafter, you would notice each one differs slightly, making each piece unique and one of a kind just like people and have their own flair, unlike something that is mass produced by a machine.

Linda, 42, crafter, hyenacart.com/Monkeybizness
chicago
Monday, July 7, 2008 4:50 pm

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Teach Your Children Well

While I've always supported the local vs. national when I could, cloth diapering was a lead in to a whole new realm of shopping with *real people*. As I started purchasing handmade items when my babies were born I was inspired to begin making them myself. "Handmaking" is contagious it seems. Now it has become a lifestyle for us, and the lessons myself and my children are learning are timeless and valuable. They know the time that goes into making an item, they understand the process. They learn that they can be self sufficient, they don't need to go to a big department store for their clothes, toys and jewelry, we can make them. If we don't know how to make something what do we do? Buy a book or pattern or buy from someone we know who knows how to make the item. My children are learning that trading is still alive and well, you don't necessarily have to have a dollar to get what you want. They are watching me learn to balance family vs. activity and all of the intricacies of running a small business. As all of us artisans raise our children along side building our handmade businesses, we are creating a culture of children who will value the handmade and have an independent "can do" spirit - priceless lessons that I'm proud to contribute to by producing and purchasing handmade.

Nita, 37, Sewist, Hot Salad, hotsaladbynita.com
Rockford, IL
Friday, July 11, 2008 8:25 am

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Traditions

I grew up in a traditional, old fashioned home. We grew our own produce in the summer(which was preserved for winter months), chopped firewood for our furnance, visited yard sales and flea markets for treasures, bought locally grown foods, and handmade items, as well as spent a lot of time together as a family.

During the winter, I remember sitting by the fireplace with my mother working on crafts. We would make wreaths, quilts, ornaments, stuffed animals, clothes for my dolls, etc. Spending time with my mother and learning a skill was quite interesting and enjoyable, even at such a young age. I preferred sewing, painting, dyeing, and crafting over the typical kid behavior of watching tv or going to the mall. It gave me a chance to chat and bond with my mom, while we labored over a project which we could later reflect our hard earned pride on.

When I got married and moved away from my hometown, I carried on my mother's beliefs by crafting items for my new home. Shortly after having my first child though, I noticed how unfulfilled I felt when purchasing or receiving store bought toys and clothes. Soon I began to seek out handmade items for my son to play with. Even though I didn't have the time to make everything myself like I did before, I still had the option of providing him with quality toys by purchasing them from wonderful work at home mothers, just like my own mom. As our family grew from three to four over the years, and one more coming soon, I continued to buy handmade items for my children to adore. I love to see their faces when we get a new toy in the mail. They are so fascinated by the unique and imaginative details, something that is lacking in store bought items.

I even began to carry on the tradition of crafting with my oldest. We frequently spend time together drawing pictures, playing with homemade play dough, and making holiday crafts.

All in all I feel so much more complete as a person knowing that I am doing something right and carrying on a family tradition. I hope that my children do the same when they have children of their own.

Jennifer, WAHM, www.naturalmadison.com
Midwest, U.S.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 3:18 pm

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I love handmade

I buy handmade because I want to support artists/crafters and shift away from mass produced. I also like to create handmade, too!

Aunt Jane, 55, artist, auntjanecan.etsy.com/
Grand Junction, CO
Monday, July 7, 2008 10:40 am

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