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

1

Homemade toys are real friends

I was raised with a tradition of handmade. My mother is a hand quilter who learned from my great-grandmother and then passed the skill down to me. I hope to pass the art of hand sewing down to my children. I truly believe you can't beat hand made goods for durability, safety, quality, and most importantly, personality.

I didn't have to pose this picture. This is something my son (now age 2) often arranges himself, or directs me to arrange for him. He adores his "bibis", dressing them every day, picking which ones get the special privilege of accompanying him on errands, and tucking them into bed at night. He sleeps with so many of them at night (ranging from tiny 4 inch babies to his two big dolls) that sometimes I can't fit in the bed with him to give him snuggles and we have to reallocate a few of them to their little canvas bin.

Could you imagine your little one sleeping in a pile of plastic dolls? What's cozy about that? Where's the love in that? Every one of the "bibis" in bed with my son was made by hand, so it's like tucking him in with portable, huggable representations of love. The natural fibers adjust to his body temperature, making the babies feel like tiny living companions through the night. Sure, they make take a little more wear than a plastic baby that could be wiped off, but I can't help but think of the Velveteen Rabbit. It's the love, the wear, the personality instilled into a one-of-a-kind toy that makes it become Real.

Let's see Barbie manage that one.

Morgan, 29, Freelance Writer/Editor
Acworth, GA
Saturday, July 12, 2008 11:01 am

10

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

2

Handmade Makes You Happy

The reason I buy handmade is because I love the attention to detail and love that goes into a handmade item. I am not presuming that the artist loves me, but I know that they love their craft. I can tell when something is made well, and is unique, that the artist gets joy from making something fun and pretty that will make other people smile.
My most recent purchase is a funky painting of a vintage radio. I love it and hung it up in my office.

Betty, 44, designer, artist, SnappyShop.etsy.com
Los Angeles
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 5:57 pm

1

My Inspiration

I was one of those kids that collected rocks from the driveway - just because they were pretty and I wanted them. Now that I'm designing jewelry I get to have all that I want - in all the pretty colors I can find. And I get to share that joy with others.

Liv'nGood Jewelry, lilesj.etsy.com
NC
Thursday, August 7, 2008 9:24 am

1