What's up with Elisabeth & George?: Pledging Handmade?

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Pledging Handmade?

I am still thinking strongly about pledging handmade for Christmas gifts this year. I'm not sure what's stopping me from just saying, yep, I'm doing it, but it's kind of scary! It'll be more challenging to find gift for everyone, especially men and kids, and I have perfected the art of buying cheap doodads for Christmas that are still classy and stylish and fun. If I do handmade, I am probably looking at more expensive, or much less stylish. But... the idea of NOT giving my gift dollars to major chains really appeals to me. And I do think it is so much cooler to know you own something unique, or even one of a kind, versus something that every Target shopper also has. Ooooooooooohhhhh.... What the heck! Let's do it! I am pledging handmade!!!

I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org

PS George's biggest reservation about this is that the pledge also means I will ask people to buy handmade for me (for Christmas), and he thought that would be too stressful for people. But it's only a request, not a demand. Buy me what you want, or nothing at all. But if you are getting something, and it's not difficult to buy it handmade, please do so. Support the individuals and not the big, big chains! (Making gifts yourself is even better)

Where to buy handmade online:
Etsy.com
Ebay.com
Craftmall.com
ArtsEFest.com
Modish -- Not a store, but a resource for finding stylish, handmade items.
WhatDesigners.com

Local events and places to buy handmade:
Denver Christkindl Market
Edla's Yarns
Thornton Winterfest -- Or look for other city holiday fests.
Art Market & Show at the Arvada Center for the Performing Arts.
Georgetown Christmas market
Holiday Art Market at Foothills Art Center.
First Friday Art Walk this friday. The last time I went, I bought a couple of beautiful little pottery pieces for about $20!

If you know of any other places, please share!!!

1 comment:

Peter said...: Hmm, interesting pledge. It makes electronics more difficult, that's for sure. But I like the idea of supporting artists and craftsmen.; 12/10/2007 5:52 PM

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How we're doing right now.

April 6th, 2009
Oh man, moving back home has been quite a transition! For Regin especially. It has taken him three months to return to being fully, or almost fully, potty trained. But we're home and happy to be with friends and in an environment where things are easier.

But of course, not everything is easier. George's first day back to work he learned that the company was exiting the business and he and all the other people that work on that product (including all those people he trained in Penang) were told to look for other jobs.

His last day was March 31st. No time for that cozy little 'sabbatical' though; after he finished his last day of work, his family called and told us they are coming (from Florida) for a visit on the 10th! This would be no big deal (other than being terribly exciting) if we were fully moved back in, but of course, until now, we've had VERY little motivation to fully unpack! So now we're preparing the house at warp speed!

You know, I do miss Penang. Hard to say what I miss exactly, because I know it's more than our friends there, but I feel a certain pang. And all the time we were there, other than missing family, friends, easy living, and snow, I never once actually missed 'Colorado.'

When we got back to Colorado, I expected to have a new and complete love for the place. I do appreciate some things a lot more, especially visual things. I see beauty where I didn't before. But it hasn't been the feeling of home that I expected, and I still have some of the same issues with the place. But what I do love IMMENSELY and will always love IMMENSELY is the people we have here. And it's been absolutely amazing to see how Regin has picked right back up where he left off with his loved ones here. There's no doubt in my mind that he somehow remembers them.