| Handmade gifts stand out and mean more | | | | The arts have been a part of all societies for as long |
| A wedding, the birth of a child, a new home, an | | | | as man has existed, from cave paintings of centuries |
| important birthday... All of these are events that mark | | | | ago to a hand-knit scarf that your friend got you. |
| our lives forever and should be celebrated with a gift | | | | Showing your support for artists by owning their work |
| you can cherish for a lifetime. Although mixers and | | | | goes a long way in helping to create a world where |
| vacuums are invaluable tools in our society (as I | | | | are does matter and there is a place for beauty and |
| learned while trying to clean the house with a broken | | | | craftsmanship in every home. As a child my mother |
| vacuum and in-laws on the way) they just don't do | | | | dragged me to art show after craft fair to museum, |
| justice to the important milestones of a life. Items that | | | | and I believe that for me, that has made all the |
| are handmade don't usually end up in the trash bin in | | | | difference. A world that is devoid of art and people |
| five years once they break or become outdated. | | | | that make a living with their passion is a sad one |
| Handmade goods, like a beautiful clock I once received, | | | | indeed. |
| become heirlooms that hold memories of special times | | | | Handmade goods tend to be more green |
| and people. | | | | Have you seen the story of stuff? It is a cool website |
| Handmade goods also have a personality that a | | | | with a short but immensely educational presentation. |
| toaster can't really match, even if it is hotrod red. | | | | The presentation talks about the consumer cycle and |
| When an item is handmade, a little part of the creator | | | | how its linear nature is detrimental to our world on |
| of that piece goes into it. Artists put their ideas, | | | | many levels. From big box stores destruction of the |
| personality, style, and often blood, sweat, and tears into | | | | environment for raw materials, to planned obsolesce, |
| their work. When you find a handmade gift that is just | | | | poor working conditions, and pollution in goods and the |
| right, you find a gift that speaks volumes about who | | | | processes used to produce them, the consumer cycle |
| you are, who the recipient is, and the connection | | | | created by larger retail operations often has much |
| between you. | | | | bigger effects than their customers realize. Handmade |
| Society benefits when it supports handmade goods | | | | goods are different. They are made with more |
| Supporting artists creates a stronger community and | | | | traditional and environmentally conscious methods. |
| makes special bonds. Being able to send a personal | | | | Many artists are conscious of the impact their work |
| message to someone that created your favorite vase | | | | will have on the environment and strive to create |
| is immensely different than grabbing someone with a | | | | green items with green techniques, often utilizing |
| nametag and telling them how much you love your | | | | recycled or recyclable materials. Also, handmade |
| new iron. Owning work to which you can put a name | | | | goods are not planned with the idea of becoming |
| or a face is an amazing experience that creates a | | | | obsolete; these goods are usually meant to last a |
| very personal connection to an item. When something | | | | lifetime at the minimum. In opposition to many mass |
| can stop being stuff and start being art, the value of it | | | | produced goods, handmade items don't tend to end up |
| shifts. | | | | in landfills or incinerators. |