Tag: craft

Why Buy Handmade?

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Following up to an earlier post explaining Indie crafts, the folks at buyhandmade.org give a short explanation about why you should buy handmade. Add your ideas and why you love handmade items to the comments!

Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.

The giver of a handmade gift has avoided the parking lots and long lines of the big chain stores in favor of something more meaningful. If the giver has purchased the gift, s/he feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly. The recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that can
be seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

Buying handmade is better for people.

The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect.

Buying handmade is better for the environment.

The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production.

What is Indie?

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As you may or may not know, Mayday Underground Crafts + Art is a special breed of craft show. It’s an indie craft show. What does this mean? This article from CraftCritique.com does a decent rundown of the whole idea behind indie craft shows, what makes them different, and why they’re important.

Indie Craft and the DIY movement
Reported by Shannon Schafer

 

To quote Wikepedia ” The indie design movement is made up of independent designers, artists and craftspeople who design and make a wide array of products without being part of large, industrialized businesses.

They are supported by a growing number of indie shoppers who are seeking niche and often handmade products as opposed to those mass-produced by corporations. Such products may include jewelry, ceramics, glass, furniture, art, paintings, metal work and much more.

Indie designers often sell their items directly to buyers by way of their own online shops, craft fairs, street markets and a variety of online marketplaces, such as Dawanda, Etsy, Mintd, and Lov.li. However, they may also engage in consignment and/or wholesale relationships with retail outlets, both online and offline.

The indie design movement can be seen as being an aspect of the general indie movement and DIY culture.”

From the DIY movement has brought together several networking groups like craftster, craft mafias, indiepublic and Street teams formed through ETSY. I happen to lead an ETSY street team Florida that chats weekly to share ideas, craft shows, marketing ideas etc.

Over 28,600 individuals have joined in the DIY movement and pledged to buy handmade. I encourage you to take the pledge this holiday season.
Indie Artists do not follow any rules or guidelines in their art yet are very professional with their business.

Indie Craft and the DIY movement have spawned several incredible shows including Renegade Craft Fairs, Bazaar Bizaare, Atomic Holiday Bazaar and other hometown smaller shows.

Some designers will say that Indie craft is not your grandma’s crafts while others will say it’s grandma’s AWESOME crafts brought back and tweaked to rock today. However you describe it embrace it , find some of your favorite artists and support them and the movement this holiday season. In today’s economic crisis don’t forget the artists and the feeling of giving and receiving a gift that is handmade.