tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56209919532555944412011-11-27T18:29:39.044-05:00Unconventional creativityKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00521179951067823311noreply@blogger.comBlogger31100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620991953255594441.post-47744928715637639622007-11-27T02:16:00.000-05:002007-11-27T02:17:39.764-05:00<a href="http://siggiez.com/countdownz/ch/index2.cgi"><br /><img src="http://siggiez.com/countdownz/ch/bans/46.jpg" width="468" height="60" border="0"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5620991953255594441-4774492871563763962?l=whirligigg.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00521179951067823311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620991953255594441.post-60489653383186465992007-11-21T02:47:00.000-05:002007-11-27T08:22:27.658-05:00<a href="http://www.buyhandmade.org"><img src="http://www.buyhandmade.org/images/pledge234x60.jpg" alt="I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org" width="234" height="60" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.</span><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">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<br />be seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing. </span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="big_bold"><span style="font-size:85%;">Buying handmade is better for people.</span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">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.<br /></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="big_bold"><span style="font-size:85%;">Buying handmade is better for the environment.</span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">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.</span></p><br /><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I think this is a wonderful idea. Not only are we supporting fellow artists and craftsters, we're giving thoughtful gifts which will certainly be appreciated....even by your mother-in-law!</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.columbiachronicle.com/paper/arts.php?id=2251">Craftism: The New Activism</a></span><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5620991953255594441-6048965338318646599?l=whirligigg.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00521179951067823311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620991953255594441.post-23671098128952444262007-11-19T19:36:00.000-05:002007-11-19T19:38:11.987-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandlife808.com/holidays/2007-christmas-ornament-exchange/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p215/Local-Girl-photos/ornamentexchange175.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What a great idea! And a fun way to kick things off too.<br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5620991953255594441-2367109812895244426?l=whirligigg.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00521179951067823311noreply@blogger.com1