Buy Handmade!

October 29th, 2010

I’m always keen to promote handmade crafts and gifts and personally would much prefer to make someone a gift or buy them something hand crafted than buy something mass produced. When you buy handmade you know that the maker has taken the time to make each piece unique, individual in it’s own way and certainly not something you would find in highstreet shops.

It’s important to promote and support handmade for this very reason. It’s often difficult to get noticed and that’s why whenver I’m involved in a group craft fair or event, or when I see someone’s work that I love, I make an effort to write a blog post and shout about it from the rooftops so that people find out about these wonderfully talented folk and the work they produce. I love it when people feature my own work on their blog and so I like to do the same as often as I possibly can and promote handmade on a regular basis.

I sell Milomade through my own online shop, through craft fairs, local stockists as well as online outlets too. One of these is Makers Online – a great place to start your search for handmade accessories, as they have a great range of beautiful hand crafted products from a wide range of makers. They have a few blogs and regularly promote and support the people behind the work.

A few weeks ago they started a new series called ‘Spotlight’ – a community project designed to help us all raise the profile and search engine rankings of each others’ websites. I’m a little late as I’ve been a little preoccupied with recovery after my operation and dealing with the backlog of work that has been piling up on my desk, but hey – better late than never! So here are a select few makers who sell via the Makers Online website that I would like you to check out as their work is lovely!

Dig The Earth

Dig The Earth produces contemporary designer cards and giclee prints on 100% recycled card using museum quality inks so you know you are getting the best quality product that doesn’t cost the earth!

Rachel Lucie

Rachel Lucie’s handmade silver jewellery is inspired by her Grandma’s jewellery from the 1920′s and the Art Deco style of the 1930′s to create stylish, timeless pieces with a vintage feel for any special occasion. Many of her pieces are one of a kind, ensuring you will have something unique!

Pipany

Pipany’s hand embroidered gifts and accessories are a taste of a lifestyle many of us long for – Pipany and her family live by the sea in Cornwall and both her loveingly made products and blog reflect her love of the countryside and the simpler pleasures of life such as jam making, gardening and spending time with the family. I’m upping sticks as we speak!

Seventyseventyone

Seventyseventyone makes scultptural felt brooches from wool felt mix inspired by the designs and colourways of scandinavian ceramics and fabrics of the mid 1960′s. The corsages make great alternatives to flowers for weddings!

Handmade Crafts Directory

The handmade crafts directory from handmade-crafts.co.uk aims to provide a high quality crafts directory for makers from all craft disciplines to help you get seen and find fellow creatives in your area. A must see!

So, there you have it. All these makers have websites and blogs which you can visit by using the links I’ve included above. They really are full of wonderful things and information as well as providing a lovely read. Please do find some time to pop over and support Handmade Crafts and Buy Handmade.

Oh and don’t forget me either!

I have a serious love of stationery! I would infact say I have a stationery fetish and what’s brilliant is that I can make my own and I’m getting to be well known for producing upcycled stationery and decorations out of old maps and other paper ephemera. Ranging from envelopes, notebooks, paper garlands, confetti and greeting cards, I have a varied selection of useful and eco friendly goodies.

But don’t forget I make a huge range of upcycled products including jewellery and acccessories too and you really should check out the whole Milomade range by browsing this website and blog.

For more details on the Makers Online Spotlight series please read the information here and if you wish to take part email contact@makers-online.com.

Posted in Friday Finds |