Christmas shopping - Make it in America

[Pax]

I only do gifts for my mom and niece; niece always gets cash (made in America ) and this year we're taking my mom to FL for a week as her gift... also made in America!

[skhill]

When I made all that peach jam this summer, I was planning on giving it as Christmas gifts. But I've ended up eating most of it myself!

Right now I'm knitting away: colorful mittens and scarves. Luckily all the immediate family lives in places that get a proper winter. I'll also be baking and making some candy when the time gets closer...

Another repurposed yarn project: did you know most of the innards of a baseball is yarn? It's icky stuff, so I knit a placemat for the cats' bowl from it.

[Brandi]

Here is my friends etsy site where she sells her hand spun , hand dyed yarn as well as she has a bunch of hand dyed silk scarfs for sale. Besides etsy is such a great place to buy gifts made in america plus there is some great up cycling! http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...al&h=dAQEC--wb the address has facebook in it but it will take you to etsy.

[OakLeaf]

Here's a more general question - I know part of the answer but I'm posting it so we can all share our answers.

Absent designated markets and outside of craft fairs, how do I find local artisans? Say, I just need a little skein of darning yarn. I KNOW there are spinners and dyers in my area. But they don't set up at the farmers' markets, and the season for that is over anyhow.



My partial answer: there's a local poultry and beef farmer who set up a brick-and-mortar shop in town where she sells her farm's meat and eggs; other animal products, sweet syrups and seasonal vegetables from other local farms; and a small selection of mass marketed food and household items. Farmers talk to each other and she'll probably know who I can ask. Likewise, a friend of mine is an aspiring writer with contacts in the local arts community, and if I have a specific type of gift item in mind she can probably point me in someone's direction.

Where else would you folks go?

[Brandi]

Farmer's markets are a good place at least where I live. They let local artist come with booths year round. Also if you try local art store;s and maybe see if people are posting flyer's about home craft shows and stuff. I am so embedded in this community i know all the home shows that happen this time of year. Some good some not so good. Maybe the community center would have flyer's up too?

[Dogmama]

Keeping it local -

Give a gift certificate for a massage, to a beauty salon, etc.

[Eden]

Got the DH a Filson's wool vest for his birthday - not only made in the USA, made right here in Seattle in a union shop - very rare indeed.

[Trek420]

Got the DH a Filson's wool vest for his birthday - not only made in the USA, made right here in Seattle in a union shop - very rare indeed.

Not as rare as you think http://allusaclothing.com/

But you're right. It's nice to find a local one too.

[solobiker]

When not riding or at work I go between quilting and wood working. This year I am making gifts with my lathe. I plan to make some wine stoppers, bowls and other small kitchen type of gifts.

[solobiker]

I will try to attach a pic of some of my stoppers and a cheese cutter.

[zoom-zoom]

Last year we gave my family members (in WI and IL) wine, spirits, and beer all made in MI. They were products they generally could not find outside our state.

[Trek420]

I will try to attach a pic of some of my stoppers and a cheese cutter.

They're beautiful!

[Dannielle]

Thank you!

I have seen this sentiment expressed a lot lately and as a self-employed toy/doll-maker it thrills me. I does take a different mindset to shop for handcrafted and special vs. inexpensive and advertised on tv.

[Dannielle]

something related to ponder: http://www.somersherwood.com/?p=126