Having a Handmade (and Local!) Holiday

It's getting to be that time of year. The winter holidays are getting close and that means folks are going to be shopping for gifts! Let me suggest that you support the local economy, as well as hard-working local artists, by making the commitment to have a handmade holiday.

 It's not hard to find handmade gifts from right here in Michigan. Here are several ways to find them:
1) Visit a local craft show. Many schools and churches have them this time of year. There is probably at least one near you!
2) Check out Artfire's Michigan Artists Guild.
3) Check out Etsy and do a search for "Michigan Trolls". It's a group of Michigan artists. Or just search "Michigan".
4) Check out local boutiques and craft malls that bring together many handmade artists for convienent shopping. Try The Town Peddler in Livonia or Countryside Craft Mall in Sterling Heights.

If you're anything like me you're tired of buying a bunch of mass-produced items for holiday giving. This year, concentrate on spending the same money that you would've spent at the local department store at a craft fair, craft mall or an online artist venue. You may not be able to get as many items for each person for the same money, but I guarantee that the items you get will be of better quality and more cherished than anything you could find on a shelf full of identical, mass-produced "stuff". You will also be supporting the Michigan economy on the most basic level.

So get out there and start shopping!