I’ve been thinking a lot about the ‘buying handmade’ discussion since your previous post and have read the Storque article and comments. it is a far reaching topic and I haven’t commented yet because I don’t feel like my opinion is fully formed yet, but, I am perceiving an underlying tone in the handmade discussion that runs through a lot of counter culture or alternative culture groups… social groups that I have had lots of experience with (vegetarians/vegans, artist, punk rock, anarchist, hippie, etc). the core intentions of these groups (that I have been part of) are good, but often the original goals and intentions become side-tracked as time passes. I make dolls and toys because I have a creative need to, and I enjoy it. I try to sell them because, well, I would be overwhelmed with them otherwise, and I would like to earn a little bit from my hobby.
I would love to someday make a bit more from what I love to do, but if I don’t, I won’t stop.
Sometimes I perceive a bit of ‘guilting’ in the “buy handmade” slogan and Christmas pledge, a sort of “this is better than that,” “you are a better person if you buy handmade stuff and you are a bad person if you buy from Walmart (or Target, or malls, etc)” I know my son really loves and appreciates handmade toys, but he also loves and appreciates store-bought toys, and BOTH are luxuries. I think most of the handmade craft things ARE luxuries.

I know I buy my luxuries; whether they are handmade, sweatshop made, or second hand, because I have a love and attraction for them.

I think someone on the Etsy discussion board made a good comment on the source of the crafting raw materials… I end up buying a lot of my fabric, stuffing, and tools from JoAnn Fabrics! pretty corporate, that!

anyway, I am still thinking about all this, and I am glad you brought this up! Thanks for your blog Mimi!

http://www.layersuponlayers.com/beautiful-fabric-postcards/