When Angela, from The Artists’ House, asked me to participate in A Crafty Holiday Blog Hop, I immediately said yes.
I love buying handmade items. I love the stories behind handmade products. I like the uniqueness. I like knowing that my gift won’t be like anything else that person receives. Plus, I love to support other crafters and artisans.
During the holiday season, I spend way too much time browsing Etsy looking for thoughtful gifts for each person I know. Now that I’ve joined this blog hop, I can share some of the lovely things I’ve found so far, and feature some of my favorite handmade sellers.
First, I’ll share items that are on my wish list:
1. Rustic Fall Tree Hand Painted Necklace by Heather Kent
2. Pumpkin Pie Organic Shea Body Scrub by Virtue Natural
3. Heart Ring Catcher by Miss Pottery
4. An Illustrated Year of Cuteness 2011 Calendar by Stephanie Fizer
Second, I’ll share some things I’m considering giving to others:
1. Made with Love Knitting Hand Carved Rubber Stamp by Cupcake Tree
2. Power Drill Flour Sack Tea Towels by girls can tell
3. Pumpkin Spice Handmade Flower Headband by Mayi Carles
4. Clutch Purse by allisa jacobs
Handmade Shopping Tips
Before I started selling handmade items, I was buying them. And, the first couple of times that I bought handmade products, I was nervous. What if it didn’t fit right? What if it didn’t look like the product in the pictures? If you’re feeling this way, I’ve got two tips for you:
1. Order your holiday gifts as soon as possible. Many items are made to order and getting items shipped from other countries can take up to a month. I suggest you order your handmade items before December 1st just to be safe. If you’re ordering handmade items after that time, check with the seller to make sure you’ll receive your items in time for holidays.
2. Look at the company’s or seller’s policies. What does the seller say about returning items? In my opinion, you should be able to return your product if you don’t like it when it arrives. You can do this with retail stores, so you should also be able to do this with handmade goods. If the seller doesn’t allow returns, I’d choose somebody else. Crafters and artisans who are confident in their products should be able to offer full refunds for unsatisfied customers.
Did you miss Friday’s holiday blog hop post on Making this home? Check it out here. And make sure to stop by Epheriell Designs tomorrow for the next post in this fun blog hop.
Great post April! I love those tea towels. And that calendar is oh so cute.
Beautiful finds! The rustic fall tree hand painted pendant and the pumpkin spice head band are gorgeous!!
I love giving presents! So the Holidays are a super fun time of year for me of course!
Thank you so so much for including my pumpkin headband 🙂 What an honor!
That pumpking scrub would feel oh so nice today:) Love your thoughts for people new to purchasing handmade:)
What a great post! Good tip about buying early … I may reiterate that point on my post when the time comes – I’m buying all my gifts now so I know they will arrive in time and being a fellow handmade seller I know that waiting until the last minute stresses out both the customer and the artisan 😛
That pumpkin body scrub sounds delicious … Nice picks!
Nice items and thank you for the reminder to buy early! I am trying to get into the habit of buying ahead of time so I can buy more handmade items.
-Kristen
love so many of your choices! i really liked the little helper section too. it’s funny, I am way more nervous buying stuff from “typical” stores then i am from handmade artists but, i know that’s prob not the norm – hopefully one day it will be!
Great choices and helpful tips!
Those tea towels are awesome! I bet my dad would get a kick out of them.
Great tips! Thanks for the reminder about ordering early, I love buying handmade, and as a maker myself, I do appreciate as much “warning” around the holidays as possible.
Wonderful post – such cute stuff. The tips about buying are completely invaluable too. I am starting my shopping now because I know I often procrastinate and with handmade that’s hard to do.
Great choices! I love the clutch purse… and the hand-painted necklace!
Great tips, April. I’m on the search for calendars and just love the one you’ve chosen!