Practically everything is made in factories and shipped by the thousands to stores everywhere. And we're bombarded with advertising to get us into those stores to shop. It's an endless cycle as new styles, colors, or whatever are invented to get us to replace the stuff we have. And we usually do, sooner than we like, because most of today's products are not manufactured to last (or are manufactured to not last). All the while, there are artists, artisans, and craftspeople among us making really cool things that are not caught up in the in-style/out-of-style revolving door because they are unique and timeless, as well as useful and high-quality (meaning they're made to serve their purpose well and to last). The problem is these products can get lost in the mix.
This blog is about helping people find good handmade products as alternatives to the mass-produced stuff. I'm scouting for high quality goods that are unique or distinctly not run-of-of-the-mill, and artists* who want to sell their work directly. So the links here are to people who handcraft artwork or functional products and have a consistent way to sell them. I only link to artists offering products for sale online if they have a secure way to receive payment. If they don't sell directly on the internet, they need to have a website that shows samples of their work and a showroom or studio that is open to the public during regular hours or by appointment.
There are literally thousands of artist websites. Some have been abandoned or lack current contact information, some are only intended to be picture galleries. And many of the sites that meet my criteria do not show up high in search engine results. So I'm doing the research, wading through the eye candy, and linking to artists who are actively selling their creations through a dependable channel. I want people to buy handcrafted products, and I want to make it easy for them to do.
I also provide suggestions for locating handmade products through offline channels, and links to articles, blogs, or websites that are interesting and useful.
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* I find it convenient to use the word "artist" when referring to artists, artisans, and craftspeople. Please don't hold this against me.
