Do You Really Buy Handmade?

So many of the quilting and crafting blogs I visit all have 'Buy Handmade,' on their web-sites, but after this year I have to ask you all a question. Do you truly support and buy handmade products or do you just have an advertisement on your blog in the hopes someone will buy from you?

I can honestly say this year I have done all I can to purchase handmade or local products from Etsy, local artisans, local markets or bloggers I know. I do NOT place things on my blog that I do not believe in. So while I would love to sell a quilt here and there, it doesn't change my commitment to purchasing things from other venues besides WalMart.

This year, I have purchased the following items:

• Handmade soap
• Aprons
• Cards or card making supplies
• Diaper bag
• Fabric
• Jewelry
• Purse
• Hat

I realize that I am not going to make anyone rich by buying their products, but if I purchase something from someone and I like what I have purchased, I blog about it, I list their shop on my blog and once in awhile, I include their product in my giveaways.

As a quilter and crafter, I enjoy giving many of my quilts and gifts away to others in need or as gifts, so while I may not sell any of my quilts, I keep them for a very long time before gifting them to others.

I do not like giving my money away to sites that I get lost in as a seller such as Etsy or Ebay. While I have found many wonderful products on Etsy, many times I find someone through one of the blogs I am following or on a giveaway site.

We all work hard trying to make the world a little better place and making handmade items we feel others will want to purchase, but ask yourself tonight when you are looking in the mirror: 'Have I really done all I can do to purchase handmade or is it just a gimmick on my blog?'

I can honestly say, I have done all my budget would allow me to do and prayerfully next year, I can do just as much or more!