Buying Handmade Homemade Hand Altered Online and Local.
Hello everyone, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Glad to have you here, and that you stopped by. Thought I was ready with my topic, but I did a little bit more research, and it is amazing what everyone says, trying to find definitions to help with the meanings of words, and etc.
Why buy Handmade Homemade? After researching a bit I will use both of these words. Handmade is considered made, or prepared by hand rather than by machine. Made by hand, or a hand process, and made by people using their hands. Individual pieces, or materials that compromise a finished item. Paint, wire, pieces combined to create a final item. Projects with a lot of hand work.
Hand Altered seem to have a little bit more suggested for it. Glued, nailed, screwed, sewn, whittled, affixed, stapled, embroidered, mixed, inscribed, painted, drawn, photographed, etc. Any alteration, or embellishment to an item by hand, or by machine controlled by hand, or via traditional art or craft method. Hand Altered is also referred to as hand embellished, or hand assembled.
Homemade can be referred to pieces that are repurposed. I also found made, or prepared in the home, made by oneself, and crudely or simply made. Creative touches, quality supplies, ingredients.
So, why buy pieces like this?
1) Find something unique. You are not wearing what everyone else is wearing. If maybe you like to keep up with the trends you can fix it up with a one of a kind accent piece.
2) Super Craftsmanship. Handmade items get individual care, special attention, focused with details, quality control, and etc. Also, there is no assembly line with unskilled workers.
3) Putting money into good hands. When you pay an artist, or craftsman for their work, they are actually getting the profit from it. You are not paying a CEO of a major company, their over head, and so on. You can also improve the economy, and make a difference by shopping this way with Handmade, Homemade, and Hand Altered.
4) Better Customer Service. Oh, yeah! That is something we all really love to have. Buying this way you get individual attention from the Seller. When you receive your products you might have a hand written note, thank yous, and sometimes some will give a freebie tucked with your item too. If you have a problem with some kind of mix up, lost or damaged in shipping, maybe item received was faulty, it is almost always taken care of effectively. Buying this way you will have a better chance with a refund, replacement, or sometimes a return too. These sort of issues though happen less frequently due to the care, and the concern Sellers strive for in having Happy Customers.
5) End Slavery. I am not saying this in a bad way, or no punt intended with this please. What I am referring to is buying this way you are not supporting industries of sweatshops, child labor, and some of the different industries like those in China. People are not factories.
6) Go Green. Smaller scale operations will produce less waste, use recycled materials, found objects, industrial salvage pieces, etc. All items that could have gone to the landfills, but with these techniques of Sellers they are spared and used.
7) Get Custom Items and Alterations. It's great having things made just for you. It's a pleasure to receive one of a king items, and maybe to help complete a vision you might have of something not out there yet. Also, if you don't have the skill to make it yourself, there is someone out there who does.
8) Make Somebody's Dream Come True. Many of us dream about quitting the day job, becoming your own boss, and doing what you love to do all day, and everyday. Whether it is for you, or helping someone else with this, it is very inspiring.
"Do What You Love, and the World Will Follow . . . ."
There are many categories that fall under these topics I have mentioned. Jewelry, clothing, accessories, home decor, housewares, vintage, used, soaps, lotions, bath products, but they all have something in common. Start from scratch, or connect things or pieces making something for you.
So, there you have what I have been reading about, and researched a little bit for this. There are some wonderful sellers out there doing all kinds of work. They take much pride in what they do, and like many others work very hard at what they do to make their items to be offered to you. When shopping please don't forget about them, and I would suggest if you have not already bought something like this . . . give it a try. You will be very surprised at what you get, and will want more. It's addictive!:) Artfire is one of the market places online that has sellers selling such items. Another place to also visit would be with Etsy as they are offering the same things within their market place too.
Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope you all enjoyed it. Take care, and see you again soon.
I LOVE junk! I love digging for the pieces, I love treasure hunting, I love thrifting and finding everyday pieces that can be used as is. Or, better yet, repurpose the pieces to make something different. Sometimes it is adding pieces together, sometimes taking a part a little bit, but knowing there is always something to do with any piece found for all of our home decors.
I just a couple of blogs, and what amazing things they show they have done, or show what others have done! Great way to visualize things you can do yourself with your thrifty finds, or even with extra pieces you have sitting at home. And, sometimes what we have at home just needs a little touch up for us to fall in love with it even more.
A few blogs to take a look at to see the beautiful everyday things being done..
http://www.junk-fest.blogspot.com, http://www.bec-4beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com, and http://www.fabulesslycrafty.blogspot.com. Please, when you get a chance stop by to visit them, and see all the neat things they are showing us all that we can do too.
Hope everyone is having a great Sunday! Feel free to ask any questions, or comments with each blog that I post. I will respond to you as quickly as possible, and let's have fun!:)
Hello Everyone, and hope ya'll had a great weekend! Rainy, cloudy, cooled off here, and for the next few days...UGH! I was soo liking spring till this happened. Well, I have been working on organizing the house a little more...going through boxes & of course finding more goodies to work with. That I like, and I know I hate going through everything, but is giving me more of a chance to see exactly what is here for inventory, and what more I will need too. I found some little oval frames that cloth & a little padding had been put with. And, there it stopped. I did find the white butterflies that would go great with this material to make them a simple wall hanging...group of 3. So, have put those to the side to finish after I make sure there is nothing else I intended to use with these.
I am building my inventory to start working with things, and I am getting excited for this too. The more I find, the more excited I get. Until then I am still working on selling things with Bonanzle, Ecrater, and Etsy too. So, don't forget to check those places out for those things too. I will still sell my vintage, collectibles, and gently used items along with the repurosed, refurbished, craft things also.
Take care everyone till another day:) Here is something I found that is kind of fitting for what I have been doing right now.... "A Place to dream, A place to create, A place to breathe"
Well, here we are another day, and whoops! I have been by my blog, but I guess I hadn't left anything here for anyone to read...sorry:( Ok, last week I had fun finding a few treasures to work with either to refurbish, repurpose, or to use for some crafty creations I am thinking of....or coming to mind as I treasure hunt too. I did go back to 1 place because a couple of weeks ago there was a whole bunch of shorter glass pillar candle holders. Almost like someone has used them for a special gathering, wedding, or something like that. I knew I was taking a chance of looking for them again, and of course kicking myself I didn't get them the first time. Course, until I got home it did not click with me all that I could use them for. Anyway, of course I get there, and they are all gone! UGH! Oh, well, my fault for not grabbing the first time, right?
Candle holders of all shapes, sizes, materials can really be used for much more than just lighting a candle too. Yes, we can decorate them, and still use them for our candles, but we can also put a plate on them for a bigger candle, kind of like a trinket dish, etc. If not a plate, why not a small bowl to decorate with some flowers, birds nest, a doilie, pin cushions, and etc. Or, use them as a stand for other various crafts too. Hmm...the possibilities. I myself love the old wooden candle holders, the banisters, ballisters, etc. I have a few in my home that sit with candles, or decorations for show. Just love candle holders:) Are you thinking of different ways now yourself? Love for you to share your thoughts here, and ideas. The more the merrier too:)
I was looking at this adorable little porcelain bowl I got, cleaned, and it sits at my kitchen bay window. Very clean white, looks almost new with a silver rim, and adorable pink flowers around the bottom of it. I was gonna put a little doilie in it, and maybe do some small flowers. Then, I thought of a pin cushion, or a birds nest with bird, eggs, and some other frilies. Now, I have thought of flipping it over, and attaching a little plate to it's bottom that one could burn a candle, put some of your favorite trinkets on, the popular birds nest with some goodies, and so on. I might have some hope for that adorable little bowl yet.
Well, hope everyone is having a great Hump Day, and the week has treated you well so far. Any ideas with your beautiful crafts you have done we would like to hear it here:) Have a Beautiful Day everyone!:o)
Hello to all who visit, and wishing ya'll a beautiful day too! Well, here it is another day, another part of the week, and yucky weather here! Rain, rain, and more rain....maybe I should be working on some craft things today, or better yet I should be listing more today too.
I just recently sold some of my Homer Laughlin plates to a customer, and of course I was happy about the sale. This person is going to be using them for her mosaic work that she does. Beautiful plates with the roses in the center. I can understand why they would have been chosen for this creation. I wish Katie with katiedesigns the best of luck with the plates, and hope they arrive safely for her project use.
If we look hard there are many things out there for all of use to use for any crafting projects we might have. I spent day with daughter yesterday, and she was amazed at the sales I found, the prices I spent, and how much I got for little or nothing. She also was amazed at how I was pointing out to her that this could be used for this, or I could do this, or maybe I should do this, and little of that instead, etc etc. The more I moved around things, the more ideas I kept getting. She just looked at me, and commented how she would have never thought of that! Hmm...feel them creative juices flowing! Oh, yes, and I seen some really neat glassware & some adorable vintage kitchen pieces. But, the condition was not quite at the point that I would like to sell them. Sorry, but I have faith I will find plenty more as time moves along here.
Well, time to be moving on, and trying to accomplish something a little more constructive today. Take care everyone, and visit me with my spots while out roaming, and you have a little spare time. Take care till the next time my friends:o)
Hello Everyone, and I would love to say Good Morning, but look at how the time has gone for me! I have spent most of the morning reading my emails, answering any questions, and then reading blog after blog after blog through blogger. WOW! There are soooo many talented people out there, and they are sooo sweet to share their projects they have done, and are doing too. I feel like getting more supplies, and sitting down, and just crafting away! Some of the simplest things can become so beautiful, and so inexpensively done too! This is another world I so enjoy spending time looking at, learning as I go, being constructive from ideas shared, and etc.
I can only mention a few, or it would become a very long book, but here are a few of the blogs visited this morning:
http://www.kari-youcanmakeit.blogspot.com
http://www.1talentedfamily.blogspot.com
http://www.todayscreativeblog.blogspot.com
http://www.justbeenme.blogspot.com
http://www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com
When you get a chance, visit these places. Once you get there you will see many different things views, and believe me ideas to use for you, or actually restructure for yourselves. Along with visiting these places you will also stray off to visiting other places that they suggest too. Why not take a day of viewing blogs, and refreshing ourselves?
Hope ya'll enjoy, and have a great day!:o)
Well, I think I am gonna try another thing here that I am sooo enjoying, and hope ya'll will too. Please, know that Vintage, Collectibles, Gently Used, etc is my passion & still my favorite thing to do & sell. But, there is also another side of me that just loves creating! Whether it is with scrapbooking pgs, crafts, refurbishing & repurposing I love a lot of it myself:o) Ok, what I am thinking of here, and maybe some of you would like to chip in & we share on this one too. Let's see, I am thinking of how we recycle things, and what we do with them. If any of you are like me, you don't throw things away, but find a use or home for them in some other way. Like some good people mentioned on the Vintage Village Ning I am signed up with....great group of sellers & buyers there too:) Anyway, everyone is kind of throwing ideas, and things around, and what fun it is too. So, I thought I would bring something like that to my blog for people to do here too.
Ok, skimming some of the ideas that have been shared is as such: shower curtain liners can be used for the artisitc ones as a drop cloth, using old work boots and such as planters for your plants, using denim jeans for a recycling thing that can be seen thru National Geographic with something being done there for assistance to others--I like denim jeans for the pockets off of them to craft with & to use the denim as scrap material for other things, scarves I like to use with crafting as it is fine simple light weight, and does well around some of the more wired projects where I need material that is lighter weight & sometimes transparent too, using broken jewelry for crafting, for your dusting and cleaning needs use the old socks & things like that--beats buying them darn thing cloths that don't last long & socks are washable too, old bowling balls can be used for making bugs to put into your yards for yard decor...paint them for instance like a ladybug-dig a small drop hole in the yard-place your new bug there-sturdy due to its weight-is reusable-and will stay in 1 place for you. Oh, this list can go on & on, couldn't it?
So, upon reading this if you feel the urge to share something you have done, or an idea...please do. Working together, and sharing is a very strong thing that is soooo much fun too!:) Take care everyone, and enjoy. Get them creative juices flowing.....
