Have you taken the Pledge yet?

Wow... Christmas is in less than 8 weeks.... scary! So here's a suggestion on how to make the whole shopping nightmare easier and more meaningful this year.
Make something instead of buying! Yes, you can do it! Trust me, there's something you can make for just about anybody on your list, and people really appreciate the time and thought involved.

No time you say? Well, than you can at least buy handmade. Sure, you can go to the mall, wade through crowds of people, and buy something just to buy it.... or, you could go online to someplace like etsy.com, where everything you see is in stock and hand-crafted, and you can pick out a thoughtful and unique gift for pretty much everyone on your list. One place you could visit (of course) is http://monaco.etsy.com/

Why buy handmade you ask????

When you choose a piece of handmade artisan jewelry, you are purchasing a piece of work directly from the artist's hands. This gives it special meaning and value. Much thought and design knowledge has gone into creating your special jewelry piece. Handmade artisan jewelry makes a very special gift. It shows you've taken the time to select a piece not found in a department store or produced on the mass market. This will be reflected in the beautiful craftsmanship that the individual artist adds to the piece. There's also the option of having a custom design created by the artisan exclusively for your special gift giving needs. You can enjoy developing a handmade jewelry collection for your own needs.When you buy handmade jewelry, you're getting the highest quality components and design because the artist has complete control over each phase of the creative process. You'll have a unique piece of handmade jewelry you can wear with pride. Jewelry is all about expressing yourself the way you see fit! Jewelry can change the way you look and feel. Have fun developing your own signature look!

So check it out, and if you're with me on this, take the pledge at http://www.buyhandmade.org/. And pass the word along to your friends, family, and coworkers - make it a great holiday for them, and for the crafters and artists they'll be helping to support. I'll be posting updates to let you know how my shopping is going - feel free to do the same in the comments section of the posts. Thanks, and happy shopping!