A few weeks ago I went with a group from the Museum Center at 5ive Points where I work to the John C. Campbell Folk School in Murphy, NC. We went to get a behind-the-scenes tour from their awesome Potter-In-Residence, Michael Lalone. The Folk School is a great place to go and spend a week or week-end learning a craft from a teacher, but its also a wonderful place to shop.
We ended our fun day in their craft shop. As I was browsing through the shop I was reminded how crafters can provide many of the necessities of our everyday life. When you buy a piece that is handmade by a crafts person I think you are getting double good points! Not only are you shopping locally, but you are helping support an artist.
Because our Museum Center’s store only sells the work of crafts people who live within a 200-mile radius of Cleveland, TN, I have had the pleasure of getting to know many of these folks. In all but a few exceptions, they have other jobs to make ends meet, or they struggle financially. But they love their work and are dedicated to what they do. They deserve our support. I’d much rather buy a handmade basket that will appreciate in value and that shows the love and workmanship of the maker such as these works by Ken and Kathleen Dalton, than a basket made in China!
One of my long held fantasies is to be able to afford to buy everything, and I mean everything, from crafters. Could this be done? While its not exactly buying things local, I used the very cool website Etsy to see if I could achieve my fantasy in getting my morning routine done.
Here’s what I found:
Soap – yep! 
Shampoo – yep!
Conditioner – yep!
Toothpaste – yep, but not sure I’m up to using it…..!
Deodorant – yep!
Hair brush – awesome and yep! 
Makeup – yep!
Organic crocheted washcloth – yep!
Bath Towels - yep, at least decorated by a crafter (not my style though!).
OK, I’m pretty much through with my morning routine. Maybe the toilet paper isn’t hand crafted, but of course I could find the toilet paper holder on Etsy. And I did find what I thought was the ugliest just for fun! 
It would take a lot of work to do this on a daily basis until you found the vendors you liked, but it was also a lot of fun to see all the amazing things that average, and not so average, people are making out there on Etsy. Check it out and think about buying your every day essentials from a small-scale home crafter. They are selling these items at your local craft shows as well! It will boost the economy in ways you never even thought about and you will get to try some amazing new stuff!
Please let me know if you buy locally made essentials from your area crafters!
Tags: Crafts, etsy, handmade, John C. Campbell Folk School, Museum Center at 5ive Points, shopping
I love handmade soaps and lotions…hadn’t thought about toothpaste, though. Looks like a great shopping experience!