Etsy's Handmade Blog
Handmade Confessional: Stephanie Donon
Story by matt, Vanessa, weirdwolf
Published on November 28, 2008 in Craftivism

Here we are. It's "Black Friday" again and we weren't waiting on line at the mall. There's something in the air and it's not muzak pumped throughout the florescent lit aisles of big box stores. It's been building across the world for some time now: a movement to bring together conscientious consumption and the joy of making things.

Since the Handmade Consortium launched the Buy Handmade Pledge (http://buyhandmade.org) last year, over 30,000 people have signed. Some say "hand-made is the new black" — but it's not a trend.  This is about real people making changes in their everyday lives and figuring out how to make those changes lasting and sustainable. It's about being able to quit your day job and shop local. It's about personal history and the inspiration behind making something of your own vision.

Etsy admin Tara aka weirdwolf recently met some of you at the Los Angeles Felt Club and filmed why handmade is important to you. This video with Stephanie Donon is just the first of many of your Handmade Confessionals. Click here to add your video response in Youtube.

Find out more about the Handmade Consortium | Sign the Handmade Pledge

I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org

Tags Black Friday, Buyhandmade.org, Buy Handmade Pledge, Craftivism, CRAFTIVISM, Handmade Confessional, Handmade Consortium, Holidays, shopping, video
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45 comments     Login to add your own!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. TheCottageCheese

I am so happy to skip the mall and buy handmade this year! Thanks to Etsy for making it so fun and easy to find just the right unique gifts for my friends and family.

Nov. 28, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. simplytwisted

Handmade is the best :) Thanks Etsy!!!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. f2images

Love the Cat head feeding setup, and the Black Upcycled Briefcase....Very cool!

BUY 1 GET 1 FREE thru Monday at my shop! (prints only)

Nov. 28, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. aorta

malls suck.

Nov. 28, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. oldworldprimitives

I took the Handmade Pledge! And the Christmas wishlist that I gave to my husband this year was filled with ONLY goodies from Etsy. :)

Nov. 28, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. MarloFJewelry

The black rose candles are really elegant.

Nov. 28, 2008 at 7:34 p.m. elizabethwren

no stores for me today, only left the house to mail out etsy orders! buy handmade and vintage!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. Thinkoutsidethebox

I hate to admit it but I did go to two stores this morning! No malls though. While I am committed to handmade there are those few items and people in our lives that require something with a brand name on it! Can you tell I have teenagers? After the 2 stores I was all set with the world and quite frazzled..happy to get home to my etsy!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 7:42 p.m. ScissorsHappy

The only store I went to was a fabric store! Does that count. Halfway there.

Nov. 28, 2008 at 8:05 p.m. mksupplies

I don't do christmas, but I do like to shop! I'm so happy to have Etsy to purchase handmade items from and be able to easily locate local artist.

Nov. 28, 2008 at 8:24 p.m. hellome

What is especially funny about some of the mall stuff, and even some online stores, is that they carry stuff that has the *look* of handmade, but is obviously mass produced. And often for more money than the real deal here at Etsy. That I just don't get.

Nov. 28, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. christinececelia

This year is the first year that i will be handmaking and buying handmade gifts for Christmas. Everyone seems to like them so much better than store bought items- they are so much more personal!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. ZestyB

Handmade *is* not just for the winter holidays either!
Birthday, anniversary, new baby, Groundhogs Day and everything in between.

Nov. 28, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. winemakerssister

All my shopping was on Etsy today...yay!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. AZCreativeStudio

Great article!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. glimpsesandremains

Last year I mostly made cookies wrapped in furoshikis for our friends and family. This year, I plan to do a little buying (on Etsy and some used books). Big stores encourage way too much buying for the sake of buying, with no thought. Handmade=love

Nov. 28, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. jodieflowers

I have taken the pledge!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. klamathriversfinest

The first thing I look for is the handmade pledge when I look at a new shop. The very first thing I put in my new shop was the the badge! It's that important to me!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. timesandchimes

Am well on my way to an ETSY-ONLY holiday stash for my loved-ones! I am happy to be shopping from the warmth of my home!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. Happiknits

I was happy to skip the mall and shop on Etsy today :) Thanks for including my Chunky gloves with all these talented Etsians!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 11:02 p.m. sewsewsuckurtoe

I make every one of my Christmas gifts for friends, family and loved ones. I pledged last year and will continue this pledge and share with as many others as I can. I have 5 kids :) and we don't exchange gifts that aren't handmade. Etsy is a great place to connect with the most creative and talented network of independent artists in the world. The positive energy of the group is fused in every aspect of etsy. If you don't enjoy the creative process yourself, than spend some time buying handmade on etsy...you won't regret it. :) And remember buying handmade isn't just for the Holidays!!!

Nov. 28, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. TheKnottyPine

I hate malls, and shopping on Etsy for holidays, birthdays etc... is awesome, fast and you don't need to spend gas on driving anywhere either ;) I love it! And handmade items are just so much more special. I just got a special order from a customer for 4 custom Christmas baskets! I am so happy because it not only means they like my items, but that they are giving handmade items to their loved ones! YAY for handmade!! :)

Nov. 29, 2008 at 12:27 a.m. stephaniek

I'm glad handmade is becoming more popular!

Nov. 29, 2008 at 2:14 a.m. theexplodingbag

<3 Handmade. Why be the same, when you can be original with handmade? Don't people want to be unique? =]

Nov. 29, 2008 at 4:31 a.m. littleredbear

Go handmade!!!

Nov. 29, 2008 at 6:01 a.m. hobocampcrafts

yay! Wonderful to see-

Nov. 29, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. jamary92

I love ETSY!! It is my plan to buy most of my gifts from etsy vendors. In this disposable, self first, society it is nice to have a place to shop where I feel great that the purchases I make go to actual people and not corporations, who have attempted to super size the soul of "Christmas". So this year at my house it is homemade/handmade only!!! Thanks ETSY!!

Nov. 29, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. sweetirie

Yay! I am so proud that every single one of my Christmas gifts and other gifts have been handmade this year! I wouldn't buy from anyone else!!!

Nov. 29, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. kingfishercrafts

Bingo!
We are going off grid this year.
Mall grid. Gap grid. Walmart grid.
If it's not on Etsy, it's just not on.

Nov. 29, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. aisle3studio

all my friends and family know they're getting something from etsy and are really excited!

Nov. 29, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. lissilulu

been getting the word out to buy handmade...have the link in my sidebar and a post up for my etsy shop on my blog...
lissilulu.blogspot.com
I love that more and more people are becoming aware of good choices in shopping

Nov. 29, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. IcingOnTheCupcake

Handmade gifts are much more meaningful... in my opinion!

Nov. 29, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. softmelody

My goal is to make nearly every gift for my friends this year...It's just more fun that way. :)

Nov. 29, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. MeadowbelleVintage

Handmade has ALWAYS been my favorite, so I'm glad it's catching on! (And it somehow seems much safer and friendlier than the giant shopping mobs).
I think everything from fashion to art will continue to be more inspired by unique, handmade, re-used, and recycled (aka: vintage, too!).

Nov. 29, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. EJPcreations

YAY ETSY!!!!! woooot!

Nov. 29, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. artdecadence

ah..the joy of making things...creativity is such a positive force...i do wonder tho if some etsy sellers are destroying the joy of creating by churning out the same items over and over again because the market wants pseudo 'handmade'...

Nov. 30, 2008 at 12:50 a.m. ThreadBeaur

Yes, Skip the mall support the little guys! Handmade is the way to go, not just for the holidays but everyday!

Nov. 30, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. SeptemberStars

Uh.. is there anything other than Etsy? Not for me!

Nov. 30, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. voleurdebijoux

i l♥ve handmade! :)

Nov. 30, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. thebuttonshop

We boycotted black friday, didn't go anywhere that day!! I bought all of my children's Christmas gifts this year from ETSY!! No joke! It's been wonderful...

Dec. 1, 2008 at 3:49 a.m. Studio618

I only support my Etsy friends. No! I'm not biased. :)

Dec. 1, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. littlebachu

Hand made is the way to go and etsy is the best place to find it. I've already started making my gifts! Still looking for wonderful unique gifts on etsy!
Happy Holidays etsians!

Dec. 3, 2008 at 12:33 a.m. BluCille

Some of these items are neat, others are weird. But they're all creative.

Dec. 3, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. CRSisters

Handmade items giving with love are the BEST gifts to give and receive! Share the handmade items. The world will be a better place. Thank you!

Jan. 14, 2009 at 12:34 p.m. KimFelsen

Loved this Black idea!

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