I've always loved crafting of all kinds. I've enjoyed needlepoint, wood burning, sewing, jewelry making, painting, drawing, designing, glass etching, plastic crafting, bead making, mold making and more. However there's one craft that has always intrigued me and I've decided that now is the time to try my hand at it...
There are plenty of other cool folk toys, crafts and kits to be found at www.homesteadtoys.com that are made in the USA. They also have "My First Crochet Set". I might have to pursue that next. However, if you (or someone you're shopping for) are a little more experienced with yarn crafts, you might consider a kit like this...
Watching the news coverage of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy has me
feeling both stunned and overwhelmed. I am thankful that my family and home have remained safe here in my corner of New York State, but I am feeling
pained for all those in the path of this system that are now dealing with both flooding
and power outages. I want to express my appreciation to Governor Cuomo and all
the emergency responders who are working so hard in the midst of this disaster.
At a time like this my thoughts and prayers go out to the people who are in
need of rescue, shelter and other aid. That's why I'd like to remind and
encourage you to support the American Red Cross.
I know that donations made to the Red Cross are used well to help those
impacted by disasters like this. I also see from their website that they are
encouraging people in unaffected areas to schedule blood donations. Wherever
you are, I hope you are safe. I also hope you will consider making a donation
to the Red Cross, whether it's one of financial support, blood or both. In
times like this we must join together and stand strong and united. Hope, strength, compassion, faith, generosity and love are also gifts that come from right here in the USA. God bless
America.
Halloween is just around the corner and in a couple of nights I will be
expecting the arrival of the trick or treaters. Instead of just grabbing the
first bag of candy I saw on the shelf I wanted to be a little more conscious
about finding treats that are made in the USA. I searched the aisles to find
some great options to choose from and I'm glad to say that this year I'm doing
Halloween American Style!
This year I'll plan to give extra candy to any little ones who show up wearing
a costume like this...
And speaking of dressing up, while the trick or treaters will show up on
Wednesday, the Halloween weekend has just passed with gatherings for the
"big kids". My husband and I went out to a party on Saturday and I thought I'd
share my costume...sort of an homage to this blog (in more ways
than one). Just call me "Miss America"!
There are a few toys from my childhood that were so special to me that I still
have crystal clear memories about them today. Creative play was always
encouraged in my household and some of my favorite toys allowed me to express
myself in ways that helped me to develop a rich world of imagination, which I
believe played a significant role in the activities I pursued later in life
(such as writing and directing children's theater productions). Some of my most
memorable childhood toys include my very first Jem doll (as well as my second,
third and twenty-fourth...I had quite a collection), my Smurfs art center
(which seemed particularly magical as it showed up under my bed shortly after I
made a wish on my first Thanksgiving wishbone...I really thought that my wish
had come true) and of course, my playhouse. I had such a wonderful cardboard
playhouse, large enough for me to climb inside and hide while I spent the hours
enthralled in my world of imagination.
What I knew about my playhouse at the
time was that it was a place of wonder and happiness. Occasionally I would even
crawl out of bed late at night to sleep in the playhouse! What I didn't know
until just recently is where that cardboard playhouse came from. While searching
for photos of the house (which unfortunately I could not find) I had a talk
with my mother and learned that she actually made the house herself. She used a
refrigerator box as the base and covered it with brick patterned contact paper
for the walls and cut a window hole for me to peek out. I always loved this
gift, but had no idea it was made especially for me...no wonder it inspired
such creativity! I definitely think this was one of those small, but significant
paving stones that helped me develop into a person with an appreciation for
arts, crafts, music, theater and other creative pursuits. It also goes to show that a child really can be amused for hours on end with nothing more than a cardboard box! Since I could not
find a photo of the playhouse itself, I thought I’d share some images from my
childhood that show what an impact the nurturing of creativity can have on a
young life…
In remembering how I felt about my own experience, I
wanted to express how a cardboard playhouse can be such a world of wonder for a
child. That's why I was so excited to share this find with you...
How much fun would a child have with that? It's similar to the playhouse that I
have such fond memories of to this day. And while I love that even a cardboard
box can transform into a castle in the mind of a child, I sure wouldn't have
had any problem whiling away the hours in one of these beautiful wooden
playhouses that are made by Amish woodcrafters...
Day 8.
A tisket, a tasket, I'm gonna make a basket
There was an episode of Friends a while back where Joey was going out with one
of "The Three Basketeers"...do you think they could use a fourth? I'm
all set with the goodies to make the tea basket, but just like with our candy
mugs, you can of course use this as a basis for making a basket as simple or
elaborate as you like and fill it with items to fit any theme of choice. Maybe
we'll explore some other basket themes along the way. But for now, I'm ready to
begin assembling all the pieces we have gathered for the tea basket...let's get
to it!
I really believe making your own baskets is not only fun, but also an
economical way to make a great gift. I sometimes think when you buy a pre-made
basket in a store you are mostly paying for the wrapping and the convenience of
having it all done for you. If you spend those same dollars on more quality
contents for your basket and take a few moments to wrap it yourself (as seen
here) you can make the gift go a lot further.
If there is a specific item you are looking for it's easy to find almost
anything on the internet. In your search browser if you type the general category
of item you want and the words "made in the USA" odds are you will
find quite a few suggestions. That's one of the easy ways to get quick
information on exactly what you're looking for. However, I really enjoy the
exploration and discovery that comes from actually going out and about to shop
in stores where I can have a face to face conversation with a sales person or
shop owner and get some first hand information and personalized
recommendations. Shopping for cool gifts to share with you has been a wonderful
experience because throughout the process I'm getting a chance to hear some
great stories about the various items I'm finding. That was especially true
when I paid a visit to Jim Parker at the Ilion Farmers Market. He gave me some
wonderful insights into the origins of the beautiful Amish made baskets that
are featured at the market and it made me feel like I had really found
something special!
Now we have all the items we need including the basket. Time to put it all
together!
We're
on the search now for some tea to add to our gift basket in progress. I've got
a pretty good idea where I can find some, but I want to make sure I know a
little about the tea I select for this gift basket so we can tell the story of
where all the elements originated. There's one woman I know who not only stocks
great gifts, but always has some extra insight about the items she sells in her
store...and she is a tea lover just like me! So we're off to see Sue Miller at
the Plaide Palette.
Thanks
Sue! You can find more about her store at www.celticart.com
.
While I was
waiting for my salon appointment and just about to pour myself a cup of coffee I noticed something that caught my eye. The candy stir sticks next to the coffee…could they be
made in the USA? Yes they were. Could they be made in my own backyard? Practically!
When I noticed the name of a local manufacturing company on the back I was
elated because I had an idea for another great gift. Who wouldn’t love a tea or
coffee basket featuring some of these sweet goodies as accents? I had to learn
more. So I checked out the company’s website at www.richardsonbrands.com and found an assortment of all
the candies I would need to put together this gift to make someone's tea time a little bit sweeter.
So the
candies are great. Now I just need a couple more items…most importantly a
basket and some tea to complete this gift. Of course we’re going to find these
items made in USA as well, so it’s time to do some more shopping...and I think I've got a pretty good idea of where to go!
Elephants
will be part of a recurring theme in this blog so as to remind you of why my
exploration for gifts made in the USA began in the first place. Today I would
like to offer up my first do-it-yourself craft gift and it seemed fitting to
use an elephant design in the process. We’re going to make some candy elephant
pops as a sweet way to fill a gift mug. This is an example of a gift you can
make entirely using American made components. What’s really nice about a
project like this is you can personalize it with themes and shapes that relate
directly to your recipient. Also, it can be as simple or elaborate as you like.
What we’ll demonstrate here is on the simpler side just to show the basic
technique and supplies. It’s a great idea to have a few of these mugs prepared
and at the ready as gifts for co-workers, teachers, your hairstylist or anyone
who helps you throughout the year as a token of your appreciation during the
holidays. It’s especially nice when you make something from your heart that is
a personalized gift to say thank you to that person, so I hope this video helps
to get you started…
There are
so many options when it comes to molds, flavors and food colorings that you are
only limited by your own creativity. I hope you’ll enjoy making some candy
gifts of your own soon!
Let’s talk
alpacas! The weather is starting to get a little chilly and it gets you
thinking about gifts to help you stay warm. Well, I found quite a variety of
gift items made from the fiber of alpacas here in the U.S. and wanted to learn a little more
about them. The most important thing I learned from breeders Andy and Theresa
McEvoy is that their alpacas provide a fiber that is sheared from them annually,
but this does NOT harm the animal. That is such an important thing to know! They insist that any product carried in their store, regardless of its origins (as they also carry items from Peruvian Alpacas), be cruelty-free. When
you look at an alpaca there is absolutely something special about them. If you
want a great gift to keep you warm and give you a nice warm fuzzy feeling all
around just take a look at some of what I found while touring Paca Gardens in
Little Falls, NY.
Aren’t you
just loving those alpacas? I want to bring one home! These animals are so sweet, their fiber is so soft...and this next video is just for fun!
For nearly
two decades I've been both a big fan and promoter of real New York State maple
syrup. Maple syrup is an all natural delicacy produced in areas like the
northeastern parts of the United States where the conditions are right for sap
flow with warm days and cool nights in the early spring. Pure maple syrup
(which is dramatically different from the artificially flavored table syrups on
the market) is a classy, delicious gift item that I am certain will be adored
by anyone who receives some.
Maple
syrup producers take pride in offering a superior product that is nature's
perfect gift. Let's learn a little bit more about it.
There are
many maple producers who market their products online. Here is a great resource
for finding maple syrup from New York (just a little home state pride).
And you might want to whip up some pancakes to go with your maple syrup! One of my favorite memories from childhood was visiting my grandmother's house and waking up to her delicious hot from the griddle pancakes and maple syrup. My grandmother, Lucille Mudrich, was not only an AMAZING chef, but she also made some history by becoming the first female chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of America.
Here is a recipe my grandmother passed down to my mother, then to me.
Grandma's Pancakes
2 cups sifted flour
5 t baking powder
2 t salt
3 T sugar
2 eggs (beaten)
2 cups milk
1/3 cup melted shortening or vegetable oil
Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
Combine the eggs, milk and shortening. Add the dry ingredients. Stir until
blended. Grease griddle lightly. Pour ¼ cup of batter onto hot griddle for each
cake. Turn once after the batter starts to bubble.
Makes 12 pancakes
If you're going to make some pancakes, I think these are the most
clever skillets! Each one is shaped like a state, so it definitely shows pride in each of our 50 states.
If you
have found your way to this blog I hope you are ready to enjoy the journey with
me as I explore some great gift ideas just in time for the holidays. This blog
will be devoted to helping us all find some cool items that have one thing in
common...they are made right here in the USA. I have always been a supporter of
the idea we should shop locally whenever possible. To me this is the global
version of a shop local campaign. And there are so many reasons why it's
important to support American business on both the small and large scale. From
keeping jobs in our country to all the trickle down economic benefits, I don't
think too many people would argue against the notion that shopping for American
made goods is a smart thing to do. However, the inspiration for this blog came
from a different angle entirely. I happened upon a website and blog written by
an artist whose talents I first encountered in my youth through her illustrations,
which had a significant impact on me during my childhood, and now her figural
art that I equally admire having learned more about her work today. Through her
own blog Sharon Knettell (www.sharonknettell.com) drew my attention to how so many
elephants are losing their lives, slaughtered for ivory and commerce as a
result of a high foreign demand for the ivory and how some tactics used in countries
like China have just contributed to this terribly sad situation. I encourage
you to read more about this for yourself, but I wanted to find a positive way
to address the feelings this brought up in me.
The most
positive way I feel we can all make a difference is to make smart choices, opting
to select gift items that support America and American business. Though I hope
to impart some important ideas and information, this blog will not be about preaching
to you...it will be about assisting you in finding cool things being made in
the USA and showing support by shopping with retailers who have taken the extra
effort to offer them. As an artsy-crafty person myself, I like to think that
"made in the USA" not only refers to a finished product, but also
ideas for things you can make yourself using components that are manufactured
here as well. So throughout this blog you will find some videos, some photos,
some stories and some do-it-yourself ideas for things I have come across in my
many travels that I want you to know about. My hope is that we can share ideas
for smart, savvy gifts that combat the negative by reinforcing the positive,
and that positive impact can be felt all over the United States by spending our
dollars to support the wide variety of cool things that are available right
here. I also welcome you to e-mail me with your thoughts and suggestions.
Together we'll find lots of ideas for gifts and goodies just in time for the
holiday season. Let's get shopping!
I want to
encourage you right from the start that there are lots of wonderful gifts to be
found out there that are made in the USA. Sometimes it seems like you might have
to put in a little extra effort…but not always. I took a tour of a wonderful
gift shop that features a very wide selection of gifts made in America
everywhere you look. Let’s start our journey here!
I’d like
to thank my friends at The Tepee for letting me tour their store. If you’d like
to learn more about them you can find the shop at:
