Monday, October 5, 2009

Let's support our local communities and Blog Friends ....




It’s October, so of course I’m thinking of Christmas—hahaha! Well, sort of. I was looking at a couple of blogger friend's etsy pages the other day and thought how I'd love to support them.


Then, I thought how wonderful it would be to do some of my Christmas shopping online at our blogger-friends “stores.” There’s pashimas, and art, and hand-made notebooks, and crafts, and leatherworks, and no telling what all.


So, Angie Ledbetter and I are doing a shout out to our blogger friends and their family/friends who sell “artsy” kinds of items. Place a link or the information in the comments section and then we’ll post them. Stop by Angie's place and let her know, too!


As well and just as important, I’d also like to give a shout out to the local vendors and shops in our communities. Like my communities in Haywood County--especially my little Maggie Valley and Main Street Waynesville. They need us, too. Very much so. The local vendors and shops are the hearts of our communities—indie booksellers, little mom and pop shops, etc. So please keep them in mind as you go into the coming holiday season. Maybe their products aren't as cheap as some of the big discount stores, but, you can find things made in your own community by people who live there and need you. Same concept as shopping online with our blogger community friends---helping and supporting each other!



I just believe we should support each other in our little(big) blogger world and towns. I know how many of you may never have heard of Tender Graces were it not for Blog Land and indie booksellers and community libraries—so the “power” of getting the word out through our blogs and little communities to help one another is tremendous.


Let’s make this Christmas an interesting and fun one by buying from local vendors/shop owners and by purchasing online from our blogger friends!
Ho! ho! ho! and a bottle of Rum...er....or something like that *laughing*

35 comments:

Analisa said...

What a great idea!

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

Great idea! I'll be back to check the list when I do my own shopping!
You already know what I do but here goes:

www.afiori.com - fine art photography, collages, unique mixed paper notebooks, custom wedding books and guestbooks.
Everything is handmade by me from scratch and the notebooks have my art on the covers.

Direct link to shop: http://afiori.etsy.com

Carol Murdock said...

This really is a great idea you and Ang have but I hate thinking about Christmas until after Halloween! :)

Barry said...

This is a wonderful idea. Count me in.

Ronda's Rants said...

What a wonderful idea! You have inspired me!

Deb said...

Wonderful idea Kathryn. I was thinking about Christmas yesterday...

Janna Leadbetter said...

This place is local to my state. I haven't ordered yet, but plan to. Gave Angie the same link.

www.riggscreations.org

t i m said...

that's a really good idea so i'll forgive you for mentioning the 'c' word in october :)

Angie Ledbetter said...

Yay...I can almost hear the Christmas caroles. NOT! It's hot and I'm barefoot here, but never too soon to start making gift giving lists, hunh?

Hugs!

Jessica Nelson said...

Great idea you two had. I need to shop local more.

Glynis Peters said...

I need to get to Halloween first (birthday :) ) then think Christmas. It is a great idea to support each other. I am also shopping in the breast cancer stores.

Unknown said...

This is such a great idea ... and lots of fun, too! Thank you for the opportunity to not only display our shops but ... to shop from our fellow blogger's shops. Very cool!

Here's our shop (mine and "Art's"):

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6820529

I'll pass the word!

Small Footprints

Deb Shucka said...

What a great idea!

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for your support! :-). You can find our crafty creations at:

http://www.theaccessorylady.com
http://theaccessorylady.blogspot.com

Have a wonderful week.

PS: Your dog is adorable!

Unknown said...

Thanks for promoting the artisan/handmade community! I think I speak for all of us when I say, we appreciate the shout out! Mommy Tyme bath and gifts is handmade soap, bath and body items, jewelry, scarves, accessories, and gifts for the home... All made by me! So, if you have time to shop, stop by http://www.MommyTyme.etsy.com
http://fuzzb.com/MommyTyme

Thanks!

Sheila Deeth said...

What a lovely idea. But help! Christmas???!!!

Linda said...

What a great idea. Thank you so much for doing this. If you have a banner I would love to post this on my blog for you.

Linda
http://ribbonsrosesandmore.com/

Susan R. Mills said...

Great idea, but must you force me to think about Christmas already? :)

Unknown said...

I was referred here by smallfootprints! Thank you so much for this opportunity! My links are:
http://trusk4u.etsy.com
http://trusk4u.winkelf.com
http://www.artistryarts.com/shop.php?user_id=100006

Debbie said...

I am loving this idea so much! You two are the best:)

~JarieLyn~ said...

This is a great idea. I bought a piece of jewelry from a fellow blogger and I just love it. I wear it all the time. I purchased it from Denise at the Seasonal Cottage. I can't recall the name of her etsy shop but she's a member of the FMTSO meme. She does fantastic work.

Gibsongirl497 said...

Wonderful idea! I really love shopping handmade. In fact I'd rather shop this way than any other.
These are my shops for hand crafted jewelry:
http://www.1000markets.com/users/gibsonwirecreations

http://www.artfire.com/users/GibsonWireCreations

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=49783

the dafthermits (Mel n andy and wee clan) said...

Hi my friend i was also sent an invite by Small

my wee shop/gallery is at http://www.photoboxgallery.com/3004962

wher i sell my pictures of the highlands of Scotland all the proceeds go to charity

many thanks for the chance to share the link

jeweledrabbit said...

I make jewelry, and I just found out about this from trusk4u.

Here's the link to my Winkelf shop:

The Jeweled Rabbit

I'm planning to change artistic direction, so I'm liquidating much of my current stock. Most of my jewelry has been marked down 50%, so here's a great chance to stock up on jewelry at great prices for Christmas gifts.

I'll be posting about this opportunity to promote indie artists on my blog.

Maureen

Stephanie Faris said...

I don't sell anything but I'd love to support others. Maybe someone could feature some of the best gift ideas and put them in a blog closer to time? Maybe we could do it as a group. I'd definitely participate.

Diane said...

I noticed your sweet comment on my blog regarding my friend Sara and her new ribbon necklace business. Thank you so much for this great idea! :O)

Sara's sites:
http://twillypop.blogspot.com/
twillypop.etsy.com

MairzyDozy said...

This is a great idea! My sister and I are planning to support handmade for this Christmas shopping season as well.

We would be honored if you would list our shop! -Dawn at MairzyDozy
http://www.mairzydozy.etsy.com

Patience-please said...

I didn't post anything at first. It is a brilliant idea. I don't have an etsy shop, but I have a website

http://www.dogwalkers.net

where you can find my custom made fancy dog collars and where you can buy my book of dog stories.

Thanks!

Patience

Titus said...

Could I recommend Aiko Harman's site, where she sells her "Poetry Pets". Fabulous single poems with a hand-made soft toy to go with them.
She's here:
www.lionandsloth.com/

Meghann said...

Fabulous idea! All my presents are always handmade - either by myself or another artist. Here are my shops:
http://www.LittleStudioJewels.etsy.com
http://www.LittleStudioJewels.artfire.com
http://www.icraft.ca/littlestudiojewels
Blog: http://www.meglittlestudio.blogspot.com

Meghann said...

Woops! I guess I should tell you I make handcrafted jewelry and also do art photography :)

Michelle said...

http://michelle-colourmyworld.blogspot.com

That's me, Michelle, for artworks :)

Anonymous said...

hello - thanks for the "shout out" JarieLyn - I wasn't sure how to sign up but I would love to participate! I have three handmade shops on Etsy and three supply shops. Just let me know how.thanks!!!

Anonymous said...

oops - here are my shop links
Here are my shops:
http://www.DionDesign.etsy.com
http://www.SimplyFrenchDesigns.etsy.com
http://www.SeasonalVignettes.etsy.com http://www.TheArtistsCloset.etsy.com
http://www.ThePaperSource.etsy.com
http://www.TheSeasonalCottage.etsy.com

My Blogs:
http://theseasonalcottage.blogspot.com
http://simplyfrenchdesigns.blogspot.com
thanks
Denise

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