A Secret. A Confession.

Alright friends...I'm being totally serious, and to most of you this is a shocking bit of information because of the indie-business advocate I am today, and the truth is - I fell in love with handmade well after I had my own indie-business.

There was a time in my life where I didn't shop handmade.
I was what you might call....a product snob.
I never thought it was the same kind of quality as store bought
I never felt like there was anything that fit "my style" that was offered in an indie shop.
And I felt like it was hard to afford handmade.

 Vintage Pleated Pouch from Sand and Starfish

One day I found myself diving into listing after listing, and finding out new and exciting shops, reading reviews, and finding myself a little bit more intrigued to try out indie business shops.
But that isn't where my love actually started.
It took some serious warming up to, and then I did it - I made my first handmade purchase and I fell in love. It sent me into a whirlwind of adoring other handmade shops, and the love has never stopped.

 Wristlet by Echoland Bags  >

 

 Now, I shop only handmade shops when at all possible. Gifts, Holidays - I first think of what I have seen in a handmade shop that would fit that person.  I started the A-List, I started the weekend link-up. I'm seriously smitten with handmade shops.

Ombre Sunset Case from Debonair Bandit

A couple weekends I was talking to a friend of mine and she said to me while in the Starbucks drive-thru --

 "You really inspire me to buy handmade. Seriously. You have the cutest stuff, your iPhone cases, different pouches, and jewelry you wear - you know so many great small shops to buy with unique stuff - I want to to know those shops, too. You inspire me."

Knowing that I haven't always been an advocate for indie-businesses that statement meant a lot. It meant a lot that through my passion for small businesses/shops/indie businesses - shows through, influences others.

Earrings: Whispering Sweet Nothings.  Style Necklace from Eloping Designs.  Necklace & Bracelet set from Bluebird Bijoux {Designs}

After that conversation, it really got me thinking and I decided that it was time to share why I shop handmade, why I support and advocate for indie-businesses so diligently.

So, that's why I'm going to do - right now - because I can guarantee there are at least a handful of individuals that are in the exactly place I was - unsure of buying handmade, being weary of it being a little higher priced than something at the store. I get it.

Greffly Monster from Lu & Ed.  Mollie Dollie from the Mollie Shop.  Flapper Pajama Baby from Aubrey Plays.

But here is why I shop handmade.

I have met a ton of truly amazing women (and men!) that own handmade shops, who like myself, work their hardest to create a quality product, to support their families, to be able to stay home with their kiddos, or to make that little bit extra they need to make ends meet.

I know so many people's stories, and when you make a purchase from their shops - you are helping them make ends meet, helping fuel their passion, or making a bigger difference in their lives than you know - you are helping them all live some sort of dream.

When you buy handmade you aren't getting a product that has been shipped from an industrial facility that could careless about the genuine quality of the product, or you as the consumer.  You are getting a product that is made with attention to detail*, a product that has taken time to make with care*, with a person who is on the other side of that order form that genuinely cares about you and your satisfaction of their product because they want to* - not because their corporation pays them a salary to deal with you. 

*most of the time. if you need something to calm your fears before purchasing - check our A-List for an awesome shop!

I don't think that it gets any better than that, and honestly looking at the time and product costs, on top of the kind of product you are getting, and the service on top of that - the product is worth it. Because truthfully you get so much more when you buy handmade than just a product from a shop.

Genuinely.

Take the plunge - if you haven't already - make your first handmade purchase, and I promise you won't regret it. And if you want, I'd love for you to tell me all about your purchase.