That Handmade Connection

I grew up crafty — as a kid we made our own Christmas tree decorations, painted intricate patterns on blown eggs at Easter-time, and learned how to sew. In my first house as an adult, I couldn’t find shades I liked for the windows, so I made my own. When I discovered Etsy, I found a world of people like me who loved making things. And I’ve acquired art for my walls, as well as some great unique purses (my own sewing skills have always been lousy), a bit of jewelry, and, best of all, silk screened t-shirt dresses to wear over jeans. My husband has never liked store-bought soap (too waxy) so after trying a few different soapmakers, now we buy lovely fragrant handmade bars from a woman here in the bay area.
Often the connection to the maker is as important as the piece itself. At the BABA Book Jam last Saturday, I meet in person some of the people who’ve bought my books and artwork online. One woman said “I have your calendar, and I’ve been careful not to look ahead, so when I get to the next month I’ll have a surprise, a new haiku to read.” Another woman told me she’d bought my reader diary, put a gift card for Borders in the pocket along with the bookmark, and gave it to her daughter for her birthday. I could go on and on…
Getting ready for craft & book fairs can be stressful — do I have enough of this? should I take that? did I get all the labels made? — but at more and more shows I come home at the end of the day completely satisfied from meeting so many people who’ve bought my things and been excited about their handmade uniqueness.