Buy Nothing Craft Month
The always delightful Ms Cate from Polka Dot Rabbit has HAD IT! with the consumerist hoo-ha that comes with the craft world. And has declared a bold new initiative for us all to join in. And I for one, am certainly aboard.
Here at Radical Cross Stitch, and certainly on the last Craft Cartel Podcast, we like to talk about the politics of buying handmade stuff. There is certainly economic, environmental and social benefits to buying handmade goods as opposed to stuff mass-produced in sweatshops and the like.
But once we understand these issues, we have to stop and look a little bit closer at handmade stuff. As Cate says:
where the products used to make the crafts come from. For example, is it any better to buy something handmade if it is made from fabric woven in third world conditions? And where do our needles, thread, quick unpicks etc come from? Sweat shops or legitimate fair trade factories? And further to that matter, how many crafters are crafting in effectively third world conditions? Cutting out fabric on the living room floor, hunched over a desk or kitchen table (anyone heard of an ergonomic sewing machine?). And how much is that labour valued?
I’ve written before about crafters valuing our time better. But I do think we need to think a lot more carefully about where we source our materials. Is it a bit too righteous of us to criticise people for buying things from Kmart when all our supplies come from Spotlight? Is it mildly hypocritical to mock people who buy stuff for the sake of buying stuff when our craft rooms resemble some kind of lost civilisation?
So in an effort to declutter, downsize, upskill our crafty lives, Cate has suggested a Buy Nothing Craft Month
I have decided to take ONE MONTH from the start of next week (that’s Monday April 7th) to see how I manage crafting without buying anything. No buying more fabric ‘just in case’ or another quick underpick because I can’t be bothered looking for the three I already own. No more spending money to make money. No more buying things I don’t really need and the expense of things I already have. But I don’t want this to be an excuse to do nothing. I intend to be as productive as always in the next month. Maybe more so.
I’m definitely on board and I’m making a special page on this site for anyone else who wants to join in to sign up so we can check out everyone’s progress. I’ll update this post when it’s ready but in the meantime, comment below with your name and website. And please put something on your own site so we can spread the word.
For the future.
xox
Craft Cartel Podcast Episode #2: Handmade Politics
Nope we’re not just a flash in the pan, we now have TWO episodes!
This episode we talk the politics of buying handmade stuff.
We also talk to some of our cartel members about the items they put together for our St Patricks Day anti-colonial market.
We interview Kirsteene from Scrumptious Productions
The first of our series of craft zine reviews looks at Guerilla Craftfare
This weeks websites and events to check out are
buyhandmade.org
bigboxreuse.com
sewgreen.blogspot.com
melbournesocialforum.org
ACDJ Localisation Forum
Subscribe and download today!
Now we’re both getting perilously close to needing real jobs so if you love the cast please throw some coins in our virtual hat.
We LOVED hearing from you all last episode. If you have any comments, suggestions, complaints, craft zine or website recommendations. Or if you make subversive stuff and you want to join the Craft Cartel, drop us a line. Or please comment below.
The podcast archive and market info page is constantly being updated, so don’t forget to check it out.
xox
I want! I want!
I’m not one of those people who collects bags and shoes. I did try to be one of those people once but I failed.
But seriously, how awesome is this bag?
Hand tooled, dyed and stitched. Bag Dimensions, roughly: 7″ tall, 9″ long, 3″ thick. One of a kind….
All stress points are both riveted and stitched to make for an extra sturdy bag. Closure is a magnetic clasp. Celtic rivet conchos accent the strap and body of the bag.
The design is a combination of the Peace symbol and the Anarchy symbol, which i enjoy calling Peaceful Anarchy.
It’s made by Etsy seller oakandacorn and I love it. I just wish I could afford it!
It must be so nice to make these wonderful things and know that one day someone is going to come along that it was just made for. And that person will treasure it for the rest of their lives.
Ah handmade bliss.