Buy Handmade Week!

American Craft Week runs from October 1-10 and The Handmade Toy Alliance is asking us to pledge to buy handmade at least once this holiday season.  Click here to sign the Pledge to Buy Handmade.

We say avoiding mass produced toys and treating our children to lovingly created clothing and toys is no hardship.  Need ideas?

Here are some suggestions:

Linnea hates coats, but she loves her poncho ($46.00) from Skipping Hippos. The ponchos, jackets and coats are the site are all made in the U.S.A. out of CPSIA-compliant materials.  And, right now, many of them are on sale!

Linnea gets compliments every where we go.

Hip Mountain Mama offers this Gnome Family ($15.99) made from 100% reclaimed Walnut and finished with a safe and natural mineral oil.  They are made by The Original Tree Swing, a family-based business in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doesn't this look like fun?

Speaking of fun wooden toys,  Oregon mom Willow Baus makes beautiful handmade toys which she sells from her Etsy shop, Tweet by Willow Baus.  I am totally enamored with these toys.  I ordered a covered wagon for Linnea's birthday.  I'll let you know how she likes it.

Covered Wagon ($20)

Hanging Mobile ($40)

Sail Boat ($18)

And, check out the eco-friendly plush animals and baby toys at Ecoleeko. I have a few of these in my office right now (donations for our auction's baby gift basket) and they are oh so soft.

MooBelle ($32)

You can find handmade at Etsy, at your local farmer's markets and craft fairs, and through the Handmade Toy Alliance.  Remember, handmade helps your local economy and the Earth.  If each of us buys only a few handmade items this holiday season, it can make a big difference.