supporting handmade

I went shopping with my teenager daughter the other day .

We don't get to the big shops very often so

we took the opportunity to have a good look around .

We went into one of those jewellery shops,

you know the ones with all the loud music

and the shop girls bounce over to see

if they can help with very bright , high voices .

Anyway my daughter was a bit taken with a necklace .

It was pretty , it was trendy and damned if

I couldn't make it myself !

It was also very , very expensive .

I'm fairly sure it was imported very cheaply

from overseas and now someone is making a fortune

and it isn't the people overseas that are

paid a pittance .

Which finally brings me to my point .

There is a program on the ABC

called Blood , Sweat and Luxuries

that shows the hardships people endure just

so we can have our fancy goods .

It has showcased embroidery sweatshops and

precious metal mining and computer recycling .

What these poor people go through for us

is just incredible and heartbreaking .

This program is a real eye opener and

I highly recommend it .

I would always rather support local handmade and

in a very small way I hope this helps .

This is as political as you are ever

 going to get from me but I am so passionate

about handmade , upcycling , recycling , reusing

and just making do that this was a good place

to rant to so many others that feel the same .

So the handmade necklace was made.

The girl and I just love it and because

we worked on it together this

 always makes handmade extra special !