What Goes Into Handmade, Anyways?
Have you ever wondered what goes into creating those beautiful handmade items that you cherish so much? Let's take a closer look at the intricate process behind the art of handmade crafts.
Quality Materials Matter
One of the key elements of handmade crafts is the use of high-quality materials. We use almost exclusively hardwoods to ensure that the final product is not only visually appealing but also durable and long-lasting. This attention to detail sets handmade items apart from mass-produced goods.
Precision and Skill
Creating handmade items requires a great deal of skill and precision. Whether it's knitting a cozy scarf, shaping a piece of pottery, or hand-stitching a leather bag, artisans hone their craft through years of practice and dedication. Each stitch, cut, or brushstroke is carefully executed to achieve the desired result.
Time and Patience
Handmade crafts are not rushed. Artisans invest a significant amount of time and patience into each piece they create. From the initial design phase to the final finishing touches, every step of the process is carried out with care and attention to detail. This dedication to perfection is what makes handmade items truly special.
Unique Touches and Customization
When you purchase a handmade item, you're not just buying a product – you're investing in a piece of art that is truly one-of-a-kind. Artisans often incorporate unique touches and customization options into their work, allowing customers to personalize their purchases and create something that is tailored to their preferences.
Sustainability and Ethical Practices
Many artisans who create handmade crafts are committed to sustainability and ethical practices. They source materials responsibly, minimize waste, and support local communities. By choosing handmade items, you're not only getting a beautiful and unique product, but you're also supporting a more sustainable and ethical way of shopping.
Next time you admire a handmade piece, take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship, skill, and dedication that went into creating it. Handmade crafts are more than just products – they're a labor of love and a true expression of creativity.
A Look at a Day In The Shop
My morning starts with bundling up well against the cold Michigan weather, as my business hasn't progressed to the point of a heated workshop. I tramp through the snow to the stack of wood, and search through it until I find the perfect piece. Just the species I'm looking for, the right size, the right color, no cracks, not too curved.
Once I find an armload of these elusive 'perfect' pieces, I head to the woodshop. After sawing them to the correct length, I head over to my lathe. After securing the wood between the two spinning points, I sharpen my lathe tools. This takes a careful hand and a good eye to achieve the proper edge.
Next, we turn the lathe on. Woodchips start flying, and the wood quickly takes shape! Experience and time has taught me which tools to use and what angles to cut for maximum efficiency. Once it's carved to shape, it's removed from the lathe and excess wood cut off, sanded for uniformity, and it's finished!
Well, not quite. Because unfinished wood is relatively unstable. Open pores means that with changing seasons, changing environments, humidity variations wreak havoc with the wood and results in cracking and warping. To overcome this, we stabilize the end grain with a specially formulated sealant and coat the rest in a layer of beeswax finish to make sure it lasts for years!
Then, it's the last step! Lovingly placed in a cardboard box, cozied up with a couple layers of kraft paper to make sure it gets to you in the same condition it left me. "Here comes handmade...."
So, when you purchase from a small business, you are investing in their dream. You are valuing the work and time that is wrapped in each package. You are helping them survive the taxes, fees, and licenses that make small business difficult. So thank you for seeing and acknowledging what the price tag hides! Even if you can't purchase something, there are zero-cost ways you can help. Give their post a share, hand out their website info to your friends, or sign up for newsletters.