Doodah

Handmade music?

Buying handmade is going to be so easy except for a few people in my life: my father and father-in-law. For my mother, and mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, and my dad's wife, and all the other women in my life - I have a ton of ideas. Too many. For Felix and Tibo, lots of possibilities with cool handmade toys and t-shirts. But, my father and father-in-law are a little more challenging.

Because they are both musicians, I like buying them music. But, where do you buy music outside of big chain stores? I would like to support independent artists but how do I know if they sound any good?

CD Baby to the rescue. I've heard about this site a bunch because my dad sells his music there but I had no idea it had so much to offer! For example, my father-in-law recently purchased a resonator guitar or dobro so he is interested in hearing lots of cds that feature this instrument. So, I headed over to CD baby and using their search engine, I found an album by Steve Fisher which features the dobro player Sally Van Meter - and then I listened to the tracks! I really like it and I think my FIL will like it too!

Next, I used their "sounds like" search and entered in Jerry Douglas which led me to this fantastic album by Ivan Rosenberg and Billy Cardine. Again, I was able to preview all the tracks and make sure the style would appeal to my FIL.

So cool.

I'm off to see what cd baby has to offer in modern jazz...

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Buy Nothing Day

Don't forget! November 23rd or Black Friday for those in States is also known as Adbuster's Buy Nothing Day. The international date is November 24th. Check out their website for more ideas about how to participate before, on, and after Buy Nothing Day!

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Tags: buynothingday, adbusters, slowyear

Buy Handmade - Make Your Pledge To Buy Handmade Goods.

Buy Handmade - Make Your Pledge To Buy Handmade Goods.

I have been daydreaming about making all of my own gifts this year. But, seriously, I can't dig that sort of hole for myself. I will be happy if I follow through on completing two of the hundreds of projects I have planned. I am serious, though, about buying all of my holiday gifts directly from small independent artists or crafters.  In fact, I've already started. Here are some shops that I have been frequenting over at Etsy:

I recently picked up this adorable onesie from bean child. Felix loves guitars and it makes getting him dressed so much easier. I am thinking about picking up the drum kit onesie too.

I love the cards from the beautiful project. I bought and framed this one to hang in our bathroom. Right above it, I put this card. Just some little reminders to let loose and be free on the toilet.

For my cool sister-in-law I have been eyeing the wallets at both quiet doing and tinymeat. I love all of the designs. All. of. them.

And then there are the earrings, earrings, earrings. We have a tradition of giving each other earrings at Christmas - and we try to find that something unique and special for each person. I can't even begin to show you all of the great earrings on Etsy. Here are a few of my favorites:

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Tags: etsy, holidays, shopping, handmade, buyhandmade, earrings, gifts, christmas

I feel like I should put something up here.

As you can see (once again) I'm not blogging. I think I know why: I am pretty sure I don't want to be responsible for blogging anymore.

But for some reason I just can't drop the blog. Instead I just let it sit here for weeks on end with out-of-date content. Sometimes an idea will pop into my head but then quickly I realize that its just not that interesting. There are so many good blogs out there. So many good writers. So many people that touch me and find a way to say exactly what I am thinking. So much inspiration. So much food for thought.

I don't have a good reason to blog. I want to change my life. I want to be a better person. And I am doing that everyday but I don't need to share it with the world to make it real. Or at least I don't need to share it with the internet.

And that's not what I think blogs are for. The blogs that I love are the ones that help me become a better person. The ones that help me to change. Whether it is from the words that come straight from their heart about the struggles of parenting or new ideas about how to live more consciously on this planet.

I want to read and enjoy the work that all of you are doing and give back by leaving comments or passing your thoughts on to others. I don't want to feel the pressure that I need to put content on this blog that has to compare. Cause I don't think I can.

At least not right now.

Any thoughts?    

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