Sadly, we won’t be doing Freebie Fridays this week. I’m sorry to disappoint everyone.
Gotcha! I may be a day late, but I couldn’t help myself! To make up for that lame trick, we’re giving you the chance to win an awesome freebie this week!
Model Metalworks is a husband-and-wife team with a passion for handmade pieces of art and for supporting traditional artisan communities. They work with 23 families who weave pine-needle baskets that represent their cultures.
Model Metalworks has partnered with us to give you the chance to win a handmade pine-needle tray with handles. For a chance to win, answer this week’s question before 12/11c, Monday, April 5. Be sure to provide a valid email address so we can contact you if you win.
This week we want to know: How do you support your local community when it comes to design? Do you refuse to shop at chain furniture stores and visit smaller, local showrooms instead? Do you support the artists and designers in your town? You have until 12/11c on Monday to answer. Click for official rules.
I was looking for a China hutch and looked everywhere. I hated everything in the big chain stores. I came across this "Mom-Pop" shop in the old part of Annapolis, MD. All the furniture there was real wood, hand made and the wood was all reclaimed. Not only Eco-friendly, but the prices were great. I found the China hutch I had pictured in my head and for a price that my husband even liked. So now if I am looking for anything to refurnish my home, I go there first and I have sent many people to that store. Everyone has been happy with what they get there.
I live in a very rural area of Eastern Washington. A friend opened up a shop called, "Welcome Home" and she is trying to feature local artists. I try to spend at least $50 a month to help get her shop going strong. I also encourage everyone to check out 3/50 on Face Book.
Growing up, my mom did arts and crafts so I have a great deal of respect for local artisans. We plan to join a CSA this year (Community Supported Agriculture) and like to go to the artsy district in our city called NoDa on first Fridays for the art gallery crawl.
Shop at thrift shops & donate to them also. Love shopping at nearby Amish town shops where hand made items are wonderful. It doesn't hurt to stop for a bite of homemade food at the amish restaurants either.
Here in the Cleveland Ohio area, we have so many great artist communities to support. I always look for the unique pieces of housewares or products. To shop in the large chain stores is so boring! I always try to support the local / small business and to get to know the people who work there. If I could start my own business, it would be an architectural salvage company. So much is wasted in our lifestyle. Artists and craftspeople really know how to make the most of their talents and skill.
I support local artists in our community of South Bend Indiana by shopping local. We have several awesome up and coming art galleries all of which host creations from local artists. We have many second hand stores and an awesome network of Salvation Army resale shops among others. There are so many opportunities in South Bend to find bargains and support locally. We have everything from Notre Dame to the Studebaker Museum. So much to contribute and so much to decorate with!
I shop local first.
I love to support local artists – a local stain glass artist designed our new front door window and a local carpenter made the custom door! We get lots of attention!
I am an artist/painter and also raise free range chickens for eggs, make home made lye soap and rustic furniture. Local artisan shop sell and display my products. It is as much fun to shop there as it is to sell my products as they have items from other local artist and it is fun to see what others are doing. There are many talent people in this very rural area.
I always attend and buy local pieces at our local art fairs and festivals. I too have shopped at our local amish furniture store and have one of the most beautiful china cabinets from them!
A new arts market started in town last summer — I'm looking forward to this summer's art market to checkout local painters, potters and jewelery makers!
I support the local artist by attending events, purchasing from and promoting when I can via my business.
I live in a small subdivision of Littleton, Colorado. We have several local artist and farmers and I support the local(s) (artist or otherwise) by choosing to shop in my community when possible. Our little community is rich with talented people. Two of my favorites artist use recycyled materials! In addition to supporting our local artist, several of us have started gardening! We share our "bounties" with the neighborhood! Its great and I love it!
Columbia MO Has many shops with Local artist of which we Purchase our Items for both Design and daily use. – Spring we welcome Farmers market opening for food / flowers / plants and more. Our Local Co-Op has some great shopping and as Members of TBFF (True Blue Fiber Friends) & MMKG (Mid-Mo Knitting Guild) we purchase hand woven and dyed yarns to make clothing, Gifts and Items to doanate to Local charities – It's all One big Fun fest of Local Support!!
Absolutely support everything local! Also recycling old stuff, shopping second hand whenever possible. Just got a load of stuff of my mom as she was moving to a tiny apartment in NYC and didn't have room for it. Really nice stuff too, probably too nice…
I try to shop local first.
I like to shop at the consignment stores and thrift stores. You can find some very interesting pieces there.
They can be made over with some a new coat of paint or just some sanding by itself. Some pieces fit
right in to my home decor just the way they are – vintage and very much loved.
I live in a very small town with one quilt shop… we have joined in project Million Pillowcases and when we had a snowmobile races for Breast cancer I provided a Pink Ribbon quilt for auction… I try to participate in any good project in our town… I especially love the local sale of fresh veggies in the summer….
As a landscape artist, I believe that local artists and businesses are what make communities strong. In my community we do our best to support our "Buy Idaho" campaign!
I shop antique stores first, followed by Craigslist, and then follow that with local used furniture and accessories. I believe design is in the combination of the present and the past, blended to reveal life renewed.
I live in the very walkable Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park. By walking everywhere – to the grocery store, etc. I discover so much more than if I drove. I'm also lucky that there aren't too many "chain" stores around, so it's easy to shop local! When the weather is nice, I shop at the farmers market – it's one stop shopping for great local foods, produce AND pieces by local artists.
I try to purchase environmentally friendly items, and recycle, re-purpose what I can!
I always shop at the local small businesses to find unique pieces.
I have to support local shop owners & artists in this area. Also, I love to go junkin'. Would rather have something rusty & dinged up, than something sparkly & new from a chain store. My son is an artist, he just graduated from Tennessee Tech. University. He majored in clay, & had his classes @ the Joe L. Evins Craft Center in Smithville,Tn. There is so much talent in this area, it's just impossible to think of buying anything that ismulti-made. I love to "create" oddities (furiture & such) myself.
I do shop at local stores, often I have found better quality and pricing. I also frequent thrift stores and antique stores. I would rather save money on things where I can.
In addition to shopping the local antiques/art store in Boulder Creek and nearby Pescadero, I love to shop the "locals" section at the local Kings Mountain Art Fair every Labor Day weekend – fabulous items both beautiful and utilitarian.
I live in a big city with many antique and craft stores.There is a lovely shopping area adjacent to a big university,where you can buy all sorts of hand crafted gifts and decorative items,and I always go there first to look for things to give [or keep].I also avoid the big home improvement stores when I need things for my little garden.We have many local garden centers with much more interesting choices.Another fun place is a huge consignment store for furniture and other home decor things,where I have both bought and sold things.I actually found a wonderful china cabinet that matches a buffet piece that I have had for 25 years.Our new dining room has more wall space and less closet space,so I was thrilled!
I love to go to thrift stores and also use freecycle to decorate.. people give away so much that is still usuable..I love HGTV to garner ideas as I am on a tight budget but love beautiful things!
i do support our artist, There is alot of thought that goes into any piece that is created..
When we lived in Washington State, it was so easy! Seattle, Portland, tiny towns and cities up and down the coast. Ahhh, I miss those days. We are now in SC, newly here we haven't yet had a chance to venture too far (anyone want to unpack a box … or seventy-two?) – but we hope to do some exploring this summer. We've been told that along this coast there are some great shops and stores. We can't wait to investigate. Just say no to Big Box!
I support local charities by purchasing used items, so they stay out of the land fields and the money goes to help those in need. I also support local artist/crafters by purchasing their items.
We love to hit up the downtown farmers' market! You find the greatest stuff there. Last summer we found a small farmer who produces his own salsa, we've been addicted ever since.
I am a strong advocate of "local" everything; so I support all my local artists, dining, businesses etc. Local is the way to go!!!!!
I support my local community by shopping at the Farmers Markets and Handmade Craft Fairs. I am a artisan and I totally believe we need to support each other. More and more little shops are popping up that support local artist and I will continue to support them. You can find unique gifts that are much more personal than shopping at a chain store. Kimberly
mycandlegirl@earthlink.net
I love antiques so I try to always shop the local aantique stores. I also love the little shops for my candles lamps and Nick-backs
We love to check out thrift stores and craigslist for "recycled" furniture. We are also a big fan of the local art hop and keep our eyes open for any unique piece to add to our decor.
It's easy to shop local designs in Ipswich, MA. You can shop at Mimi's, The Otisrein Gallery, Luna Tuna and Tetraults. When you're done supporting them, you can go to the beach!!!
I try to go to the local craft fairs and flea markets as well as trips down to Lancaster, PA to check out the Amish crafted furniture.
We shop the local farmers market and garden shops where we buy items to beautify our own yard with flowers, trees, vegetables, furniture and koi pond.
I am all for family owned businesses as I am one. It is hard to compete with the chains but we offer unique art and better customer service!!
I live in a very rural farming community, we just got our first stop light about a year ago. However, we do have a local furniture & hardware store which is wonderful. (The owner is our volunteer fire chief) We also have 2 yearly festivals which support a vast array of crafters that I love to peruse. I wholeheartedly belive in shopping local first as it keeps our community thriving.
I visit the local farmers markets. They have everything from fresh produce to home made foods and preserves. I can even find items that they have made themselves.
I rarely shop at larger chain stores for home decor. I do, however, love to go to flea markets, garage sales, resale and consignment shops and thrift stores. I have found some wonderful items and great deals in these places as well as from individuals at arts and crafts shows and through online resources such as craigslist.
My family loves to go to local art and craft fairs.
It isn't just a question of design! Anything you buy secondhand is 100% post-consumer recycled with no energy expense. I get most of my stuff through craigslist and freecycle. A lot of it is nicer than I could buy in the "regular" stores.
I shop at our local farmers markets in the summer, shop at the local food co-op. Buy local art.
When remodel work is needed I try to use local contractors.
I love our local farmers market. Each year lots of great local artists sell their goods as well as great local vegies and fruits.
If my clients can't use their old furniture anymore, we take it to the local consignment shop. Then we shop there for "new" pieces before hitting a showroom or retail store. We have fun discovering how to give new life to beautiful old pieces.
I love using CraigsList and Garage Sales to find unique items from people in the area.
We shop at the local Habitat for Humanity Restore for a lot of decorating ideas. We actually re-did the entire bathroom based on a couple of cool tiles found at the Restore.