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Let's Do Something Good for the Holidays
Photo by Naole.
It’s official. With Thanksgiving being this week, we have truly stepped into the
- Individual artists that we can support with our shopping dollars instead of giving them to the box stores.
- Great nonprofit organizations where you can make a contribution in the gift recipient’s name.
- Companies that donate a portion of their proceeds to good causes.
So, I’m putting out a call to our readers. Do you know of a great artist that could benefit by selling us their wares this holiday season? (If you are that artist, that’s great, too!) Do you have a favorite charity that you’d like to see us supporting this year? Maybe you’ve stumbled across a great way to shop that allows for some of your money to be directed to those in need.
Please either leave your suggestions in the comments section or email them directly to lornadoone at comcast dot net. I’d like to post the list by Friday, November 30th, so please get your suggestions to me before then. Remember, you are perfectly welcome (and encouraged) to suggest your own business or organization, although I do have the final say in what I think is appropriate.
If you need some inspiration, check out last year’s Something Good Shopping Guide.
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(Anonymous)
ShareAmillion.com
I would value a quote of support from you that I can put on my http://www.shareamillion.com website, assuming you like what I am trying to do and believe my examples merit support.
-Alessandro Machi
(Anonymous)
I really enjoyed my gift from you - a donation to Kiva.org My parents took a while to finally pick a nice business partner, but really loved the fact that we were helping relieve some of the economic/social injustice in the world. I highly recommend it. Love, your niece Ava - 8 months.
By the way, I've known from the beginning that your were brilliant, but I am especially proud of your amazing spelling and typing abilities! ;-)
Anyway, here are my suggestions:
Artists, Artisans, and Crafters:
Noah J Orr Photography - Noah has some gorgeous photography, mostly from the beautiful islands of Hawai'i.
Three Paws Design - she describes her shop as "eclectic offerings for family and friends". I personally adore her collage pendants.
Luckylibra Designs - lots of lovely jewelry from a friend of mine.
Miscellaneous Oddiments - beautiful handmade leather masks which are truly works of art. I have one hanging on my wall when I'm not wearing it.
The Crafty Celts - very nice handmade jewelry and other accessories in silver or bronze. These are not delicate pieces. I have a pendant of theirs and one of their hair sticks.
Not that Jaded Designs - my own shop, photography and art notecards
Charities:
SPCA of Anne Arundel County, Maryland - I got my fabulous dog from them so I feel compelled to point them out
American Diabetes Association - My grandfather has diabetes and I donated there last year for Christmas in his name, so I again feel compelled to point them out.
Businesses giving portions of proceeds to charity:
Not only is it a small business but Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab donates the proceeds from their Neil Gaiman and Stardust lines of perfume to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and proceeds from their Good Omens line go half and half to the CBLDF and the Orangutan Foundation UK.
I have a small knitting business called "God's Eye handmade blessings" and it can be found at http://handmade-blessings.tripod.com/. Custom orders are encouraged.
The Women's Center for Spiritual Renewal also offers Spiritual Renewal Packages and those can be found at www.centeredwomen.com. The retreats, workshops, gatherings, etc happen in the greater Chicagoland area, though, so that does limit it for gifts.
I also really admire and appreciate these two artists:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=50
Sol Sisters Handmade Originals
-two Las Vegas sisters make quilted fabric purses, pouches, bags, and wallhangings that are a great way to avoid leather.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=50
Cari Lee Pier, the artist behind Sea Dream Art, using paint and collage to create gorgeous nature-inspired pieces. She also donates 10% of her sales to American Forests.org.