Category: Craft Friday

Last year, bombarded by ads for big box stores bragging about being open on Thanksgiving, I gathered the ranks to disrupt cultural expectations that US citizens will replace what should be festive family time with crass consumerism. I’m still angry about Black Friday, and once again, I’m gathering supplies, and I’m channeling that anger into a CraftActivism style rebellion:

Craft Friday.

Want to join? Here are some ways:

Pinterest Craft Friday Board  (feel free to follow it, or follow me and ask to join the board if you want to pin on it). Tag your pins #CraftFriday

Twitter (again, tag related tweets with #CraftFriday).

Join the Flickr Group.

This weekend, I’m making two lists: folks to whom I want to give a gift, and hand made gift ideas. I’ll stash dive and then make a supply list and start shopping at non-big-box stores to gather all the goods I need for Craft Friday.

Let me know if you’re in by leaving a comment. And if you have a blog, write a declaration–you don’t have to spill the beans about what you’re going to make if your recipients read the blog, but how about you share WHY you’re inspired to make instead of shop? We’ll have a Craft Friday Declaration Post Party this Friday, November 28, and I’ll add a link round up here so you can feel the support and love of our community.

You in? Yeah, I figured you would be.

 

My plan is to stay home all day on Friday. Well, I’ll hike with the dogs, but other than that, I’m hunkering down. I’ll be hopping online between crafting spurts to check out what everyone else is doing. Here are some places I’ll be looking:

Pinterest Craft Friday Board (feel free to follow it, or follow me and ask to join the board if you want to pin on it). Tag your pins #CraftFriday

Twitter (again, tag related tweets with #CraftFriday)

Join the Flickr Group.

Today I’m making cranberry sauce, which I plan to use in either crostini or grilled cheese sandwiches for Friday’s sustenance. I’ll make parm-stuffed dates and a garlic scape pesto (yay June Beverly for freezing so much of it!) and ricotta dip. There may be hot buttered rum if temperatures warrant it.

I’ve got supplies from La Drougerie to make some jewelry, and I expect my sewing machine will see some use, too. I’ve been pouring over Bend the Rules Sewing for ideas. Will you share some of your inspiration and project ideas?

I’m as excited for Craft Friday as I am for Thanksgiving! I hope you are, too!

 

I knew I wasn’t alone in shunning Black Friday, and I figured I wasn’t the only crafter who spends the day making rather than buying~but, wow! Is it ever exciting to see our revolution take off!  My pal Kirsten of Through the Loops has made a really generous offer to encourage us all in our quest for hand made.

Today, I invite you to write a declaration–post what feels right to you. Maybe:

• why you’re rejecting Black Friday
• what you love to craft for the holidays
• your history of crafting gifts (did you start as a kid? a college student?)
• your manifesto about crafting rather than buying

Email a link to your blog post to me at pomogolightlyATgmail.com, and I’ll add links throughout the day to this post and share them on FaceBook and Twitter. Want to read some declarations:

Sara makes her declaration with a history of her hand crafted holidays.

Tara declares cuddling and crafting go together.

Mary Lou declares glitter and kids go together perfectly for Craft Friday.

Oh, my declaration? Of course.

It’s been eleven years since I last shopped on Black Friday. Most years I’ve visited family or friends, spent time knitting or sewing or crocheting, or written the first of my holiday greeting cards. The rejection of Black Friday didn’t start off that way; different priorities begged my attention, and I obliged. I’m relieved, though, not to feel the compulsion to get the best deal or beat the crowds.

This year, it seems more important to me to craft conscientiously on 11/29. I detest that some big box stores start Black Friday on Thanksgiving day. I’m baffled by the need and desire to shop on a day set aside for gratitude. The things don’t matter. People matter.

And crafting is a way for me to honor the people I love, to offer them something beautiful, to step away from crass consumerism. I like to buy my supplies from indy merchants, and I like to focus my mind on the person for whom I’m creating as I knit or paint or stitch. It matters to me that layers of love and good wishes are built into whatever I’m creating.

So for me, Craft Friday is about pushing back against what the commercials urge me to do. It’s about thoughtfulness and mindfulness. It’s about fun. It’s about the people I love.

Thanks for reading my declaration. Be sure to share yours! Viva la Craft Friday!